×

Historians reveal how St. Clairsville got its name

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Arthur St. Clair, namesake of St. Clairsville, has largely been forgotten by history — but thanks to the work of some enterprising historians, his accomplishments are becoming known both in the United States and in his native Scotland, where he would fit in with their national heroes.

In 2014, Dick Phillips of St. Clairsville took it upon himself to share St. Clair’s story in his book, “The Invisible Patriot.” He has more recently spread the story to interested historians in Scotland.

“He’s not well-known in the states, either — Pennsylvania, West Virginia, a little bit. Not a lot of people remember him because he got a lot of bad publicity here, too, because of things that were not his fault. I’ve been trying to go back to where he was born. Most of them care about native-born people so I’ve been working in Scotland and the UK, and they know even less about him.”

Phillips spoke about St. Clair’s formative years in Scotland, before setting off for the New World and serving during the French and Indian War.

“He grew up there, and he was a kid. He went to Edinburgh University and studied medicine, and then after that he interned with a doctor in London. This was about the time the French were making great inroads into Canada, which was a British Colony,” Phillips said. “The Duke of Cumberland put together an army to drive the French out, and St. Clair, he was 22 or 23 years old and looking for adventure I guess. He bought himself an ensign rank and sailed over the ocean to the Americas and ended up in Canada.”

Phillips said after St. Clair helped drive the French from Canada, he fell in love and married Phoebe Baynard, a niece of the governor of Massachusetts. He married in 1760 and resided in Boston.

“He served five years (with the British) and retired as a captain. He retired his commission and chose to settle in the U.S.,” Phillips said. “He was given some land by the king for his five years of service.”

St. Clair did not rest in those days, and turned his hand to the work of settling the land and defending others from attacks.

“He served a little while with the British in America,” Phillips said, adding that St. Clair’s duties including overseeing forts, but with the withdrawal of British forces from those forts, Native American tribes attacked the villages of Welsh, Scottish and Scots-Irish settlers. St. Clair’s initiative and ability was evident when he assembled a force of about 500 to defend the settlers. These qualities meant he often clashed with the official government, even as he embarked on a political career and eventual appointment to magistrate.

“He was becoming more and more discontent with the British and the way they treated the colonists,” Phillips said, adding that he would exploit his knowledge of the British and their tactics during the Revolutionary War.

This spirit of rebellion, independence, honor and fighting spirit resonated with the Scots of today.

Phillips made the acquaintance of Ashley Cowie, who produces a weekly cable television show “The People’s History,” which boasts an audience of 30,000 in the United Kingdom.

“He’s constantly developing historical stories about Scotland,” Phillips said. “He got excited. He was not familiar with him, but he was familiar with the St. Clairs and their history in Scotland and how far they went back.”

Cowie has called St. Clair the Caithenessian Lion, after Caithness, the county where he was born.

Phillips said St. Clair had largely been forgotten in the United Kingdom.

“They kind of forget about you when you’re not there. He’s not well-known in Scotland, other than Thurso (the town of his birth),” Phillips said, adding that Cowie’s audience found the story welcome and are recognizing a local hero.

“He said it’s been very well-received,” Phillips said.

“Now that they’re learning about him, there seems to be quite a bit of interest,” Phillips said. “I’ll pursue that with more Scottish media.”

There is much in St. Clair’s history and him impact on the early operations of the country’s military to attract interest, from St. Clair’s unconventional tactics including fighting from the woods and primarily at night, to raising armies for the nascent country. This aside from his political influence as a member and president of Congress.

Unfortunately, while St. Clair did what he thought was right, this often meant he was a victim of political maneuvering which damaged his reputation and legacy.

“American history has not been kind to St. Clair,” Phillips said.

Perhaps this element of tragedy also speaks to the Scottish spirit.

Phillips added that St. Clair’s connections with Europe also caused him some awkward moments during the revolution. St. Clair’s cousin, General Thomas Gage, was commander of British forces in North America. Phillips said this meant John Hancock required an additional loyalty oath from St. Clair.

Phillips said St. Clair also came from a proud family line in Europe. St. Clair’s great great grandfather built the Rosslyn Chapel in 1446 in Scotland.

“His lineage in Scotland goes way back,” Phillips said, adding that according to a researcher looking into the St. Clair family, their lineage extends to patrons of the Knights Templar in Normandy, who eventually fled to Scotland after a falling out with the king of France.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today