from The Clay Family by Zachary F. Smith
Henry Clay was born about 1672, and died at The Raells, August 3, 1760, of "the raells," aged eighty-eight years.
He was married about 1708-9 to Mary Mitchell, daughter of William and Elizabeth Mitchell, who lived and died and were buried in Chesterfield County, on the west side of Swift Creek, on the farm afterward occupied by Reverend Eleazer Clay. Mary Mitchell was born January, 1693, and died "of flux," August 7, 1777. (General Green Clay's Manuscript.)
Henry Clay's will was signed March 28, 1749, and probated at the September term of Chesterfield Court, 1760. The following extracts from it may be interesting:
I, Henry Clay, of Henrico County, being of perfect health, mind, and memory, thanks be to God....
Primis. 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.
I give and bequeath to my son, Henry Clay, the land and plantation he now lives on, and two hundred acres of land at Letalone, in Goochland County, it being the Lower Survey belonging to me at the said Letalone, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. 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.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son, John Clay, the plantation whereon he now lives and all my land on the north side of Swift Creek and upper side of Nuttree Run, to him and his heirs forever.
Item. 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.
Item. I give to my daughter, Amey Williamson, five pounds, current money.
Item. I give to my daughter, Mary Watkins, five pounds, current money.
Item. I give to my grandson, Henry Clay [Dr. Henry Clay, of Ky.], 240 acres adjoining the lands of James Hill &c.
Item. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Mary Clay, daughter of Charles Clay [afterwards Mrs. Stephen Lockett], one negro girl, named Phoebe.
Item. I give unto Mary, my well-beloved 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.
Item. 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 their discretion, and also the negroes above written, and gave my wife, may be equally divided after my wife's decease.
Item. 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.
Item. After my wife's decease I give my plantation, whereon I now live, to my son John Clay and his heirs forever, together with the adjacent lands thereunto belonging,
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.