An American Family History

William Clay

William Clay was born about 1733 in Virginia.

He married Ann Old, on May 10, 1756 in Amelia County, Virginia. Her parents were John Old and Mary Gill.

Ann and William's children probably included:

Martha (Patsy) Clay (married David Woodall),
Elizabeth Clay (married Hodges),
Hannah Clay (1765, married John Claiborne Tyree), and
William Clay (married Lucy Reed).

His second wife was Milly Tucker.

William and Milly's children probably included:

Milly Clay (married Joseph Cowder)
John Clay (married Elizabeth M. Dickinson)
Ezekiel Clay (1778, married Jane (Jincey) Brizendini)
Merideth Clay (married Agnes Evens)
Judith Clay (1771, married Mitchell Clay)

When Ann's father, John Old died in 1768, he left her an enslaved boy named Ralph.

In 1786 William Clay was mentioned in a Franklin County, Virginia road order "from Little Creek to Maggotty Creek."

In 1787, the Franklin County court records show a deed from Jesse Hall to Willliam Clay. In 1788 the records show a deed from John Grimmit and William Clay to William Hall.

At the time of the 1810 census, the Clay family was in Frankin County, Virginia.

William wrote his will in 1810 in Franklin County, Virginia.

from Franklin County, Virginia Court Records, p. 307

[1786] Ordered that John Craghead, William Swanson, Philip Raley, William Clay or any 3 of them do View & mark out a Way for a Road,, the Nearest & best Way from the Chesnut Road X Pig River & Black Water to Stanton to Intersect the Meadow Road Leading to Lynches Ferry & make Report thereof to the Court.

from Franklin County, Virginia Court Records

Feb. 1786
Ord. that Tobias Miller be App'd Sur. of the Rd.
from Little Creek to Maggotty Creek [Maggodee Creek]
with the foll'g hands * * * Jacob Cradle, Rich'd Richards, Will Dodd, Ira Landes, Ro. West, Jno. French, Danl. French, Jr., Rich'd McLary, Jacob McNeal, Jacob Dillmon, Geo. Price, John Altick, John Bowman, Daniel Rudy, Steph. Potter, Will Thomas, Wm. Clay, * * * Delany, Chris. Chas. Long & Mich'l Peters which are Ord'd to * * *

from Franklin County, Virginia Court Records

April 1788- A Deed from John Grimmit [Grimmitt] & Wm. Clay to Wm. Hall Prov'd & O. R.

I William Clay of Franklin County State of Virginia do hereby make My last Will and Testament in manner and form following that Is “to say”

First, I will and bequeath unto my eight Children Viz
Patsey Woodall,
Betty Hodges,
Hannah Tyree,
Judah Clay,
Milly Corden (?),
William Clay,
John Clay and
the heirs of my son Merideth Clay deceased
The property gave by me to them previous to this day to have and
Enjoy the same without any claim to my present Estate

Secondly I will and leave to my beloved wife Milly all my Estate both real & personal during her natural life for her to enjoy the same

Thirdly and lastly at the Death of my beloved wife Milly I do give And Bequeath unto my son Ezekiel all my Estate that is in my Possession both real and personal to be his won right & property forever

And do hereby constitute and appoint my son Ezekiel Clay Executor of This my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other former Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made In Testimony whereof
Have hereunto set my hand and Seal the 12th April in the year of
Lord 1810.
his
Signed Sealed Published and declared
Wm X Clay
As and for the last will & Testament mark
Of the above named Wm Clay in the
Presence of us
Joel Shrewsburg
Jon Patterson
Josiah W. Dickerson

Page 16
At Court held for Franklin County October 5th 1812
This Last Will and Testament of William Clay deceased
Was proved by the oath of Jonathan Patterson and Josiah W. Dickerson two witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded
Teste, James Callaway C.F.C.

from Will Book Amelia County, Virginia 1761-1771

Old, John (x) of Raleigh Parish. Will d. March 8, 1767, pro. July 28, 1768.
Wit. John Powell, Willam Morgan, Agness (X) Powell.
Ex. wife Mary Old, James Old, Edward Old.
Sec. Peter jones, Paschall Greenhill.
Leg: wife Mary Old, plantation I now live on and profit from Negroes Jammey and Lucy, stock, hh. goods., etc., for life,
then as follows:
Son James Old, tract of land I have deeded him on White Oak Creek and Negro girl Dinah;
Son Edwards Old, tract I have deeded him adj.
Son James, and Negro girl Doll;
Son John Old, 515 acres in Dinwiddie Co., Va. on White Oak Creek purch. of Rees, Ford, and Davis, and Negro girl Fillis;
Son William Old, plantation I now live on cont. 220 acres;
Sons Charles Old,Thomas Old, and Joshua Old, 625 acres on Rocky Run, to be equally div., but lower lot to have 225 acres, and one young Negro boy, and my Negro Bet to be one of their lots;
Dau. Ann Clay, Negro boy Ralph;
Dau. Sarah Tucker, Negro boy Daniel;
Dau. Mary Old, Negro boy Dick, who is bro. to Daniel;
Dau. Martha Old, Negro man Dick;
Dau. Phebe Old, one young Negro;
Dau. Judith Old, one young Negro.
Rem. est. to be equally div. when son John is 19.
Son John and 3 youngest sons to have dwelling house equal to son James';
Sons to have 5 years schooling apiece, and daus. 2 years schooling apeice, to be pd. out of est. before any division is made.

John Old estate in Amelia rec Aug 25 1768.
John Old Estate in Dinwiddie rec Aug 25 1768

Edward, John, William, Charles,T homas and Lucy Olds, William Clay and Ann his wife, Martin Chandler and Sarah his wife, John Thompson and Mary his wife, Daniel Tucker and Martha his wife,George Hawks and Judy his wife and William Covington
and Phebe his wife ,complt vs James Old Exe of John Old, dec'd, defent
In Chancery...to divide that part of the estate of John Old dec'd which by his will he divised unto his wife Mary during her life and after her death unto his
children...parties in this suit..divides amoung the 13 children including James
28 Sept 1780

Division of estate in 1780 mentions a Lucy Old.