William Clayton (abt. 1665 - bef. 1706)

Born about 1665 in Rappahannock, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1706 before about age 41 in Richmond, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

William Clayton was a Virginia colonist.

William was born about 1665 in Rappahannock (Old) County, Virginia (became Richmond County in 1692). He was the son of William Clayton and Hannah Crosfield. He passed away before 6 March 1705/06 in Richmond County, Virginia.

William's birth date is based on a lawsuit filed by him dated 7 July 1686 In Old Rappahannock County, Virginia:

"Henry Awbrey & Arthur Forbes as marrying the administrix of Capt. Tho. Goldman decd have in their custody 23 head of cattle belonging to the orphans of William Clayton, decd and whereas William Clayton, son of the said William Clayton decd, being arrived to the age of 21, has petitioned this court to be possessed of the said cattle..."^[1] 1686 minus 21 gives birth year of approximately 1665/66.

Marriage

William is said to have married Mary Dowd on 1 January 1688 at St James' Duke's Place, London, England. Citation used for this marriage is included in "England Marriages, 1538–1973."^[2] Question: did William really go to London at about age 22 to get married? Or did someone just use this citation because it named a William Clayton and wife Mary?

We know her first name is Mary from a deed:

"dated 1689, says "Wm. Cleaton and wife Mary Cleaton of Parish of North Farnham and County of Rappa.", for 2,000 pounds tobacco, sell to Abraham Cooke of same county and parish, fifty acres of land the which land belongeth to my mother's plantation and (blot) hundred acres of land that she doth now live on and that my father bought of William Landman." William Clayton Sr. had bought this 100 acres from William Landman in 1667. ^[1]

I think, barring additional evidence being brought forward for Mary's surname, that her profile should be renamed to "Unknown." I very much doubt the record cited in England is for this William Clayton, Jr. (Strutton-11 19:45, 17 January 2021 (UTC))

Known children of William Clayton, Jr., and wife Mary Unknown (all sons under the age of 17, daughters under age 16, when will written in 1705):

1. William Clayton, eldest son
2. younger son, Alexander Clayton
3. younger son, Stephen Clayton
4. daughter Mary Clayton
5. Elizabeth Clayton
6. Hannah Clayton

Death & Legacy

William Cleaton, Jr. wrote his will dated 9 December 1705, and died very shortly after that, with the Will being probated in court on 6 March 1705/06. The will states:

"In the name of God Amen, I William Cleaton of the County of Richmond in Virginia Being Sick and weak in body but with sound mind and memory and knowing the ftraylty of this life has & made this my Last Will and Testament, first I bequeath my soul to God that Gave it me in Sure and Certain hopes of the Resurrection mentioned by the death of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my Body to be buryed in such manner as the friends that I know shale think fitt and after my debts are payd. for that finale Estate that it hath pleased God to possess me with all I Good in manner and forme following viz

"I Give unto ALEXANDER CLEATON and STEPHEN CLEATON my two YOUNGER SONS the plantation and Land that I now live on to them and their heirs Lawfully begotten of them & then to be Equally Divided Between those two when they Come to the age of Seventeen, but if they are taught to read and write then it Shall not be till they come to nineteen years of age.

• Item. I give unto my DAUGHTER MARY CLEATON one young mare branded with a K with all her future increase to be given when she comes to the age of Sixteen or day of marriage.

• Item. I Give unto my SON WILLIAM CLEATON a Chest that hath my name and date enggraved upon it and an Iron pot stille? to be given when he comes to the age of seventeen, but if taught to read and write then not till he comes to the age of nineteen.

• Item. I give unto my Two DAUGHTERS ELIZABETH and HANNAH CLEATON Each of them a two year old Heifer to be given when they come to the age of Sixteen or day of marriage.

• Item. I given unto my SON ALEXANDER CLEATON my Spoone Moulds and if he dyed before STEPHEN then is my will that STEPHEN shall have the moulds and if WILLIAM CLEATON is the Longest Lived then he and his heirs shall possess the moulds.

• Item. I given unto my WIFE all the Rest of my Estate and Lastly I make my WIFE my Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament making VOID all other wills heretofore made by me. In Confirmation hereof I have interchangeably sett my hand and Seal this the nineth day of December 1705.

William (X) Cleaton SEAL Witnesses: John Leaman William Linton William Landsman

the words he dyed underlined before Signed.

Proved in Richmond Court by the oaths of Wm. Lynton and William Landsman the 6th day of March 1705 & recorded.

Test. B. S. Sherloik, C. Clerk ^[3]

Research Notes

The following text is found verbatim on William Clayton, Sr., d 1667/68

"This deed, dated 1689, says "Wm. Cleaton and wife Mary Cleaton of Parish of North Farnham and County of Rappa.", for 2,000 pounds tobacco, sell to Abraham Cooke of same county and parish, fifty acres of land the which land belongeth to my mother?s plantation and (blot) hundred acres of land that she doth now live on and that my father bought of William Landman." William Clayton Sr. had bought this 100 acres from William Landman in 1667. In 1686 there is a court record that bears on the birth year of William Clayton Jr.: "Henry Awbrey & Arthur Forbes as marrying the administrix of Capt. Tho. Goldman decd have in their custody 23 head of cattle belonging to the orphans of William Clayton, decd and whereas William Clayton, son of the said William Clayton decd, being arrived to the age of 21, has petitioned this court to be possessed of the said cattle..." William Clayton Sr.'s widow was named Hannah. It is likely she later remarried to Andrew MacAllister. William Clayton Jr,'s wife was named Mary. It appears that they lived on the land purchased by his father in 1670, which lay in North Farnham Parish of Rappahannock County. The area covered by this Parish was later renamed Richmond County. William and Mary Clayton later show up in the records of Richmond County. " ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Old Rappahannock County, Orders, 1685---1687; as cited on William Clayton, Sr., d 1667/68
2. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKHX-NHM : 13 March 2020), William Clayton, 1688.
3. ↑ William Clayton, Jr., d 1705/6
4. ↑ https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bevangenealogy6&id=I15302

• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=6735994&pid=1359
• http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=4932f622-30ff-4999-af01-f98a3140c17a&tid=6735994&pid=1359

• "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKHX-NHM : 13 March 2020), William Clayton, 1688.