Thomas CLAY ^{42,43,44,45,46,47}

  General Notes:

4th Great Grandfather.

BIOGRAPHY:
Thomas Clay married Phebe Durand daughter of Elijah and Sarah Durand from North Farms (now Maplewood) New Jersey in 1799. The Durand family is known for living in this area Briant and John Durand were administrators of their brother Elijah's estate in 1795 Essex Co., NJ. John was the father of the artist Asher B. Durand who was born in 1796 and possibly attended Thomas and Phebe's wedding., being a first cousin. Because of later Census records Thomas(1777) and his son Elijah D(urand?)(1801) Clay were both born in NJ. The other sons Ira and John died before 1850 so Census records don't show ages or birth locations . So sometime between 1801 and 1810 the Clays moved to Madison Co., NY. Elijah, John , Ira and Phebe are all Durand family names. ( Also it is questionable, at this time, if John is actually a part of this family). There are also possible two other girls that show in 1810 Census , one under 10 and one under 15.
The first documented date for Thomas is from a letters waiting to be picked up list in the Pilot News Paper.....
NEWSPAPER: Pilot (Cazenovia Newspaper) Index ; letters in Post Office list. Found on micro-film at the Cazenovia Public Library.
Thomas Clay- 1809 Oct

Madison Co., Fenner twp, New York- " In the west part of town, near Chittenango Falls, two Merriam brothers took up large farms. Thomas Clay took up Lot No. 8, now the farm of Calvin Mead. He had the road laid out from the Falls (Chittenango) over the hill , past his farm. At the Falls, Mr. Asaph Hummiston, who came from Litchfield. Conn., in the year 1818, took up 100 acres of Lot No. 7, and 100 acres of an adjoining lot in Cazenovia. His land embraced the site of the Falls village."
(1). In 1992 I located the road which is now known as Carry Hill Rd. which goes east from Chittenango Falls village and up a steep incline to the top of the mountain side. We found a farm at the same location that Calvin Meads house was on the 1857 map of the county.This is probably the same location as the Clay homestead and at the top of the hill it over looks Lake Oneida.
Purchased in 1814 the first 50 acres.
"Clay, Thomas. Owned Lot 8 in Fenner very early. Died March 1852 aged 75. Wife Polly died April 1852 aged 76"
(2). The census records for this area between the years 1810 and 1850 show only the above mentioned Clays and their families. I believe Elijah, Ira and possibly John where the sons and Phebe the children of Thomas and Phebe (Durand) Clay and Mary was the daughter of Thomas & second wife Polly (Stanley) Jones- Clay . In another History of the area it is mentioned that Thomas Clay helped build a Church in Chittenango Falls, even though they belonged to another church
(3) In the Early records for the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia,Madison County New York there is baptism records for Thomas Clay and wife , Jan. 27, 1811, and their three children Mar. 15, 1811... (Phebe Jr. was not born yet-pac) youngest child, Aug. 8, 1813 (Phebe Jr.)
The wife would have been Phebe (Durand) Clay

Phebe (Durand) Clay must have died probably giving birth to Phebe Jr. in around March 24, 1811. Thomas then married Polly Jones who was also a widow and they had one daughter Mary together.

(4). In the 1850 Census we see Thomas Clay age 73, born in New Jersey; Farmer with property worth $2,800, Polly Clay age 74 born in Conn.,Henry Reynolds(son-in-law) age 27 born in Mass., Farmer born in Mass. and his wife Mary (Clay) Reynolds age 36 born in New York and their children and Charles Howard age 5, Thomas and Phoebe's Clays deceased daughter Phebe's son. all living with Thomas & Polly. Thomas died March 31, 1852 and his estate was settled at the Madison Co. Courthouse and reads as thus.

COURTHOUSE-DEATH-ESTATE-
Title Page(1) No.1507 In the Matter of the Estate of Thomas Clay, deceased Town of Fenner Polly Clay Henry Reynolds James Stanley Administrators Petition Apr 7, 1852 Bond April 8 /52 $600.00 Letters Apr 7, 1852 B-48 Inventory June 26/52

Page(2) To the Hon. Sidney L. Holmes, Surrogate of the County of Madison:

The petition of the subscriber, Polly Clay, of Fenner in the county of Madison and the State of New York, Respectfully showith: 1st that Thomas Clay, deceased, died at the town of Fenner aforesaid, in said county of Madison on the 31st day of March 1852, a natural death; and that the said town of Fenner was the place of residence of the said Thomas Clay, at the time of his death as aforesaid. 2d: That the said Thomas Clay, deceased, died in Estate, leaving no will; and that no last will and testament has been found or discovered. 3d: That the probable amount of the personal property, left by the deceased, the said Thomas Clay, is three hundred dollars, consisting of cattle, grain, farming utensils. 4th: That your petitioner is the widow of the said Thomas Clay, deceased; that Elijah D. Clay of Fenner, and Mary Reynolds, wife of Henry Reynolds of Fenner, are the only adult children of the said Thomas Clay, deceased, now living.

Your petition therefore prays that letters of Administration of the goods, Chattels & credits of the said Thomas Clay, deceased, may be issued and granted to her, as widow of the said intestate; and she further prays that Henry Reynolds, the son-in-law of the said inrestate, of Fenner aforesaid, and James Stanley of Cazenovia in said County, may both be joined with her, your petitioner, in the administration of said Estate, and that said letters of Administration may be granted to (Page 3)your petitioner, and to the said Henry Reynolds and said James Stanley jointly.

And your petitioner will ever pray -C Dated April 6, 1852. Polly Clay (5)

By the time Thomas died in 1852 John, Ira and Phebe were already dead and only suviving children were Elijah D. and Mary Reynolds.

Thomas Clay was followed in death by Polly Clay who died on April 25, 1852 both are buried at Chittenango Falls Cemetery Madison Co. New York. I saw the graves in 1992 on a visit. The whole cemetery is badly over growen with weeds and it took a while to finally locate them. Thomas's grave is a light sandstone type and is totally worn down. Polly's stone was broken and I found the top section moved several graves to the right. I put the top half on the bottom and the information read correctly except the Clay name which was on a missing piece. I saw a piece which matched it in size which was wedged under Thomas's stone. I could not losen it so I left it alone. As you face the enterance stairs to the cemetery they are in the first row directly to the right of the enterance. The foot markers TC & PC can still be read.
Update
On a visit to the same in Aug. 27 2009. We found that all the graves in the front row were lying down flat on the ground. We did find the missing Clay portion of Polly's grave. We also noticed that Phebe's grave was to the right of Pollys which we missed previously.


MARRIAGE: 1st MARRIAGE RECORDS OF BAPTIST CHURCH AT LYONS FARMS, 1795-1800 The Baptist Clay, Thomas, North Farms, and Phebe Durand, of the same place 1799 Oct. 19

1799 New Jersey Census ; Essex County, Township North Farms

New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 about THOMAS CLAY Name: THOMAS CLAY State: NJ County: Essex County Township: North Farms Year: 1799 Database: NJ Early Census Index

U.S. Colonial Census Reconstruction Records, 1660-1820
about Thomas Clay? Name: Thomas Clay?
Gender: M (Male)
State: New Jersey
County: Bergen and Essex Counties
Residence Year: 1800
Household Remarks: Name on one of fourteen petitions, 9 Feb 1801, to the Legislative Council, etc., from inhabitants of Essex and Bergen Cos. opposing a petition to build a "TOLL-BRIDGE across Newark Bay, near the mouth

U.S. Colonial Census Reconstruction Records, 1660-1820
about Thomas Clay Name: Thomas Clay
Gender: M (Male)
State: New Jersey
County: Bergen County
Town: New Barbadoes Township
Residence Year: 1800
Household Remarks: Improved acres 0; unimproved acres 0; houses and lots 0; householders 1; single men and horse 0; single men 0; slaves 0; horses 0; cattle 4; shop keepers 0; tanyard 0; fisheries 0; saw mills 0; grist

CENSUS NY 1810: 1810 NY. Madison County, Cazenovia, Page 134 : T. Clay/ males :3 under 10; 1 between 26 and 40 /females: 1 under 10; 1 of 10 and under 16; 1 between 26 and 40.
Source Citation: Year: 1810; Census Place: Cazenovia, Madison, New York; Roll: 28; Page: 735; Family History Number: 0181382; Image: 00141.
1810 United States Federal Census
about T Clay Name: T Clay
Township: Cazenovia
County: Madison
State: New York
Free White Males Under 10: 3
Free White Males 26 to 44: 1
Free White Females Under 10: 1 Malita ?
Free White Females 10 to 15: 1 ?
Free White Females 26 to 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 5
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 7


CHURCH-BAPTISM: (4) First Presbyterian Church, Cazenovia, Madison Co. NY, List of Members; The Christine Atwell Collection ;page 151 !
Presbyterian Minute Book A, pg. 24:
Admitted to membership and baptized, 1/27/1811. Pg. 42 member as of 9/1/1813. Pg. 162: Baptized, 1/27/1811. Three children baptized, 3/15/1811. A child baptized, 8/31/1811.


Cazenovia Town Assessment Roll for 1812
Adapted from a list made by Christine Atwell
in DAR Records, Cazenovia Town records, Film #0860301
Clay Thomas

MARRIAGE-: (5)Madison County, New York, Courthouse ;Estate of Thomas Clay;Thomas Clay 1852 ; Registar A file#1507, page 278. Thomas Clay also was present during the Guardianship case for Polly (Stanley) Jones children from her previous marriage with James Jones Jr. who died sometime in 1812.

Clay, Thomas (Thomas Clay), purchased 50 acres of Lot NP3 8 for $8.00 per acre on 4/12/1814 for a total price of $400.00;
Signed by Thomas Clay and John Lincklaen

District Descriptions from the Town of Cazenovia Road Book
1804 to 1832
Compiled by by Daniel H. Weiskotten

Thomas Clay
1816 #43
1817 #43
1818 #43, 50
1819 #43, 50
1820 #43, 48
1821 #43, 47
1822 #42, 43
1823 #44, 45


COURTHOUSE:Madison County Courthouse:Grantee Records Date Date Grantee Grantor Book Page
1823 Jul 1 Thomas Clay Henry Nicholas T 350
1834 Feb 3 Thomas Clay Enoch Dikeman AH 390
1839 Jan 2 Thomas Clay Jonathan Ledyard AS 287

NEWSPAPER: Pilot (Cazenovia Newspaper) Index ; letters in Post Office list. Found on micro-film at the Cazenovia Public Library.
Thomas Clay- 1809 Oct 4; 1815 Apr 5; 1820 Jan 5;1821 Nov 11. Polly Clay-1813 Apr 14.



CENSUS NY 1820: 1820 NY. Madison County, Cazenovia, Page 26 : Thomas Clay / males: 1 between 16 and 18; 1 of 16 and under 20; 2 between 26 and 40 / females:1 under 10; 1 of 10 and under 16 ; 1 between 26 and 40;3 persons engaged in agriculture.

CENSUS NY 1830: 1830 NY. Madison County, Fenner, Page 269 : Thomas Clay/males:1 of 50 but not 60 / females:1 of 15 but not 20; 1 of 20 but not 30; 1 of 50 but not 60.

CENSUS NY 1840:Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: , Madison, New York; Roll 295; Page: 51

CENSUS NY 1850: 1850 NY. Madison County, Fenner, Page 118 : line 23 Thomas Clay age 73 M Farmer prpty value $2,800 born in New Jersey, Polly Clay age 74 F born in Conn., Henry Reynolds age 27 Farmer born in Mass., Mary Reynolds age 36 F born in NY, Phebe C. Reynolds age 3 born in NY, James W. Reynolds age 2 M born in NY, John H. Reynolds age 1/12 M born in NY, Charles H Howard age 5 M born in NY.

NEWSPAPER-DEATH: ABSTRACTS FROM MADISON COUNTY NEWSPAPERS in the Cazenovia, NY Public Library, Mary Keysor Meyer 1991.,page 52. Clay, Thomas, d. at Fenner 31 Mar. 1852, ae 75 yrs. Madison County Eagle; April 14, 1852 also in the Cazenovia Gazzette of the same date. also... Polly Clay, wife of the late Thomas Clay, d. at Fenner 25 Apr. 1852, ae 76 yrs. Cazenovia Gazzette April 28, 1852.


"The History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York"by James H. Smith (D. Mason & Co. - Syracuse, New York 1880)

CHITTENANGO FALLS
CHURCHES
Methodist Episcopal Church at Chittenango Falls. The earliest meetings which resulted in the organization of this church were held at the school-house in the winter of 1843-44, and were conducted by Rev. Jesse Watson, under whose labors 40 or more were converted. The church was organized June 4, 1844, and the house of worship built the same year at Chittenango Falls at a cost of about $800. About the year 1865 an addition and repairs were made at an expense of about $1,600. The original number of members was about 30, among who were Benjamin Wormuth and family, S. B. Howard, Philo Hutchinson, Abram and Isaac Wormuth, E. D. Robbins, Martin Watkins. Asaph Humaston, though not a member, gave the site for the church. Benjamin Robbins and Thomas Clay, though members of other churches, contributed to the building of a house of worship. Present membership about 56. Among the ministers we find Revs. Button, Wadsworth, Brown, Thomas and A. Harroun, Gutsell, Gray, Winslow, Fox, W. F. Tooke and F. W. Tooke, Smith, Sherar, Adams, Brooks, Himnan, Bowdish, Curtis, Blakeslee, Hall, Eddy, J. L. Jones (present pastor,) and others. The choir has been sustained and led from the organization of the church to the present time by Lysander Nourse, who has proven himself eminently worthy of the position. About 1870 an organ was purchased for the church. The present choir consists of L. Nourse, Esq., H. J. Nourse, George Adams, Mrs. Nettie Johnson, Mrs. Fannie Mead, Mrs. Arletta Winchell and Mrs. Libbie Wormuth; Miss Eva Brown, organist.


Chittenango Falls Village Cemetery:
Buried in the Chittenango Falls Village Cemetery. When you go up the stairs directly on right first row is Thomas Clay (Stone is down) footer TC. , To the right of him is Polly (Stone is broken but can be read & footer PC. To the right of her is Phebe wife of S.B. Howard and daughter of Thomas Clay and Phebe(Durand) Clay (Stone is also broken and down).

RESIDENCE: (1) History of Madison County State of NY, Hammond, Mrs. L.M. ,1872; page 352

RESIDENCE: (2) Name and Sketches of the Pioneer Settlers of Madison County, New York, William H. Tuttle, ed. by Isabel Bracy ,on page 56. !

RESIDENCE: (3) History of Chenango and Madison Counties NY.; Smith, James; 1880; Vol.2; page 702.


Misc. Notes.
Records of Revolutionary War Veterans who lived in Madison County, New York. Compiled by Isabel Bracey - Heart of the Lakes Publishing. 1988.
Taken from notes of William Tuttle, should be considered as secondary sources.
Page 53
"Clay, Thomas. Lived with a son in Fenner in 1800. Served in 5th NY Line."
Years ago I received the record for Thomas Clay Private 5th NY Line.
Two pages. Thos Clay. Pvt. in Capt James Rosekrans Co. of Foot in Reg't commanded by Col. Lewis Duboys . also known as being under Capt Henry Vandeburgh's Company.
enlisted 6 June, 1777 for term of 3 years. Occurrences ... omitted Sept. 77
Since my Thomas was born in 1777 this must refer to his father. I don't have any records other then the son who lived in Fenner, Madison Co., NY. Also the earliest I can document the son Thomas being in the area, is 1809 when in the newspaper The Pilot it was written that he had a letter to be picked up in the Post Office. As far as I know Thomas Clay the son, purchased his land in Fenner in 1814, from the records. In 1810 Census Cazenovia, Madison Co., NY he is listed as T. Clay at the bottom of the page.
In another book. Names and Sketches of the Pioneer Settlers of Madison County New York. 1984 same publisher and author Isabel Bracy from notes of William H. Tuttle.
Page 56. All Clays mentioned as written.
Clay, Elijah D., Anti- Mason 1828.
Clay, Ira. Prominent Anti-Mason 1830.
Clay, John. Owened house and lit (lot) in Lenox in 1835.
Clay, Melitha. See Miller, Chauncey (this only mentions them being married daughter from Elijah D. Clay and 1st wife also named Melitha-PAC)
Clay, Thomas. Owned lot 8 in Fenner very early. Died March 1852 aged 75. Wife Polly died April 1852 aged 76.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Church: 1st Presbyterian Church Cazenovia: Cazenovia, Madison Co., New York.

• Occupation: Farmer: Madison Co., New York.

• Church Record of Marriage: Lyons Baptist Church, 1799, Essex Co., New Jersey.

• Residence: Census, 1810, Fenner, Madison, New York, USA.

• Residence: Census, 1820, Fenner, Madison, New York, USA.

• Signature: From Purchasing Land additional acerage Lot 8 Fenner, 8 Mar 1824, Cazenovia, Madison Co., New York.

• Burial: grave footer, 1852, Chittenango Falls Cem., Madison Co., New York.

• Map: 1853 Map of Fenner,Madison,NY, 1852, Chittenango Falls, Fenner, Madison Co., New York.

Thomas married Phebe DURAND, daughter of Elijah DURAND and Sarah, on 19 Oct 1799 in Baptist Church At Lyons Farms, New Jersey. (Phebe DURAND was born on 17 Oct 1781 in New Jersey, USA, christened on 27 Jan 1811 in Presbyterian, Cazenovia, Madison Co., New York and died about 24 Mar 1811 in Cazenovia, Madison Co., New York.) The cause of her death was Possibly in child birth.

  Marriage Notes:

By The Rev. Peter Bryant

Documents relating to the colonial, revolutionary and post-revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Volume 22
New Jersey Historical Society 1900 - History page 601-602

MARRIAGE RECORDS OF BAPTIST CHURCH AT LYONS FARMS, 1795-1800

Clay, Thomas, North Farms, and Phebe Durand, of the same place 1799 Oct. 19

Thomas next married Polly STANLEY, daughter of Hezekiah STANLEY and Jerusha MATHER, about 1813 in New York. (Polly STANLEY was born in 1775 in Farmington, New Haven, Connecticut, died on 25 Apr 1852 in Fenner, Madison, New York, USA and was buried in Chittenango Falls, Fenner, Madison Co., New York.)