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While Harry was at the study of medicine, Tom being the second son,and not bound as his older brother was, to step into their father’s role as farm manager, was apprenticed to a blacksmith and cooper, by the design of old Lawrence Clark. Tom was by this time already an experienced farmer and stockman, as was Harry. Both boys had learned the art of whiskey at Grandfather Sheridan’s knee, set to stirring the mash for as far back as either could remember. It was decided that producing the barrels for aging the new whiskey on the farm would be of good benefit, as well as the many mundane tasks for a lad proficient with iron and fire, and loathe was old Clarke to release Tom when he announced his intention to accompany Harry to the Colonies, but so he did with grim yet resigned countenance. And so the year 1771 found the boyhood companions grown to honorable and accomplished manhood, and reunited as the Belfast set sail for Philadelphia.