Ralfe Clench
Encyclopedia
Ralfe Clench was a farmer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada
. His first name is also sometimes recorded as Ralph or Rolfe; his last name is sometimes recorded as Clinch.
Born in Schenectady, New York
around 1762, he joined the British
side during the American Revolution
and fought with General John Burgoyne
in 1777. He later served with Captain Henry Bird and then Butler's Rangers
. After the war, he settled at Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake
) in Upper Canada. He accumulated a number of appointments to government posts in the Niagara District. He served in the local militia, eventually becoming colonel. With Isaac Swayze
, he opposed wording in land deeds that they believed compromised people's ability to sell their own land; also with Swayze, he was elected to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ridings of Lincoln
in 1800. They were re-elected in 1804. Clench also represented the 2nd riding of Lincoln from 1812 to 1820. He fought at Queenston Heights
during the War of 1812
; he was captured by the Americans
in 1813 and released at the end of the war. He also served as judge in the district court for the Niagara District.
Clench married Elizabeth Johnson, who was the granddaughter of Sir William Johnson
and Molly Brant
.
He died at Niagara in 1828.
His son, Joseph Brant, became an official in the Indian Department. His daughter Elizabeth Euretta married Charles Richardson
.
The Clench House at 234 Johnson Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the most significant early 19th century building in the town and was in process of a very substantial and careful renovation and restoration during 2008 and 2009.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. His first name is also sometimes recorded as Ralph or Rolfe; his last name is sometimes recorded as Clinch.
Born in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
around 1762, he joined the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
side during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and fought with General John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
in 1777. He later served with Captain Henry Bird and then Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist John Butler.Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York...
. After the war, he settled at Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA...
) in Upper Canada. He accumulated a number of appointments to government posts in the Niagara District. He served in the local militia, eventually becoming colonel. With Isaac Swayze
Isaac Swayze
Isaac Swayze was a soldier and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Morris County, New Jersey in 1751 into a family of German immigrants of Jewish extraction...
, he opposed wording in land deeds that they believed compromised people's ability to sell their own land; also with Swayze, he was elected to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ridings of Lincoln
Lincoln County, Ontario
Lincoln County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was formed in 1792. In 1845, the southern portion of Lincoln County was separated to form Welland County....
in 1800. They were re-elected in 1804. Clench also represented the 2nd riding of Lincoln from 1812 to 1820. He fought at Queenston Heights
Battle of Queenston Heights
The Battle of Queenston Heights was the first major battle in the War of 1812 and resulted in a British victory. It took place on 13 October 1812, near Queenston, in the present-day province of Ontario...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
; he was captured by the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1813 and released at the end of the war. He also served as judge in the district court for the Niagara District.
Clench married Elizabeth Johnson, who was the granddaughter of Sir William Johnson
Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet
Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet was an Anglo-Irish official of the British Empire. As a young man, Johnson came to the Province of New York to manage an estate purchased by his uncle, Admiral Peter Warren, which was located amidst the Mohawk, one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League...
and Molly Brant
Mary Brant
Molly Brant , also known as Mary Brant, Konwatsi'tsiaienni, and Degonwadonti, was a prominent Mohawk woman in the era of the American Revolution. Living in the Province of New York, she was the consort of Sir William Johnson, the influential British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, with whom she...
.
He died at Niagara in 1828.
His son, Joseph Brant, became an official in the Indian Department. His daughter Elizabeth Euretta married Charles Richardson
Charles Richardson (Upper Canada politician)
Charles Richardson was a lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada. He represented Niagara in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1834 to 1841 as a Conservative....
.
The Clench House at 234 Johnson Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the most significant early 19th century building in the town and was in process of a very substantial and careful renovation and restoration during 2008 and 2009.