When Fitzarthur Hogue opened the hotel on the 1st July 1843, forty or fifty people from the town helped him celebrate.  Many of them became drunk and remained for several days. John Lennon and his wife Hannah were two of those who stayed and two days later John became involved in a drunken brawl when he was beaten over the head with sticks. His wife Hannah was otherwise occupied and when she found her husband covered with blood, sent for medical assistance, however Lennon died before Dr. McKinlay arrived from Dungog (17)

Two years later sermons were at times being held at the hotel Celebrations after the maiden races at Clarencetown were held there also

THE RACES- The maiden races at Clarence Town commenced on Monday the 8th instant, a fine level race course having been prepared, and a valuable prize put up for competition, by the spirited landlord of the Clarence Inn, About eleven o'clock this little hamlet was enlivened by an immense concourse of persons, pouring in from all quarters to witness the festivities of the day. By one clock there were near three hundred people on the course and at that hour nine horses started for the prize which was cleverly won by Mr. Alfred Hooks' 'Merry legs' ridden by Snowball. Several private matches were got up, after which the company were hospitably entertained by mine host of the Clarence (Inn). (3)

Ship builder William Lowe was advertising to rent out the Clarence Inn at 'moderate rates' in June 1845 (4)

Fitzarthur Hogue remained at the hotel. Elizabeth Hogue (nee Mackay) was a witness at the Maitland Quarter Sessions at the trial of Patrick Bryan in September 1848

In 1856 splendid premises known as the Fitz Roy Hotel at Clarencetown were advertised for sale on behalf of Hogue. Five cottages were attached to the hotel at the rear and the whole estate was situated in the main street of Clarencetown.

Fitzarthur Hogue moved to Newcastle in 1860 and died at Throsby Street, Wickham, Newcastle in 1878. His son James Alexander Hogue, born in 1846 at Clarencetown, became a journalist and politician.

(4) MM 28 June 1845