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 . Unknown [Group Sheet]

William married Martha Runyon. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married Isham Belcher ca 1759, Chesterfield Co. VA. Isham (son of Richard D. Belcher and Mary Obedience Clay) was born ca 1732, Chesterfield Co. VA; died Jan. 1798, Wythe Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 13A1BF1567A544F893017C9BEEE656B65BC7

Notes:

Died:
U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.
Surname: Martha Dillon
Year: 1850
County: Mercer CO.
State: WV
Age: 77
Gender: F (Female)
Month of Death: Jan
State of Birth: VA
ID#: 197_85031
Occupation: NONE LISTED
Cause of Death: OLD AGE

Martha married James DILLON 02 Feb 1789, Franklin Co. VA. James was born ca 1771, Franklin Co. VA; died Oct. 1850, Mercer Co. VA/WV. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 804644BE9F384FD0985F5FA7C878C8CC8F74

Notes:

Vital records have her name as Polly. One website had her given name as Mary. Annals of Tazewell Co, VA", Harman, Vol I, page 69. Married Polly Dillon 25 Sepember 1821.

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Polly Beavers
Age: 43
Birth Year: abt 1807
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female
Family Number: 1056
Household Members:
Jno Beavers 53
Polly Beavers 43
Alexr Beavers 20
James Beavers 18
Margaret Beavers 15
Pheby Beavers 13
Jackson Beavers 11
Jno Beavers 6
Preston Beavers 3

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Polly Beavers
Age in 1860: 55
Birth Year: abt 1805
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: District 13, McDowell, Virginia
Gender: Female
Post Office: Gilead Spring
Household Members:
John Beavers 64
Polly Beavers 55
Margaret Beavers 25
Phoebe Beavers 23
Jackson Beavers 21
Susannah Beavers 17
John Beavers 16
Preston Beavers 12

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Polly Beavers
Age in 1870: 65
Birth Year: abt 1805
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Big Creek, McDowell, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Tug River
Household Members:
John Beavers 75
Polly Beavers 65
Phebe Beavers 32
Laura Beavers 10 [granddaughter]
James Floyd Beavers 6 [grandson]
Charles C Beavers 5 [grandson]

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Mary Beavers
Age: 75
Birth Year: abt 1805
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Big Creek, McDowell, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Mother, widow
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Without Occupation
Household Members:
Phoebe Beavers 42
Laura Beavers 17 [granddaughter]
James Beavers 15 [grandson]
Charles Beavers 12 [grandson]
Mollie R. Beavers 2 [granddaughter]
James Beavers 2
Mary Beavers 75

Source: GenealogieOnline. Coret Genealogie. http://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/

Name: Polly Dillon
Gender: f (Female)
Birth Date: 1805
Birth Place: Virginia
Father: James Dillon/ Jr
Mother: Martha Belcher
Spouse: John Beavers
Children: James Beavers


Buried:
Grave location and cemetery photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32746489&ref=acom

Mary married John BEAVERS, Sr. 25 Sep 1821, Tazewell Co VA. John (son of Alexander BEAVERS, Jr. and Sarah RICE) was born 1797, Giles Co. VA; died Bef 1880, McDowell Co. WV. [Group Sheet]