John Clayton & Elizabeth Hurrell

John Clayton, my wife's 5th great grandfather and father of Walker Clayton, was born in Spotsylvania County Virginia in 1744.  Spotsylvania is located in northern Virginia near Washington DC and includes the city of Fredrickburg.  It was formed in 1720 and named after the colonial Governor Alexander Spotswood.  Long after John Clayton's death, 4 major battles of the civil war were fought in the county primarily due to its location close to Washington DC.  In the early 1700's Spotsylvania was the sight of the first fully functional Iron Works in the colonies.

John married Elizabeth Hurrell in nearby Fairfax county, VA on Jan 7, 1764.  Elizabeth was also born in Virginia about 1744.  They had 6 children, James, Willis, Susanna, Lucinda, Elizabeth, and Walker. It is possible there are other children.

In the census of 1810, John Clayton lived in Spotsylvania with 8 family members and 18 slaves.  In 1820 he is listed living in Madison, KY with 5 family members and 14 slaves.  In 1783 He "owned" 16 slaves, listed in the Virginia tax records.  His brothers Thomas and William had 5 and 13, respectively.  After their father Jacob died in 1771, the brothers inherited an estate that I estimate was in the 500 acre range.  This is based on Virginia land records, many of which are transfers of property between John, his brothers and others.  Slavery was commonplace in Virginia at the time.  In fact, Kunta Kinte (from Roots) was a slave in Spotsylvania and is buried in Partlow, Spotsylvania.

At least one land record describes John as a "planter" and although I have not found it stated, it is likely that he and the family grew tobacco for sale in Europe.  Most farmers grew tobacco in Virginia in the 1700's

John died in about 1822 and his wife in about 1824.  It is possible that they died in Madison, KY.  The 1820 census lists a John Clayton in Madison, and no one by that name appears in Spotsylvania, VA.  This may have lead some researchers to conclude they both died in Madison, but I have not put the pieces together enough to say for sure.  In either case there is no gravestone in either location bearing their names.