I have down that Gen. Arthur St. Clair was a
cousin to Gen. Gage. Is that
right? Was that a first cousin? If so is there a Sinclair
connection to
Gen. Gage?
Laurel
The Sinclairs of Aldham, Igtham, Burstow, etc i.e. of Kent,
Sussex
and Hampshire.
The Sinclairs invariably failed to leave male heirs and that is
why there are
so few of that name left in England. For example, Thomas Sinclair
of the
Manor of Stene died on 6th May, 1435, aged only 34. leaving his
extensive
properties and possessions to his three daughters, namely:
Elizabeth
who married (1) William Lovel (2) Richard Lewknor
Edith
married Sir Richard Harcourt
Eleanor
who married Sir John GAGE, ancestor of the Viscounts Gage who
quarter the St Clair arms and still retain the ancient Court Rolls
of Heighton St Clare. A
descendant, Thomas Gage accompanied Braddock's ill-fated
expedition against Duguesque (1755) and became Military
Commander of Montreal in 1760. From
1763 to 1772 he was Commander-in-Chief of the British
Forces in America and, in 1774, became Governor of
Massachusetts. In
April 1755 he sent a force to seize arms from the colonists
at Concord and, next day, the skirmish at Lexington
took place which began the American Revolution. After
the Battle of Bunker Hill he was relieved by William Howe
(5th Viscount Howe) who had (earlier) served with Wolfe
at Louisburg. Howe shared the failure at Valley Forge
with Major-General Arthur St Clair and was, in turn, relieved
by Major General Sir Henry Clinton who was the son GeorgeClinton,
Governor of Newfoundland and, afterwards, of New
York.
Therefore, it will be seen that the Generals Gage and Sinclair
were related
but somewhat distantly.