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Contributions to the History of Charlotte County and the Border Towns
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LXXIV-Captain Clinch
Lieut. Peter Clinch of the Royal Fencible Americans, (afterward Capt. Clinch of the King's New Brunswick Regiment, having resigned his commission) obtained in 1784 the grant of land before mentioned at the lower falls on the Magaguadavic. This grant which had formerly been included in the Crosby grant of 1767 extended northerly along the river land from the head of the basin (the most eastern part of the estuary), to the still water above the falls, and westerly to the head waters of L'Etang. South of it lay a portion of the Mascareen grant, and north of it land which was later to Captain Philip Bailey and associates. Before applying for his grant, Lieut. Clinch had taken with him two Indians and set out to explore the country and find a suitable place for settlement. Coming in sight of the falls of the Magaguadavic he was so much struck with the place that he at once decided to make it his home, and it was probably through his influence that a number of the disbanded soldiers of the regiment were afterwards located on the river above the falls.
According to family traditions, Capt. Clinch was born in Ireland and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He belonged to an old Irish family of record since the time of Edward ll; and two of his ancestors, Peter and Simon Clinch are said to have taken an active part on the Stuart side in the days of James ll and William lll. He came to America before the outbreak of the Revolution: and, as a lieutenant in Col. Gorham's regiment was stationed at Fort Howe during the latter part of the war. His commission as captain in the King's New Brunswick regiment dates from 1793.
Captain Clinch represented Charlotte county in the first house of assembly of this province, and was one of the first justices of the peace for the county of Charlotte. He died on the last day of July, 1816, at the age of 63 years, and is buried in the old churchyard at St. George.
Among his numerous descendants of the present generation are Mr. D. C. Clinch, banker, of St. John; Mr. Guy H. Clinch, of the Western Union telegraph service, St. George; and Mr. Edgar Whidden, U. S. Consul at St. Stephen.
[Written by permission of the Saint Croix Courier]