Henrico County was established in 1634 as one Virginia's eight original shires. Its boundaries incorporated an area from which ten Virginia counties were later formed.
Chesterfield County, Virginia was organized in 1749 when the territory south of the James River was separated from Henrico County.
Bacon's Rebellion was in 1676. Nathaniel Bacon, Jr. led Virginia settlers in attacks against local indigenous people and Governor William Berkeley. The rebels burned Jamestown. The rebellion was suppressed by British forces and loyalists.
Charles Clay was born about 1640 in Virginia. He was probably the son of the John and Elizabeth Clay. In 1682 he deposed that he was about 37 years old.
In 1657 he apprenticed himself to Stephen Tickner, "Chyrurgion", or Phissiake, for & duringe the terms of Seaven years. . . . ."
Charles married Hannah Wilson. Hannah was daughter of John Wilson, Jr. and Hannah Jones.
Charles and Hannah's children included:
Martha Clay (1660, may have married Ralph Blankenship and Edward Stanley),
John Clay (1668),
Thomas Clay (1670) Henry Clay (1672, married Mary Mitchell),
Charles Clay (1674),
Mary Clay (1676 )
Judith Clay (1778 ), and
Elizabeth Clay (1678).
Charles' land was in Chesterfield (was Henrico) County, Virginia.
In 1676, Charles Clay participated in Bacon's Rebellion against Governor William Berkeley.
Charles Clay appeared on the 1679 tax list for Henrico County in the Turkey Island list. They were neighbors of Ralph Blankenship.
Charles died in 1686 in Henrico County.
Henrico County Order Book p.378, Inventory of estate of Charles Clay deceased 15 June 1686. One Indian girl a dwarf and decrepid 550 pounds tobacco.
After he died, Hannah made a deed of gift:
I give to John Clay, Thomas Clay, Henry Clay and Charles Clay, my sons, each of them one cow of four years old with calf, or calf by her side, to be paid in attainment of age,
and for John, Thomas, Henry, each of them, one well fixed gunn at the same time.
And to my daughter Judith, six new 3 lb. Puter dishes, at her marriage or attainment of age.
Witness my hand this first day of October, 1687
Hannah probably married Edward Stanley after he died.
On August 20, 1706 Edward Stanley was ordered
to bring the remaining orphans of Charles Clay to the next court to discharge the securities of their estates.
Pewter is an alloy composed mainly of tin, but can include lead. It was used for dishes and utensils. Some colonists suffered lead poisoning from using it. It dents easily and lasted about ten years. It was expensive and wooden dishes were used most often.
