clay family belcher genealogy in america


      Clay Family





      The Clay name is an exceedingly old one in England, and many centuries ago the Clay families won the right to use Coat armour. The name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 under some curious forms worth quoting, as Cley, Clai, Del Clay, de la Cley and le Clay.
      A still more singular form of it appears on a record of 1327 as att Cleygh--but by the time Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1397 was recorded, Clay or del Clay had become the established form. The name dates from the Saxon times, the Saxon equivalent being Claeg. As a family name it was said to have first been founded in the country of Nottingham, and was derived from the fact that the owner of it lived on Clay land, or at the Clay.
      The Clays were especially numerous in the Eastern part of England."
      descriptions of three coats of arms of the Clay family.
      The first two are taken from the Otken MSS and are as follows:
      "One of them is blazoned: "Per pale vert and sable a lion rampant ermine between three escallops or " The crest is a lion's head per pale vert and sable, charged with an escallop argent.
      The other, which is blazoned: "Argenz, three wolves sable, two in chief combatant, one in base passant."
      The third is taken from the "Clay Family" and is described as follows: "Arg, a chev, engrailed between three trefoils, slipt sable. Crest: Two wings expanded, Arg, semes of trefoils, slipped, sa." no means of determining the correct Arms and Crest for the Georgia Branch of the Virginia Clays, but show the one as given in the "Clay Family."
      "historic Georgia Families"
      Sir John Clay 1558 Monmouth Wales, died 16 may 1632 Wales


      "Emmigrant Ancestors"
      The MUSTER of JOHN CLAY.
      JOHN CLAY, arrived in the "TREASURER," February, 1613.
      Ann, his wife, in the "ANN," August, 1623.
      Captain John Thomas Clay born: 1587 Monmouth Wales
      came to America to the virginia colony on the ship "TREASURER" feb 1613 granted 1200 acres of land 13 July 1615 at the head of Wards Creek
      married Ann Nichols:
      John Clay, an ancient planter, came to Virginia in Feb.1613 in the ship TREASURER, and his wife, ann, in 1623. it is claimed by some that he came from Wales, but the best authority is that he was english. From the sons of John clay descended most of the Virginia Clays.
      There was a clay family also in surrey county at an early date, and it is probable that the names of this family in the early records has caused the confusion as to the names. of john clay's children.
      Clay family article, 1950 states: "The Clay family is one of the oldest in this county" article was published 26 Aug. 1950 in the 1950 centennial edition of the Beckley post-herald.
      13 July 1635 granted 1200 acres in Charles city bounded by land granted to Captain Francis Hooke South East up the Creek, South West into the Mainland.
      A large land owner clay ,was a large land proprietor in Charles City county. the early colonial records show that he was granted a patent for 1,200 acres on ward's creek, fronting on James river, in that part of that county which later became prince george county - 100 acres to him as an old planter before the government of Sir Thomas Dale, and the other 1,100 acres for the transportation of twenty-two persons at his own cost.
      this shows they lived in what is now. Prince George County

      Children:
      1...John Clay
      2...William Clay
      will probated Aug 1663
      Emylin Widow extrx.
      20 Oct 1664 Anthony Wyatt held on William Clays estate 791 lb of Tobacco Emylin Clay Widow Extrx.
      William Clay of Westover Parish sold John Deball, minister, 350 acres, for 2500 lbs of tobacco and Cask. Land bought by father John Clay, 17 Dec 1655.

      John Clay II
      children
      1. 1...Henry Clay
      2. 2...John Clay married:and Mary?????
        Mary is mentioned in his will dated 1675 Isle of Wight county, va(below)
      3. 3...Francis Clay
      4. 4...William Clay
      5. 5...Thomas Clay
      6. 6...Charles Clay born 1638 married Hannah Wilson



      Charles Clay b: 1638, Dale, Chesterfield County Virginia
      died 1 Jun 1686 Henrico County Va
      married: Hannah Wilson 1667 Henrico Co Va
      Charles Clay, the son of John Clay, was in arms under Nathaniel Bacon in his celebrated rebellion against sir William Berkeley, the royal governor of Virginia, in 1676. he was a man of great wealth and scholarly tastes, and possessed the finest library in the colony
      Charles, who was the son of John clay the II., married Hannah Wilson.
      He had several sons, whose names are mentioned in the record above, entitled but the eldest was Henry Clay.
      It was from this Charles, numbered 3 in this line, that senator Clement Comer Clay, of Huntsville, descended, also the famous Henry Clay of Kentucky.
      "His motives were as exalted as his life was pure, and his virtues as noted as his abilities were great. His ambition was for the public welfare, and his passions were only excited against the enemies of his country." From the descendants of this couple came a line of descendants destined to wield a mighty influence in the great new nation which was shortly to arise from the next "Rebellion" and in which their descendants were so well represented. Before proceeding to our line proper, it is fitting to consider some of the related branches of the family here. Charles Clay died in 1686, when only forty eight years old, without having made a will. His wife Hannah was appointed administrator of his estate and it is from the inventory and the will of Hannah made later, that we are able to determine the names of their children. One item in the will of Hannah Clay is illustrative of the period in which she lived. She willed to sons, "John, Thomas and Henry, each of them, one well-fixed gun." The question arises here, was it from her that the Clays inherited their courage, and tendency for pioneering?
      Hannah was mentioned in her fathers will John Wilson of Henrico County, who died 1686 also mentioning John Wilson Jr whose will was recorded in 1716.

      children:
      1. Henry Clay born: 1672 died 1760 married: Mary Mitchell vestryman of Dale Parish, Chesterfield county Va., 1751.

        Henry Clay
        birth: 3 aug 1672, Henrico,co va
        death: 3 aug 1760, Henrico,co va
        burial: 10 miles from,Richmond,rd to Amelia
        married Mary Mitchell 1708 Henrico County va


      2. ...Mary Clay
      3. ...Elizabeth Clay
      4. ...John Clay
      5. ...Thomas Clay
      6. ...Judity Clay
      7. ...Charles Clay born: 1716 died 1789



      Charles and Hannah's son, Henry was born in 1672,
      and died suddenly at supper, at the mature age of 92 years, on the third day of august, 1764.
      General Green Clay states:
      that this "Henry was my grandfather, and married Mary Mitchell (daughter of William and Elizabeth mitchell). they lived and died in chesterfield county, virginia, at the old place on the west side of swift creek. They had four sons, William, Henry, Charles our father, and John, the grandfather of henry clay, late member of congress, and negotiator of the treaty of ghent, and several daughters, Obedience ,Martha, Amy, Mary, and one unknown."
      this record was sent many years ago by Mr. Brutus Clay, son of General Green Clay,Dr. Matthew Clay.
      Mary Mitchell, wife of Henry Clay, who is numbered 4 in this line, was born in July, 1693, and died 7th august, 1777, aged 84 years.
      Henry Clay, of Henrico and Chesterfield counties, had four sons, William mitchell, John, Henry, and Charles. of these, Henry was the ancestor of clement comer clay and clement clairborne clay, of alabama, both of whom - father and son - were united states senators from that state in antebellum days. So far we have followed the "Clay Family" in our genealogy from Captain John Clay of Charles River County. Here we must supplement this by "Johnston." The "Clay Family" gives William Mitchell Clay as the first of the children of Henry Clay and Mary Mitchell. His name is given simply "William" in the will, and so I give it here. The children of Henry Clay and Mary Mitchell are given as in the "Clay Family,"
      children:
      1. William Clay b: 1709 married: Martha Runyan
        mentioned in will of father
      2. Obedience Clay b: 1710 married: Richard Belcher(not mentioned in will)
      3. John Clay b: 1712 was the father of rev. john clay, an eloquent baptist preacher who went to live in hanover county, and who was the father of henry clay, the great kentucky orator and statesman.
        mentioned in will
      4. Henry Clay was the ancestor of clement comer clay and clement clairborne clay, of alabama, both of whom - father and son - were united states senators from that state in antebellum days.
        Henry Clay, son of Henry Clay and Mary Mitchell, resided in Southam Parish, Cumberland County. His wife was Lucy Green, sister of Martha Green, who married Charles Clay and who was the mother of General Green Clay.
        mentioned in fathers will
      5. Martha Clay b: 1713(not mentioned in will)
      6. Charles clay b; 1716 was the father of Matthew Clay, who was long a member of congress from Virginia and of General Greene clay, of Kentucky.
        Charles Clay, son of Henry Clay and Mary Mitchell Clay, born Jan. 31, 1717, married Martha Green,
        Nov. 11, 1741 and died Feb. 25, 1789. She was a sister of Lucy Green who married Henry Clay .
        mentioned in fathers will
      7. Mary Clay b: 1718 married:???Watkins mentioned in fathers will
      8. Amey Clay b: 1720 married: ?? Williamson mentioned in fathers will



      1..... Charles Clay (the second of the name), mentioned above, the fourth and last son of Henry Clay, was born 31st january, 1716, and died 25th february, 1789. he married martha green november 11, 1741. she was born 25th november, 1719, and died 6th september, 1793. she was the daughter of Thomas Green and Eliza Marston, and their line on the family tree is extended away back in the past for generations, including the Filmors and Marvells; and mr. Brutus Clay has extended this family for two generations in the descending line, through the greens, williamsons, moseleys, condons and bookers. from all this i infer that the greens were people of wealth and position;
      bishop meade, in his "churches and families of virginia," has given the following account of Charles clay. he says: "the rev. charles clay was a near relative--probably first cousin--of our statesman, henry clay; and inherited no little of his talents and decision of character. he was ordained by the bishop of london in 1769, and on the 22d october, of same year, was received as minister of st. anne's parish. .
      Charles Clay and his wife (Martha Green) had eleven children, to-wit: mary lockett, born 2d september, 1742; eliza, born 4th august, 1744; charles, born 24th december, 1745; henry, born 5th march, 1748; thomas, born 31st july, 1750; eliza marvell, born 21st april, 1752; lucy thaxton and matthew (twins), born 25th march, 1754; green, born 14th august, 1757; priscilla, born 30th april, 1759, and martha lewis, born 3d july, 1761. the above, showing, i believe, the descent of the clay family from their common ancestor, is merely preliminary to the descent of the families of matthew clay, of virginia; of green clay (his brother), of kentucky; of henry clay, the senator, and senator clement comer clay, of alabama. source: "early settlers of alabama"


      2.....William Mitchell Clay,
      the son of Henry clay, and mary mitchell, his wife, was born about 1710 of,Chesterfield,Co Va
      death: 6 sep 1774, Bedford,Vo Va
      married Martha Runyan
      "While Field's company was encamped on the banks of the Little Meadow River, a branch of the Gauley. two of his men, Clay and Coward, (other authorities spell Cowherd) were sent to hunt deer for the company and were attacked by the Indians. Clay was killed, but Coward made his way back to camp, having first killed one of the Indians." This was just before the battle of Point Pleasant, and I believe explains the lack of further information concerning William Mithcell Clay.
      A William Clay was in Captain Tatums Company 27 Oct 1759 along with Isham Belcher serving in same company. Isham was Phoebe Belchers brother.

      Children:
      1. Hannah Clay
      2. Judith Clay
      3. William Clay
      4. Elizabeth Clay
      5. Mitchell Clay married Phoebe Belcher dau of Richard Obedience Clay Belcher
      6. Ezekial Clay Captain James Robertsons company in the Revolutionary War, listed 15 Sept 1774
      7. Pearis Clay
      8. Obediah Clay
      9. David Clay
      10. Nancy Clay
      11. Mary Clay
      12. Meredity Clay


      Clay Monument to Mitchell Clay and Phoebe Belcher

      THE FAMILY OF SON: MITHCELL CLAY AND PHOEBE BELCHER
      Mitchell Clay: b: 1736 Henrico County Va died 1812 Giles county Ca
      married: Phoebe Belcher dau of Richard Belcher and Mary Obedience Clay
      Phoebe was born: 1742: married 1760:
      Mitchell drew the land in then, Fincastle County, Virginia, for services rendered as a soldier in the French and Indian war, which began in 1754. Summers' History of Southwest Virginia (1746-1786) page 146 states that on April 25, 1774, Mitchell Clay had 1000 acres, both sides Bluestone Creek, Clover Bottom, according to a survey by John Floyd and others in 1774-1775, lying mostly in Kentucky. This land was acquired under the King's proclamation of 1763 for service in French and Indian war 1754-1763. The grant was made by Dunmore, Governor of the Colony and embraced 1000 acres. It is probable that both Mitchell and his father were in this war. Johnston says that Mitchell Clay married Phoebe Belcher in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1760. He is evidently in error, as Franklin County was not then created. Johnston obtained his information from a manuscript record made by two of the grandsons of Mitchell, and these are usually more or less elastic as to dates and places, though on the whole, fairly accurate. Mitchell Clay had been living on the Clover Bottoms only about one year when the war of the Revolution broke out,
      Mitchell clay, in april 1774, obtained a crown grant from Lord Dunmore, then royal governor of Virginia, for 803 acres of land described as being situated on both sides of Bluestone Creek, a branch of new river, and called Clover Bottom. With his family ,he moved to his new estate in the spring of 1775. In August of 1785 there occurred the famous Shawnee Massacre, in which two of his children, Bartley and Tabitha, were killed outright, and a third, Ezekiel, carried captive to Chillicothe, and there burned at the stake.
      Following the massacre at Clover Bottom, settlers from the new river country pursued the Indians and overtook a portion of them - the main body having in the meantime divided - on Pond Fork, Boone county. in the fight that followed two sons of Mitchell clay, David and Mitchell, the younger, were participants.
      Ezekiel Clay was not recovered, he being with the other band of indians, and it was in retaliation for losses inflicted upon their comrades on Pond Fork that the indians burned him at the stake upon their arrival at their village on the pickaway plains.
      After this disaster came upon his family ,Mitchell Clay moved to the new river country near Pearisburg, where he acquired, on the opposite side of the river from where the town now stands, a tract of land which later was known as the Johnston farm. he resided there until his death in 1811.
      At Point Pleasant ,Mitchell Clay was a soldier in the army of general Andrew Lewis, at the battle of point pleasant, oct. 10, 1774. He was also a member of captain Daniel Smith's company of Fincastle Militia during the Revolutionary War.
      The sons of Mitchell Clay were very active in the early history of montgomery and Giles counties. They were men of splendid proportions, and men of exceptional attainments for their day and opportunities. Their calibre is amply attested by a Montgomery county court order enter june 4, 1799, in which three of them were recommended to the governor of Virginia for commissions as officers in the same battalion.
      mitchell clay, the younger, ancestor of the late william sanford clay, was born about 1769 and died at the home of his son, Charles l. Clay, near bolt, raleigh county, in 1851. among his sons are john t. clay, who served as first sheriff of Raleigh county after its formation in 1850, and Charles l. Clay, grandfather of W. S. Clay. mentioned in fathers will below.


      Children Mitchell Clay and Phoebe Belcher:
      1. 1...Patience Clay b: 1760 bedford county va(franklin)
        married:??Chapman.mentioned in fathers will below.
      2. 2...David Clay b 1761: died: 1818 Wilkenson Georgia
        married Eve Harden 26 sep 1792 Warren County Georgia
        David, the oldest son, and who was a revolutionary soldier, died in 1792. his widow and children went to georgia, and their descendants are numerous and prominent in that state.
        mentioned in fathers will, below, as being deceased;
        Captain James Robertsons company in the Revolutionary War, listed 15 Sept 1774
      3. 3...Tabitha Clay b 1763 bedford count va(franklin co va) died aug 1783 in an indian attack
        pond fork of little coal river
      4. 4...Bartley Clay b: 1766 died aug 1783 in an indian attack
        pond fork of little coal river
      5. 5...Rebecca Clay b 1768 died mercer county wva
        married: captain George Pearis 5 oct 1784 and Phillip Peters
        mentioned in fathers will below.
      6. 6...Obedience Clay b 1769 bedford county va(Franklin)
        married:??French, mentioned in fathers will below.
      7. 7...Mitchell Clay jr. b: 1779 died 1851 raleigh county wva:
        married judith clay dau of william clay
        Children:
          1...Charles L. Clay born 1804
          listed 1850 Raleigh County age 46
          wife G age 44
            1..Rebecca age 23
            2..Permelia age 19
            3..Green age 16
            4..Nancy age 14
            5..Mitchell age 12
            6..James age 10
            7..Ralph age 9
            8..William age 5
            9..Mary age 3
            10.Charles age 5 Months

          2...Meredith Clay born 1815
          Married: Nancy born 1815
          8 children mentioned in 1850 census but cant make out the writing
          3...John T. Clay born 1820
          married: Catherine
          Children:
            1..Emmaline born 1846
            2..A. born 1847


      8. 8...John William Clay b 1771 died 1851 Raleigh co wva
        mentioned in fathers will below
      9. 9...Mary (Polly)Clay b: 1772 died 25 april 1851 wyoming cunty wva
        married captain Ralph Stuart 25 june 1788
        had 13 children one of whom is ora married marys brother charles
        she may have been from a precious marriage of ralphs or a later one
      10. 10..Nancy(Nannie) Clay b 1773 married Joseph Hare 1789:
        Joseph was an indian fighter and scout: nannie died soon after
        "history of west virginia and its people"
        among the indian fighters was Joseph Hare:
        Joseph hare removed to the new river valley, and finally settled on wolf creek in what is now giles county, virginia. he became a distinguished indian fighter and scout and took part in nearly all the skirmishes along the border between 1779 and 1794, among them that on Pond Fork of Little Coal River in the early autumn of 1783 with the band of indians which a few days previously had attacked the family of Mitchell Clay, killing his son and daughter, and carrying his youngest son Ezekiel into captivity.
        This is presumedly when he met Nannie Clay
        Joseph Hare was also a member of captain thomas shannon's company, with which in february, 1781, he marched to North Carolina and took part in the engagement at Wetzell Mills, march 6, 1781, and in the battle on march 15, 1781, at Guilford court house. Joseph Hare died in 1855, aged one hundred and five years. he married (first) in april, 1789, nancy(nannie), daughter of mitchell and phoebe (belcher) clay. he married (second) Phoebe, daughter of Uriah Purdue. the Purdues were of french origin. child of joseph and phoebe (purdue) hare: william h., referred to below.
        history of west virginia and the people
        joseph later married one of the clay daughters, nancy (nannie)clay
        11..Charles Lewis Clay b 1774
        charles married ora Stuart:possibly his niece: ancestor files have her listed as ralph and mary clay stewarts daughter:
        mentioned in fathers will below
      11. 12..Henry Clay 11 b 1781 died 12 jan 1866 Matheny wyoming county wva
        henry, married Rhoda Shrewsbury. he is the ancestor of the Wyoming County Clays. he lived there for several years, before moving to Mercer county, on Bluestone, at Spanishburg, also married Mattie Miller
        mentioned in fathers will below
      12. 13..Ezekiel Clay b 1782 taken prisoner in indian raid of 1783
        pond fork of little coal river burned at the stake.
      13. 14..Sarah Sally Clay b 1783 married John Peters 26 jul 1810
        mentioned in fathers will below
      14. 15..Polly clay b 1789 died 1856 wyoming county wva
        married william randolph stuart 25 june 1788 mentioned in fathers will below



      LAND GRANTS:

      Charles Clay - 29 apr1794
      montgomery county
      197 a. on a ridge above paint lick a branch of eastriver
      grants no. 32, p. 126

      land grants for Mitchell Clay:
      mitchell clay - 5 jul1774
      fincastle county
      803 a. on both sides of bluestone creek a branch of new river at a place called
      clover bottom
      patents no. 42, p. 522

      mitchell clay - 15 nov1787
      montgomery county
      109 a. on black lickcreek a branch of bluestone
      grants no. 16, p. 106

      mitchell clay - 29 apr1794
      montgomery county
      90 a. on the five mile fork of east river
      grants no. 30, p. 99

      KENTUCKY GRANTS (1793-1856)
      THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY
      page 159
      Grantee: Clay, Green
      Acres: 340
      Book: 16
      Page: 361
      Date Survey: 4- 9-1806
      County: Knox
      Watercourse: Yellow Cr
      The said Henry Clay was the son of John Clay, born 1638, died 1686, and his wife Hannah; married prior to 1672.
      The said Charles Clay was the son of Henry Clay, born 1672, died 1760, and his wife Mary Mitchel, born January 1693, died August 7, 1777.
      Gen. Green Clay was the son of Charles Clay, born
      ===========

      January 3, 1716;
      died February 25, 1789, and his wife Martha- Green, born November 25, 1719; died September 6, 1793.
      General Green Clay, who was the first historian of the Clay family, was born Aug. 14, 1757, married Sally Lewis, March 14, 1795, and died Oct. 21, 1828. First Deputy Surveyor or Kentucky, delegate to convention that ratified Constitution, served in Kentucky Legislature twenty years, speaker of (Ky.) Senate, 1807, Revolutionary soldier and also war of 1812.
      The said Cassius Marsellius Clay was the son of Gen. Green Clay, born August 14, 1757; died October 21, 1828, and his wife Sallie Lewis, born 1776, died 1867.
      The said Sallie Lewis Clay, born 1841, was the daughter of Cassius Marsellius Clay, born October 19, 1810; died July 3, 1903, and his wife Mary Jane Warfield, born January 20, 1815; died April 29, 1900.
      James Bennett, born February 9, 1839; died October 29, 1908, and his wife Sallie Lewis Claye, November 18, 1841.
      "sons and daughters of the pilgrims"

      CHAPTER III OLD KENTUCKY GRANTS (1793-1856)
      THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY,
      page 159
      Grantee: Clay, Henry
      Acres: 1,320
      Book: 17
      Page: 170
      Date Survey: 10- 7-1795
      County: Fayette
      Watercourse: Ky R



      CLAY WILLS:

      John Clay Bond, 1675 - Isle of Wight County, va
      Isle of wight co., va, record of wills, deeds, etc., vol. 2, p. 37 (2nd pagination) abstracted by matt harris
      By the governor & capt. general of virginia
      to all to whom these presents shall come, I ye Wm. Berkeley k:t gent send greeting in our lord god, everlasting,
      whereas John Clay late of this colony dec'd: did by his last will & testment ordain & appoint, that Mary his relictt, should be executrix of his said will & testament
      who said Mary Clay, did attend a court held in for Isle of Wight County the 20th day of October 1675 made humble suite to the court that a probate of the said will might be granted unto her: for who cause, full power & lawfull authoritiy is hereby given & granted unto her to dispose of all & singular, the goods rights & creditts, of the said decendents estate, according to the true intent of the said last will & testament
      given under my hand this 15th day of november 1675
      William Berkeley
      recorded 20:th october 1675
      bond for 50000 lb tob: & cash
      sec'y
      Tho. Barlow & Daniell Marland.


      MITCHELL CLAYS WILL, Sr.,1810, Giles Co. Va from
      "the descendants of John Thomas Clay, Jamestown immigrant and son of Sir John clay of wales";
      from a copy from the Giles County Courthouse. "In the name of God, Amen.
      I Mitchell Clay Sen. of the County of Giles and State of Virginia ,
      being very sick in body but of perfect mind and memory ,thanks be given unto god calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament.
      That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty god that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate where with it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form
      1. firstly of all I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved daughter Patience Chapman one dollar to be raised and levied out my estate,
      2. secondly I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved daughter Rebecca Pearis one dollar to be raised & levied out of my estate
      3. thirdly I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved daughter Obedience French one dollar to be raised and levied out of my estate
      4. fourthly I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved daughter Polly Stuart one dollar to be raised & levied out of my estate,
      5. fifthly I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved daughter Sally Peters one dollar to be raised & levied out of my estate
      6. sixthly & I also give and bequeath to each of the children of David Clay decd one dollar to be raised and levied out of my estate.
      7. seventhly I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved son Mitchel Clay the younger one negro girl named Lidy to him & his heirs for ever.
      8. eighthly I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved son William Clay one negro boy named Ned to him and his heirs forever.
      9. ninthly, I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved son Charles Clay one negro boy named May to him and his heirs forever.
      10. tenthly I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved son Henry Clay one negro girl named Rachel together with all and singular the tract of land wheron I now live it lying on the north east side of new river adjoining and below the lands of Mitchel Clay (the younger) with all its tenements dwelling house and out houses. also all my stock of horses, cattle hogs and stock of every kind household and kitchen furniture unto him and his heirs forever.
        excepting three cows of an average value which I give and bequeath unto my son Charles Clay.
      11. also I give and bequeath to my two sons Mitchell Clay (the younger) and Henry Clay the tract of land I bought of Rueben Roberts and was by the heirs of Rueben Roberts conveyed to (be?) me to them and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them.
        provided the said Mitchel Clay and Henry Clay do pay unto Rueben Roberts, the sum of one hundred & sixteen dollars or there abouts with the interest on the same which sum I am owing to the said estate of Roberts and in case they the said Mitchel Clay and Henry Clay fails to make the payment aforesaid then it is my will and desire that the said tract of land be sold and the money arrising therefrom to be appropriated to the payment of the debt aforesaid also it is my will & desire that a tract of land I own on the five mile fork of east river of about one hundred acres shall be sold to pay my debts
      12. I also give and bequeath unto my four sons:
        Mitchel Clay the younger
        Charles Clay
        William Clay
        and Henry Clay
        one negro woman named Phebe and her boy child name Jack
        to be equally divided between them, that is to say ,that either two of my sons may keep the said two negroes and pay the other two of my sons their share of their value and in case they cannot agree then the said two negroes to be sold and the money divided between my four sons aforesaid equally,
      13. also it my will and desire that my four sons (towith?) Mitchel Clay, Charles Clay ,William Clay and Henry Clay do pay all my just debts that may remain unpaid after the payments are made heretofor provided for and in case they fail to pay the remaining debts aforesaid ,then the negro woman and her child Jack to be sold & the remaining debt paid and the residue of the money if any equally divided amonst my four sons aforesaid also it is my will and desire that my executor collect all the debts that are coming to me and appropriate them in the payment of my debts and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and annul all and every other former testament wills legacies and bequests ratifying
      14. and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament,
        and I do hereby ordain constitute and appoint my four sons Mitchel Clay ,Charles Clay , William Clay ,& Henry Clay my executors of this my last will & testament in witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this Twenty Sixth day July 1810 .

      signed sealed and Mitchell (his mark) Clay seal
      delivered in presents of A. Johnston ,John Brown ,Joseph St.Henry (his mark), Dillian Codicill .


      I Mitchell Clay Sen. of the County of Giles and State of Virginia being in perfect health of body and of sound mind and memory do make ordain & constitute the following codicil as part of my will made and acknowledged the twenty sixth day of July 1810 that is to say that so much of the said will and desires as bequeath one negro girl named Lidy to my son ,Mitchel Clay the younger,
      1. I do hereby revoke and dis annul and in lieu thereof I give and bequeath unto my son Mitchel Clay my black woman named Pheboe and her boy child named Jack to him and his heirs for ever revoking and disannuling that part of said will here referred to as gives the said pheboe and her child jack to my four sons Mitchel Clay, Charles Clay, William Clay ,& Henry clay
      2. 2ndly I give and bequeath unto my son William clay one negro girl named Liddy to him and his heirs heirs for ever in lieu of a negro boy named Ned as mentioned in my former will to which this is a supplement revoking that part of the said will as bequeaths the said Ned to my son william clay
      3. 3dly in my former will to which this is a supplement I give and bequeath unto my son Charles Clay three cows of an average value and since the making the said devise i have give him two of the cows there in mention -ed therefore i now give and bequeath unto the said charles only one cow agree able to the terms in the said will mentioned
      4. 4thly it is my will and desire that my negro boy named Ned shall be sold and the money applyed to the payment of my just debts in case the provisions made in my former will to which this is a supplement proves in sufficient to the payment of my debts but in case the provisions there in mentioned be found equal to meet my debts or in case there should be a surplus of the price of the negro boy after paying the debts in either case my will is that the money be equally divided between my four sons mitchel clay charles clay william clay and henry clay and i do here by dis annul all and every part of my former will to which this is a supplement

      that comes within the precept of this codicil ratifying and confirming this codicil is together with my former will to which this is a supplement so much there of as is not altered nor changed by the codicil
      to be my last will and testament
      in which where of i have here unto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of march in year of our lord 1811
      signed sealed and acknowledged mitchel (his mark) clay seal
      before at Giles April court signed 1811 this last will and A. Johnston testament of Mitchel Clay ,and Samuel Brown was proven in court by the oaths Wm Chapman, of Andrew Johnston, John brown, D Johnston ,and Henry Dillion also this codicil was proven by the oaths of Andrew Johnston & David Johnston two of the witness there to subscribed which codicil together with the original will is ordered to be recorded test David French.


      Will in part, of Henry Clay
      probated at the September 1760, Chesterfield Court.
      "I, Henry Clay, of Henrico County, being of perfect health, mind, and memory, thanks be to God therefore, and calling to mind my mortality, and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say,
      first of all I give my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and as for my body I commend it to the earth, to be buried in a Christian-like and decent form at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by mighty power of God; and as to touching my worldly goods wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life.
      I give, devise, and dispose of the same in manner following:
      1. First: I give and bequeath unto my son, William Clay, the land and plantation whereon he now lives, and my land and plantation on Deep Creek, in Henrico County, whereon "Richard Belcher" now lives, to him, his heirs, and assigns forever.
      2. Third: I give and bequeath unto my son, Charles Clay, the plantation whereon he now lives and all of the land on the north side of Swift Creek and the lower side of Nuttree Run to me belonging, and also four hundred acres at Letalone, it being my Upper Survey at Letalone, to him and his heirs forever.
      3. Fourth I give and bequeath unto my son, John Clay, the plantation whereon he now lives and all of my land on the north side of Swift Creek and upper side of Nuttree Run, to him and his heirs forever.
      4. Fifth. I likewise give and bequeath my Grist Mill on Nuttree Run to be equally divided between my son Charles and my son John Clay, to be held in joint tenancy, to them and their heirs forever.
      5. Sixth: I give to my daughter, Amey Williamson, five pounds, current money.
      6. Seventh: I give to my daughter, Mary Watkins, five pounds, current money.
      7. Eighth I give to my grandson, Henry Clay (Dr. Henry Clay, of Ky.), 240 acres adjoinging the land of James Hill, etc.
      8. Ninth: I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Mary Clay, daughter of Charles Clay (afterwards Mrs. Stephen Lockett), one negro girl, named Phoebe.
      9. Tenth: I give unto Mary, my wellbeloved wife, the plantation whereon I now live, during her natural life, and my negroes, Lewis, Jo, Sue, Nann, Jenny and Sarah, during her natural life, and what stock and household goods she pleases to have or make use of, of mine.
      10. Eleventh: I devise that the rest of my slaves not heretofore given, and my stock and household goods, be given and equally divided among my four sons aforementioned, at ther discretion, and also the negroes above written, and gave my wife, may be equally divided after my wife's decease.
      11. Twelth: I give to my four sons, above written, and to my wife, to be equally divided, all the ready money and money out at use, that I shall be possessed with at my death.

      and I do hereby make, constitute and ordain my four sons, above written, to be my only and sole executors of this, my last Will and Testament."
      2 girls Obedience and Martha are not mentioned in will.
      Special attention is called to the bequest to William Clay,
      in that it mentions plantation whereon "Richard Belcher now lives,"
      NOTE: William Mithcell Clay is later to be an executor of Richard Belchers will


      SOURCES:
      "the clay family quarterly clay," george r. belcher .
      "microfilm files from the lds genealogy in Utah"
      "history of west virginia and the people"
      "a table of consanguinity of the ascending line of green clay's family,"
      "early settlers of alabama"
      clay family article, 1950 "clay family is one of the oldest in this county" article was published .
      "26 aug. 1950 in the 1950 centennial edition of the beckley post-herald."
      "Giles County Va courthouse"
      "Isle of Wight County Wills"
      "Chesterfield Wills" "The Clay Family" by Johnston



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