William Clayton Jr. (1655 - 1727)

Born 11 May 1655 in Chichester, Sussex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Bezer) Clayton — married Feb 1683 in Home of William Hewes, Chichester, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 22 Feb 1727 at age 71 in Chichester, Chester, Pennsylvania

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Biography

William Clayton Jr. was a part of William Penn's Pennsylvania Settlers community.

William Clayton Jr. migrated from England to British North America.

William was a Friend (Quaker)

William was born May 11, 1655 at Lewes, Chichester, Sussex, England,^[1] He was a son of William Clayton and Prudence (Lanckford) Clayton.

William arrived to the new world by 1678 when his families signatures were recorded in the Burlington Monthly Meeting witnessing a marriage on August 6th. His father William signed, "Wm. Clayton, Sr.," he signed, "Wm. Clayton, Jun" and also his mother, "Prudence Clayton."^[2]

He married Elizabeth Bezer daughter of Edward and Ann (Fry) Bezer. Theirs was the first intention recorded in Pennsylvania, at the monthly meeting held on “the 10th day of ye 11 month 1681”. They were not the first to marry there though, the bride’s parents being absent. The minutes record in 6 mo. 3, 1682, at Chester, “by friends belonging to marcus hooke alis Chechester &vpland, and ye adioyning, Inhabetants, at Robert Wad’s [Robert Wade’s] house...”

“At this meeting William Clayton juner and elezebeth bezor, both living at Chechester have declared their Intentions of marriage: & its ordered by the meeting that morgan druet % Robert Wade doe make enquirey conserning them, & give it to ye next monthly meeting.”

Their 2nd intentions were recorded there the 11th 7 mo 1682 but they told them, “but friends findeing that her parents were absent and had not their consent for such proceedings, nor certificate of her clearness from other men...” and advised them to wait further until cleared. The marriage certificate was recorded by the Registrar General of the Province of Pennsylvania, stating they were married at the home of the bride's brother in law, William Hewes, of Chichester 12th mo. __, 1682.

Soon after marriage William purchased 100 acres with an established mill at the site of Maylandville, which is now part of Philadelphia. The mill is believed to be the same that, in 1678, the Upland Court ordered to be built at “the faal called Cap[tn Hans moenses falls”^[3] Maylandville was in the vicinity of Darby Road, at the crossing of Mill Creek, below Woodlands Cemetery.^[4] They participated with Haverford Friends for some years and later moved back to Chichester, probably after William Sr died. He was a Tavern Keeper for some years.

His known children are:^[5]

• William
• Elizabeth
• Rachel
• Edward
• Richard
• Abel
• Thomas
• Ambrose

Birth 1655 William Clayton England Births and Christenings Name William Clayton gender Male Wife Prudence Son William Clayton Other information in the record of William Clayton from England Births and Christenings Name William Clayton Gender Male Birthplace Chichester, Sussex, England Birth Date 11 May 1655 Father's Name William Clayton Mother's Name Prudence ^[1]

Residence

At Marcus Hook grew two townships, Upper and Lower Chichester. William appears on the tax rolls of Lower Chichester in 1715.^[6]

Research Notes

No source for the middle name "Mickel" has been found. If anyone can find the source, please add it with our thanks. Baty-260 20:44, 8 November 2019 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NV23-Y8T : 30 December 2014), William Clayton in entry for William Clayton, William Clayton; citing Chichester, Sussex, England, reference p12; FHL microfilm 811,736.
2. ↑ Strickland, Jacqueline Frank. Descendants of Founders of New Jersey: William Clayton. https://www.njfounders.org/founders#comp-ldoys2aa2__f990bc3c-42f7-46de-9897-ba8640056fc9 Accessed 7 October 2023.
3. ↑ Upland Court Records, Pg. 115.
4. ↑ Philadelphia place names
5. ↑ Potts, Thomas Maxwell. Our Family Ancestors. Canonsburg, PA: Privately Published, 1895, pgs 119-121. Accessed at: Archive.org.
6. ↑ Futhey, J. Smith, and Cope, Gilbert. History of Chichester County. Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts. 1881. p. 171. Accessed 14 October 2018 SJ Baty at https://archive.org/details/cu31924005813518/page/n233.