Abstract:
Reverend Canon Patricius Cleery of Ireland came to New Bern about 1784 to settle his brother's estate. After a yellow fever epidemic broke out, Cleery never returned to Ireland, but stayed to offer relief to residents of New Bern. He fell victim to the illness himself and died in 1790. He was buried on the grounds of New Bern's Christ Episcopal Church. A new cross has recently been added to his tombstone to replace the original wooden one placed there the year of his death.