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The Clarence Inn
was situated in Queen Street and was first licensed in June 1837.
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. Ellar
McKellar 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)
In March 1846 the
Hotel was advertised to be sold by public auction. It had 10 rooms and
stone foundations. Other buildings adjoining the hotel also for sale
were a - Butcher's shop, Wheelwrights shop, Shoemaker's shop and General
store.
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.
(3)MM
20 April 1844
(4) MM 28 June 1845
(17)
MM 22 July 1843
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