General Notes

[MARYOBEDIENCECLAY.FTW]



Absolutely nothing is known of John Clay before he began his journey to Virginia. Anne did not join him until 1623 when she arrived on the
"Ann." They were listed among the settlers living at "Jordans Jorney,
Charles Cittie" in Virginia, January 21, 1624/5. The Clay's had a total of eight children.
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John's first wife Ann arrived at Jamestown in 1623. Her maiden name is unknown.  They had one child, William, who had no issue.
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Immigrant Ancestor. A Coal Baron of Wales, changed name from Claye to Clay when knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He had 4 sons Capt. John Thomas, English Grenadier, Charles, and Henry. John Thomas, Charles, and Henry came to America in 1619 on the goodship" Treasurer." They settled in Charles City, Co., Va.
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Capt. John CLAY the Grenadier, who was living in Charles City County in 1624, m. in England, Anne, surname unknown.
The Clays worked their way through the mid-section of VA from it's earliest settlements along the James River to Southwest VA and the edge of the frontier.
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John Thomas II Clay born in 1587 in England.  John Thomas II died in Charles City Co, Va in 1655, he was 68.
John Thomas Clay, son of Sir John Clay landed at Jamestown, VA in 1613 and settled in Charles City County, Virginia. John Thomas Clay, the Grenadier (hired soldier in the King's army) arrived in the new world in February 1613 according to the muster on the TREASURER. The TREASURER was commanded and partially owned by Captain Samuel Argall, who was a brother of Elizabeth Argall Filmer, ancestress of Martha & Lucy Green Clay (wife of Henry Clay 1713-1764).

It is stated in his muster that he (John Clay) was a planter before the goverment of Sir Thomas Dale. Sir Thomas Dale was deputy governor of the Virginia Colony from ?? until August 1, 1611, however he also served the colony from March 1614 until May 1616. This last term is surely the reference in the muster since John Clay arrived in the new world in February 1613.

John Clay was the first of this family in Virginia. He was living at Jordan's Journey, Charles City, County, Virginia in 1625 when he made a muster of this family in the census of that year as follows: John Claye in the "Treasurer", February 1613 Ann Claye, his wife in the "ANN" August 1623 William Nichols, servant, aged 26 in the "Duke" May 1619. In "Bottom's List of Emigrants to America 1600-1700" (The Muster of the Inhabitants of Jordans Journey), quote:..."Charles Little taken the 20th of January, 1624 of these, the Muster of John Claye..."

John Clay, 1200 acres in the County of Charles City, due 100 acres to him as an old planter before the goverment os Sir Thomas Dale, and the other 1100 for transportation of 22 persons. By West-July 13, 1635.
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William Bayly patented 400 acres purchased from William Clay, son of John Clay. These persons may have been ancestors of Henry Clay, Senator from Kentucky, whose first recorded ancestor Henry Clay, was living in that part of Henrico County, VA. which is now Chesterfield County, Va. when extant records began in 1677. There is also a family of Clays in Surry County, Va. from an early date. August 23, 1643, John Wall patented 1790 acres on Chippoakes Creek, between John Hooke and William Pilkington, adjacent John Clay and John Freme. One William Bailey patented 400 acres of land in Charles City, May 1, 1655, "part of a dividend of 200 acres granted Captain Francis Hooke, 26, October 1637 and assigned to John Clay and John Freme and by inheritance descended unto William Clay son of said John and by William Bailey purchased of said William Clay, the younger."
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On the 18th of February, 1663 Anthony Spilltimber of Surry and wife Mary daughter of Robert Harris, formerly of Isle of Wright, sold 250 acres on Lawne's Creek to John Clay of Surry. In 1688 this land was the subject of a suit between Anthony Spilltimber and John Jennings who married his wife's sister. Spilltimber said that he had sold his rights to John Clay, Sr., "upon which he now liveth."
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John Clay made his will in 1675 as "John Clay the elder", and gave his son William the land he had bought of Anthony Spilltimber. If not he and any brothers may be the ancestors of the Clay family of Kentucky, otherwise the first mentioned William Clay was their probable ancestor.
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William, son of John the elder, married Judith daughter of Captain William Corker, Burgess of James City in 1655-66. William Corker was the son of John Corker, Burgess for James City in 1633 and 1645. He was Clerk of the House of Burgesses, 1645-1653 and Married Dorcasborn in 1601.

William Corker, Burgess for James City 1655-56 and Captain of militia, married Lucy, sister of Captain John White, and made his will in Surry, September 4, 1677 naming children, Susanna, wife of George Branch of Surry, Judith wife of William Clay, and Lucy, wife of Thomas Jordan.

Captain John White was a Burgess in 1641 and had a lot in Jamestown in 1644. He was probably son of William White, haberdasher of London. His will was proven in Surry in 1679 an he left his property to his two sisters Lucy Corker and Mary White.

William Clay died in 1675 an left two daughters, Elizabeth who married John Brantly and Sarah who married George Barlow. John Brantly died in 1730 leaving a son Clay Brantly and grandsons John and Thomas Brantly sons of Clay George Barlow was the son of Thomas Barlow who died in 1679. George made his will in which he mentions sons, George and Thomas, and three daughters. (see will)

In 1618 when John Thomas II was 31, he married Anne Nichols, Grandmother, in London, England. Born about 1590 in England.

They had the following children:

i. Thomas, Born in 1615 in Charles City Co. VA.5 Thomas died after 1673, he was 58.
Thomas Clay his eldest son was given the other land and John was given stock and cattle. Thomas was then living in Surry fro he was a tithable in Lawne's Creek Parish in 1668. In 1673 Thomas was accused of unlawful assembly and of declaring he could not pay his public taxes. He made his will in Surry in 1679 and gave all of property to his wife Elizabeth, no children mentioned. However he had a son Thomas who was mentioned in the will of his brother William in 1676, but Thomas may have died before his father's will was made.
ii. William,  Born in 1617 in Charles City Co. VA. William died after 1655, he was 38.
iii. Francis,  Born in 1625 in Charles City Co. VA.5 Francis died in Westmoreland Co, Va in 1667, he was 42.5
iv. Charles (1638-1686)