Since reading the lists general discusssion of Arthur St. Clair i dug out my
old notes & found some interesting facts .
A.S.C. attended University of Edinburgh
Under Wolf,s command at fall of Quebec
Related to General Gage ( cousin)
His wife Phoebe Bayard was the daughter of , Balthazar Bayard & Mary Bowdoin
Mary Bowdoin,s grandfather was James Bowdoin of Boston .
A.S.C married Phoebe in May of 1760 in Trinity Episcopal church in Boston&
moved to Bedford Pa.( to survey land for the Penn,s) then settled in Ligonier
Pa.
Notes compiled from years ago :The stronghold of the St Clair family was
Rosslyn castle . The St Clairs were of Norman French descent originally
spelled Sanctus Clarus (Holy & Bright one)The British say Sinkler It is said
William , son of Compte De StClair , a close relative of William the
conquerer came over to England in 1066settling an estate in Scotland.The home
of the StClairs in Thurso suggests
ancestors were of Orkney line. A.S.C s father was a local merchant & his
mother ( Margaret , some say Elizabeth )Balfour. This line of descent
identifies A.S.C with the sinclairs of Lybster & Scotscalder.
In his later years A.S.C. there was much political backstabbing & sniping
while he served as Gov. & president Jefferson finally removed him from office
on Nov, 22, 1802
In the many yrs of travelling & governing along with the revolution A.S.C.
realized he was broke &made repeatedrequests for compensation from the govt.
but was always denied . In 1810a creditor secured an execution for $10,000 &
he was forced to sell 95% of his property& his home ( the Hermitage ), his
mill & iron furnace .
His properties were estimated at $50,000 but received just $4,000.
A.S.C. with children & some grandchildren in his care was reduced to dire
poverty.
He was alotted $64.00per month but that was seized by a creditor
After selling his lands he moved to a log cabin on Chestnut ridge 5 miles
west of Ligonier on land owned by his son Daniel.
On his way to Youngstown , Ohio in a buggy he was jolted from the buggy &
fell out & knocked unconscious. He died 8/31/1818, Phoebe died 18 days later
of greif .
Both are buried in St Clair park in Greensburg, Pa. Forty years afterhis
death his heirs were rewarded a fair compensation for his service to his
country.
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