One of the earliest and most notable medical licenses in the history of Upper Canada. Pitkin Gross was born in 1791 or 1792 in Hartford, Vermont, the son of Rev. Thomas Gross and Rhoda (Marsh) Pitkin. At age 19, in 1811, he graduated from Dartmouth College's medical school. He registered for military service in the War of 1812, which gave him experience as a regimental surgeon. After the war he settled in Palmyra, New York and practised medicine there until 1817. He married Rebecca Bond Cory on October 15, 1815 in Ballston Spa, Saratoga, New York and had at least nine sons and four daughters. The family moved to Upper Canada in 1818, settling in Carrying Place, Bay of Quinte, Northumberland County, at that point one of the most important settlements between Kingston and Toronto. In 1818 the Medial Board of Upper Canada was established and met periodically to license badly-needed doctors. In 1819 Gross went to Toronto take a medical exam in order to be licensed in Upper Canada. He and two others, out of some 18 candidates, passed the examination given by the Canadian boards. According to Canniff's The Medical Profession in Upper Canada, Gross passed his exampination before Doctors Macaulay, Widmer and Lyons.After passing his examination and receiving his license, he was appointed surgeon to the 2nd Regiment, Prince Edward Militia, in 1822. Pitkin is said to have been a highly skilled surgeon, known for his skill in performing operations even when proper instruments were unavailable. Often his practice involved riding on horseback through rough wilderness country. For all the dangers and difficulties he had to pass through, he was fortunate never to meet with a serious accident. Dr. Gross was often spoken of with respect as being a kind and skillful physician. His visits, whether for sickness or social calls, were always appreciated. This licence shows the family living in Murray, Northumberland County, confirmed by the 1851 census. Eventually they moved to Brighton, as seen on the 1861 census. He practised until 1868 when a stroke forced his retirement. He died September 20, 1873 in Brighton and is buried in Brighton's Mount Hope Cemetery. Sir Peregrine Maitland (1777-1854) was Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1818 until 1828 when he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. His secretary, Major George Hillier, served under Maitland in Europe and was a close friend as well as advisor.
