Clench_Panel_proof2 What he did here: Clench owned about an acre and half of land where Victoria Hall now stands. In 1838 he sold the property to the newly incorporated town as the site of the municipal market. For a time his house probably served as the �rst town hall. About 1848 he built a house he called "The Chestnuts", now addressed as 134 King St. West. The family continued to own it until 1899. Three Clench sons, Thomas, William and Cory, worked at various times in the business. William left Cobourg. Cory eventually apprenticed as a printer with Richard D. Chatterton, later becoming editor of the Cobourg Star with H.J. Ruttan. That left Tom Clench as his father's only partner. Freeman S. Clench continued to work until shortly before his death in 1877. Mrs. Eliza Clench died in 1888. Tom inherited the business and immediately sold it. Very soon after, he fell to his death when he slipped o� the Port Hope Railway viaduct while returning to Cobourg on foot. The viaduct was often used as a pedestrian walkway. His sister, Eliza, married lawyer John Douglas Armour, whose distinguished career culminated with his being raised to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1902, and three months later being appointed to the Alaska Boundary Commission. "The Chestnuts" 134 King St. West Clench prospered in Cobourg. In the 1861 census he owned a two-story frame house, two coaches, two horses, a cow and $6000.00 invested in his business. The family's rising position was recognized by his wife who noted in a letter that her sons were now being educated alongside the sons of gentlemen. Two daughters, Harriet and Eliza, were educated at a ladies college at Hamilton. At any given time he employed a number of craftsmen and assistants. The business expanded to include a retail outlet on Division Street, where they brought in furniture from other manufactures to sell alongside their own. During the mid-1830s Paul Kane was one of his employees. Kane painted furniture - but years later, after he had become a celebrated artist, he returned to marry Clench's daughter, Harriet.