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William Clayton |
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Prudence Lanckford |
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William Clayton ★ (William, Jone) was baptized on December 9, 1632 in the parish of Boxgrove, Sussex, England as William Claiton, the son of Willia[m] Claiton WE36, EN8. He married Prudence FU2, PE2, and he was said to have originally resided in Chichester, Sussex, England PE2. A marriage record for William Cleyton and Prudence Lanckford was recorded at Saint Pancras in Chichester, Sussex, England on November 7, 1653 EN6. Charles M. Hansen cited a marriage record on page 49 of W. D. Peckham’s manuscript from 1945 (A Calendar of the Parish Register of St. Pancras, Chichester, 1558-1812), which has not been located by me HA43. According to Hansen, this record stated that William Clayton, the son of William Clayton of St. Pancras Parish, Sussex, married Prudence Lanckford of St. Peter the Less Parish (who was the daughter of William Lanckford of Broughton Parish, Hampshire, England), on November 7, 1653 HA43. The marriage ceremony was conducted by Richard Boughton, Esquire, J.P. after the banns were published three times in the Chichester Market on October 19, October 26, and October 2 (Hansen noted this discrepency in dates) HA43. The last date the banns were posted would have been November 2, not October 2. A transcript of their marriage record, published by The Parish Register Transcription Society, stated that William Cleyton, the son of William, married Prudence Lanckford of “Peter the less”, the daughter of William Lankford of Brighton, on November 7, 1653 in the parish of St. Pancras, Chichester, Sussex, England PE34.
William Claiton was called the son of William Claiton in his will, which was written on February 1, 1658 EN3. William sailed on the Kent from London to the New World SM4, FU2, PE2; they were accompanied on the same vessel with representatives of the proprietors of New Jersey, whose task was to purchase land from the Native Americans SM4, FU2. The Kent, helmed by Gregory Marlow SM4, BA9, began loading on March 19, 1677 and completed this process on March 31, 1677, and then set off for New Jersey sometime before May BA9. It dropped anchor at New York on August 4, 12, or 16, and then headed south across Lower Bay and Sandy Hook Bay to Perth Amboy BA9. It arrived at New Castle on the Delaware River, perhaps on August 16, 1677 SM4, and two hundred thirty passengers, who were mostly Quakers, disembarked near Raccoon Creek SM4, BA9. Although their arrival was said to have occurred on “the 16th of the 6th month, O.S.” (Old Style indicates that the numbering of the months began in March), Samuel Smith stated that it was “late in the fall when they arrived” SM4. William was said to have arrived on October 23, 1677 PE2. The arrival which occurred on August 16 was very likely at New York, and not New Castle. Raccoon Creek was a Swedish settlement on the east side of the Delaware, but because there were so few houses, the newly arrived English immigrants made temporary accommodations for themselves in cow stalls SM4. They later built wigwams for themselves and were generously supplied with venison and Indian corn from the local Native Americans SM4. William purchased Hans Oelson’s share at Marcus Hook in March 1678/9 FU2. At that time, Marcus Hook was also called Upland, and was located on the Delaware River US11. “Markus Hooke” was later renamed to Chichester on April 20, 1682 RE6.
“Mr William Clayton” was one of nine justices at the Court at Upland on September 13, 1681, and he served as a justice again on November 30, 1681, March 14, 1681/2, and September 12, 1682 RE6. At that time, William Markham, Esquire, was the Governor and President of Pennsylvania, but according to an Upland Court record dated June 13, 1682, “Mr William Clayton” was called the President of Pennsylvania, but this was a temporary position, for on September 12, 1682, William Markham was once again the Governor and President RE6. William Clayton served as a justice for the Court at Chester on February 14, 1682/3, June 27, 1683, and August 22, 1683 RE6.
He made a formal apology to the Burlington Monthly Meeting, held at the residence of Robert Wade in Upland on the 15th day of the 7th month, 1681, concerning the marriage of his daughter, Prudence, to Henry Reynols, who was not a “faithfull friend” US11. This was recorded in the monthly minutes, but it is unclear if the second paragraph was a part of William’s apology, or if it was a transcription of what another Friend stated in the meeting, as a reiteration of the custom and beliefs of the Friends US11:
I William Cleyton Senr do in ye fear & dread of ye Lord & in ye humillity of my Soull acknowledge yt I did sin against God & friends & break ye good Order of truth in Consenting to ye Marriage of my Daughter Prudence to Henry Renols he being not a faithfull friend hoping yt you my fds. of ye monthly meeting will as frely forgive me as I have frely confessed ye same or as you for Christ’s sake would have God to forvive you.
It is Generally agreed & Ordered yt if any thing fall out by way of Controvercy betwixt friend & friend yt if they cannot End ye matter between themselves then to refer it to two friends or more to seeif [see if] they Can End it then if not to bring it to ye monthly meeting there to be Ended
Thomas Cobourn, Randall Vernon, and William Clayton were ordered by the Chester Monthly Meeting on January 1, 1682 to view a piece of land that was to become a cemetery “to see about the fencing of itt wth a Lasting fence and if there bee stones neare and Conveniant And to bring Report to the next monthly meeting” US11. William Clayton, Sr. was listed as a member of the Monthly Meeting of Chichester and Concord in the year 1684, and a notation adjacent to this record indicated that his certificate was received on March 12, 1688 (“cert rec’d 12 1 mo. 1688”) US11.
William Clayton was mentioned in a manuscript entitled “Memoirs Concerning many persons, Eminent For Piety and Virtue among the people called Quakers In America From the first settlement To the year 1770”, which was probably written by John Smith of Burlington, New Jersey US11. The entry for William stated, “William Clayton is entered as a publick friend who came early from England & settled in Pensylvania, and in a transaction of The Civil Government, I find him there on the 2.d of 2d mo: 1683” US11.
He and James Saunderlaine (Saunderland) were attorneys for George Andrews on July 1, 1684 and January 6, 1684/5 regarding George Andrew’s estate, which George had intended to be passed on to Henry Renolds RE6. William Clayton was named in a list of men who were subscribers to a motion of the Governor of Pennsylvania which occurred at the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting on August 5, 1684 US11. The governor had requested a certificate regarding “his demeanour amongst the people of his Province”, because his “departure for England [was] drawing nigh” US11.
He donated or was assessed three pounds and two shillings on January 11, 1685, which was meant for the construction of a fence around the burial ground and for a meeting house to be built on land which had been granted to the Monthly Meeting by James Brown TW2, US11. In a court case on April 7, 1685 at the Chester Court between Dennis Rochford, the plaintiff, and John Hickman, the defendant, William Clayton testified that RE6:
Dennis Rochford told him that he had agreed with and was in hopes he should be rid of a troublesome servant after which the said Dennis brought him into Court att Philadelphia where he satisfied the Court that his servt John Sumtion could not pay him for his freedome according to Contract whereupon the Court ordered him to returne to his mastr
He testified in a case held at the Chester Court during the first week of March in 1685 RE6. Elinor Parke and her husband had some sort of difference of opinion or disagreement with William Clayton, and because of this, a meeting at Chichester was held in April 1686 to hear and consider these differences TW2, US11. Ten men, including John Beal, indicated that they disowned the “spirit and manner of proseeding” against William Clayton US11. At the Chester Court during the first week of December 1688, James Browne passed over a deed for two acres of land in Chichester Township to William Clayton, Sr. which was dated December 4, 1688 RE6. William died in 1686 PE2 or 1689 FU2.
Prudence Lanckford ★ was the mother of William, born on May 11, 1655, Prudence, born on October 20, 1657, Joseph, born on February 12, 1659 (stated incorrectly to have been September 12, 1659 EN4), Honor, born on March 18, 1662/3, Elizabeth and Mary, who were both born on August 29, 1665, and Hannah, who was born on December 12, 1667 (again stated incorrectly to have been September 12, 1667 EN4) EN4, EN16. Her first and last children, William and Hannah, were born outside the east gate of Chichester, Suffolk, but all of her children between them were born in Rumbaldsweek EN16. This was an alternative spelling of Rumboldswhyke, which is just south of Chichester, and was called “Wiche” in the Domesday Book DO5.
William Clayton “the Sonne of William Clayton & of Prudence his Wife was Born in the Parish of Pancr… without the Eastgate of the City of Chichester In the County of Sussex the 11th day of the 3d mounth called May 1655.” EN16. William Claiton was named in the will of his grandfather, William Claiton, on February 1, 1658 EN3. William Clayton and Elizabeth Bezor, who were both of Chester, “declared theire Intentions of Marrage” on August 3, 1682 at the monthly meeting of Marcus Hook Friends, which was also called the Chester Monthly Meeting US11. At a monthly meeting at Upland on September 11, 1682: “William Clayton and Elizabeth Bezor did againe present theire former Intention of Marrage But freinds finding that her parents were absent she having not theire Consent for such proceedings nor Certificate of her Clearness from others they were advised to waite further untill all things were Cleared according to the practice of freinds and Good Order of truth” US11. Their marriage would have occurred on or after February 5, 1682/3, when “William Clayton and Elizabeth Bezor… were Left to there liberty to proceed to accomplish their marrage” US11. William was said to have married Elizabeth “Bezer” FU2, PE2 in February 1684/5 PE2. They were likely married before July 12, 1685, when their daughter, Elizabeth was born US11. Directly underneath the birth record for Elizabeth was the birth record for their son, William, which stated, “William the son of William Clayton they younger Born of Elizabeth his wife the 8th day of the third month in the year 1686” US11. William Clayton’s will, dated December 24, 1725, named his wife, Elisabeth, a daughter and a son-in-law, Rachel and Thomas Howell, a slave named Dinah, and a son named Richard PE7. Richard was not listed later in the will amongst “my five Sons”, who were William, Edward, Thomas, Abell, and Ambrose Clayton PE7. His will was proved on February 22, 1727 PE7.
Prudence Clayton, “The daughter of William Clayton & of Prudence his Wife Was Born in the Parish of Rumbaldsweek In the County of Sussex The 20th day of the 8th mounth Called October. 1657” EN16.
Joseph Clayton, “The Sonne of William Clayton & of Prudence his Wife Was Born in the Parish of Rumbaldsweek the 12th day of the 12th mounth Called February 1659” EN16.
Honor Clayton, “The daughter of William Clayton & Of Prudence his Wife Was Borne in the Parish of Rumbaldsweek the 18th day of the First mounth Called march 1662” EN16. The records of the Burlington Monthly Meeting in Burlington County, New Jersey state that James Brown, a “Weaver of Upland alias Markes hook upon ye River Dallaware” and Honour Cleyton (also called Honnor Clayton in another record) of Burlington declared their intent to marry for the second time on the 7th day of the 6th month, 1679 US11. Honour Clayton and James Brown were said to have been married on August 18, 1679 PE2. Honor Brown was mentioned in the will of her husband, James Brown of Nottingham Township, Pennsylvania, which was dated January 15, 1715 and proved March 1, 1715/6 PE7. Letters of administration were granted to his wife and son, Honor and James Brown, on that date PE7. The will also named his children, William Brown, Jeremiah Brown, Marjary Pigot, Daniel Brown, James Brown, and Mary Brown, and a slave named Hannah PE7.
“Mary And Elizabeth Clayton Two Tweenes & Daughters Of William Clayton & Prudence his wife were born in the Parish of Rumbaldsweek in the County of Sussex The 29th Day of the 6th mounth called August 1665” EN16. Elizabeth was one month old when she died on September 30, 1665 EN5. “Elizabeth Clayton one of The Tweens & Daughter of William Clayton & Prudence his Wife Died the 30th Day of the. 7.th. moneth Called September 1665. & Was Buried In that Called Michaells Lighten In the Parish of Pancras Without the Eastgate of The City of Chichester in the county of Sussex.” EN17. Mary Clayton married John Beals in 1682 or 1683 FU2, PE2.
Hannah Clayton, “Daughter of Will: Clayton & Prudence His Wife Was Born the 12th day of the 10th moneth 1667 in the Parish of Pancrass without the Eastgate of the Citty of Chichester in the County of Sussex.” EN16. Hannah was exactly ten months old when she died EN5. “Hannah Clayton Daughter of William Clayton & Prudence his Wife Died the 12th day of the 8th mo. called October 1668 & was buried the next Day In that Called St. michaels Lighten in the Parish of Pancras without the eastgate of the Citty of Chichester in the County of Sussex.” EN17.
Prudence Clayton was listed amongst the first members of the Monthly Meeting of Chichester and Concord US11. Prudence, William Clayton, Sr., and William Clayton, Jr. were witnesses to the wedding of Thomas Leeds and Margerit Collier on September 6, 1672 in Burlington, New Jersey US11. John Bezor, Thomas Usher, Prudence Clayton, and Deborah Hughs were instructed to inquire into the character of John Langworthy and Jane Cool, who had proposed their intentions of marriage at the Chester Monthly Meeting on May 3, 1683 US11.
Prudence Clayton testified in the court case between Dennis Rochford and John Hickman on April 7, 1685 at the Chester Court, stating that “Jno Hickman had some goods of Jno Sumtions with the Invoyce of them and that Jno Hickman delivered the said goods to her att her request which she delivered to John Sumtion againe” RE6.
On that same court date, April 7, 1685, Prudence Clayton and others testified in a case between Henry Renolds, who was the plaintiff against Justa Anderson in an “Action of Scandal and defamation” RE6. James Saunderlaine testified that Justa Anderson told him that he saw Henry Renolds beat his servant, and the following night she died RE6. Thomas Person attested that he witnessed Henry threaten to strike his maid with tongs for not eating the food which was provided for her RE6. William Haukes testified that he heard Justa Anderson say that he saw Henry beat and strike his maid, and then carried her into another room, where she died RE6. William Cornell witnessed Henry Renolds beat her with the staff of a broom and later kick her while she was near the fire, and Wooly Rosen testified that when he visited Henry Renolds, his maid asked him for milk, but then Henry struck her with a broom staff, “asking her whether there was not victualls enough in the house” RE6. Prudence Clayton testified that “after Henry Renolds maide was dead shee was sent for to lay her out butt doth not remember that shee see any manner of hurt about her and further saith not” RE6. The jury’s verdict was in favor of Justa Anderson, the defendant, and he was awarded the cost and charge of the suit, as well as six pence of damages RE6.