William Mitchell Clay

Notes:

Biography from Find A Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52867675/william-mitchell-clay

William was killed by an Indian while he and another soldier (named Coward) were hunting deer to feed their militia comrades. One Indian was shot by the second militiaman, and the other escaped; the Indians had not seen him. Clay and Coward were in Col. John Field\'s Company of Independent Rangers, part of Gen. Charles Lewis\'s Regiment. These men were among the elite Virginia militia assembled by Lord Dunmore against the numerous attacks by Indians against Virginia settlers.

William was the first casualty of his unit, and they would shortly engage in the Battle of Point Pleasant (Oct 10, 1774). This battle is considered the only major battle, as well as the final one, of Lord Dunmore\'s War. This war was waged between the colony of Virginia and several united Native American nations, but many West Virginians have considered it the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Virginia won, and the Indians lost the rights formerly granted by treaty for hunting in the lands bordering the Ohio River, yielding these rights in a new treaty. The frontier in Kentucky and what eventually became West Virginia then opened up for more settlement by the colonists. As friction between the Colonies and Britain grew, the British allied with the defeated Indians against the settlers on the western frontier. Under these considerations, and in the ongoing debate about the status of the battle with these two wars, William\'s death marks a turning point toward the Revolution. The general interpretation currently is that Dunmore\'s War was the final conflict of the Colonies. By any definition of the Dunmore War, the shooting of William Mitchell Clay has historic significance.

William\'s death occurred at what is now Point Pleasant, West Virginia, on the Ohio River, where a battle monument marks the day of fighting in October. William\'s name is not included on the list of participants, but the name of Mr. Coward (no first name listed) is there. William\'s son Mitchell also fought at this battle and is on the roster.

An account of William\'s service are included in A. S. Withers\'s book, \"Chronicles of Border Warfare.\"

Note: William\'s birth year is sometimes listed as 1710. Also, due to changes in county boundaries and town names, the location of birth may be given a different name even though they refer to the same location.

William married . [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Name: William Mitchell Clay
Gender: Male
Birth Place: VA
Birth Year: 1710
Spouse Name: Martha Runyan

William married Martha Runyon. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Name: William Mitchell Clay
Gender: Male
Birth Place: VA
Birth Year: 1710
Spouse Name: Martha Runyan

1. Elizabeth Clay was born ca 1735, Chesterfield Co. VA; died ca 1793, Wythe Co. VA.

Notes:

He was was the great-grandfather of the Kentucky statesman, Henry Clay.

Buried:
Grave location, biography, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7711025
Inscription "In Memory of Henry Clay Who died at dinner with his children and grandchildren at an annual festival given them on August 3, 1760".

Presented by Richmond Chapter, Colonial Dames of The 17th Century, 1957.

Henry married Mary Mitchell 1708, Virginia. Mary was born 16 Jan 1693, Chesterfield Co. VA; died 07 Aug 1777, Chesterfield Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Name: Henry Clay
Gender: Male
Birth Place: VA
Birth Year: 1672
Spouse Name: Mary Mitchell
Spouse Birth Year: 1693
Marriage Year: 1708

Notes:

Boyd Co, Press Observer Jan 29, 1976

CHARLES CLAY (1638-1686) son of Capt. John Clay, married HANNAH WILSON, daughter of John Wilson, Sr., of Henrico County, where they also lived, near the site of present Petersburg. CHARLES distinguished himself by serving in Bacon?s Rebellion.

Charles married Hannah Wilson. Hannah (daughter of John Wilson, I and Hannah Jones) was born 1642, Virginia; died 12 Oct 1686, Henrico Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

John Clay landed at Jamestowne, VA in February 1613 and settled in Charles City County, Virginia. He paid for the importation of 32 people on the good ship 'West' which arrived July 13, 1635. He was granted 1200 acres of land 13 July 1675 at the head of Wards Creek. His wife, Anne Nichols arrived from England, 10 years later.

Captain John Clay, the "British Grenadier" (hired soldier in the King's army) arrived in the new world in February 1613 according to the muster on the 'Treasurer'. The Treasurer, sent to protect the settlers in Jamestowne, was commanded and partially owned by Captain Samuel Argall, who was a brother of Elizabeth Argall Filmer, ancestress of Martha & Lucy Green Clay (wife of Henry Clay 1711-1764). It is stated in his muster that he (John Clay) was a planter before the government of Sir Thomas Dale.

John married Elizabeth Ann Nichols. Elizabeth (daughter of John Nichols and Joan Goodwith) was born 05 Sep 1590, Sedgberrow, Worcestershire, England; died 1660, Charles City Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

OLDHAM, PETER WILSON. The Complete Book of Emigrants: A Comprehensive Listing Compiled from English Public Records of Those Who Took Ship to the Americas for Political, Religious, and Economic Reasons; of Those Who Were Deported for Vagrancy, Roguery, or Non-Conformity; and of Those Who Were Sold to Labour in the New Colonies. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1607-1660. 1988. Page: 51

Name: Ann Claye
Arrival Year: 1623
Arrival Place: Virginia

Notes:

Boyd Co, Press Observer Jan 29, 1976

CHARLES CLAY (1638-1686) son of Capt. John Clay, married HANNAH WILSON, daughter of John Wilson, Sr., of Henrico County, where they also lived, near the site of present Petersburg. CHARLES distinguished himself by serving in Bacon?s Rebellion.

John married Hannah Jones. [Group Sheet]