Thomas Clayton, [Thomas, Zebulon, John, Edmund, Henry] was born circa 1742 in New Jersey. He was the son of Thomas and Hannah Clayton.

Thomas Clayton’s wife was named Mary. By virtue of the birth of Thomas’ known children researchers have estimated the marriage circa 1772. There is a marriage of Thomas Clayton to Mary Walker in Christ Church, Philadelphia on 16 June 1772. Because of the proximity to Monmouth County, New Jersey with Philadelphia, researchers have been quick to grab on and apply the surname Walker with our Mary. None of the researchers have taken into consideration that there are seven other Clayton marriages listed in Christ Church none of which have been attributed to our direct ancestors.   Mary Walker is cited in the diaries of Jacob Hiltzheimer [m. Hannah Walker], of Philadelphia, stating that Col. Clayton requested Mary Walker's hand in marriage. This compiler  gives the marriage as an explanation should the reader find other entries citing a maiden name to our Mary. The reference to Col. Clayton indicates to this compiler that the marriage was to Col. Thomas Clayton of Pennsylvania and is not Mary the wife of our Thomas Clayton.

We do know that Thomas and Mary’s first child, John Calvin Clayton was born 24 March 1773. John told census takers in Ohio in 1850 that he was born in New Jersey. We do not have birth dates for two other children William and Samuel. Son Joseph was born about 1775. The next child, Mary was born 18 February 1777. Bible and family records for her branch of the family all say she was born in Virginia indicating migration to Virginia between March 1773 and February 1777.

Thomas Clayton appears as an assignee of Jonathon Pugh for land on Tearcoat and Little Capon, Hampshire County, Virginia 26 May 1778. He received his land grant for 424 acres. The Capon River also known as the Cacapon River drew a great migration at the close of the Revolution. According to Historic Hampshire quite a few were from the northern hills of New Jersey which resembled their new land. The tie to New Jersey was so strong that they named a mountain Jersey Mountain. Today you can still drive along Jersey Mountain Road and Jersey Mountain is now known as Three Churches.

Thomas is credited with a Public Service Claim in the Patriotic Service Records at the Virginia State Library for supplying thirty pounds of flour in 1781. The same year he is taxed owning 10 cattle and 4 horses in Hampshire County. Daughters Elizabeth, Martha and Rachel were born two years apart beginning in 1784.

In October 1797 Thomas and Mary sold 212 acres of land to Tunis Peterson and another 212 acres to Stephen Lee. This accounts for all 424 acres of the land grant. Yet Thomas continues to tithe in the county and was ordered to work the North River Road in 1788.

In the early 1790's he witnessed several deed transactions for Hampshire County and is mentioned in county minutes as road surveys are being taken. On August 15, 1796 Thomas, Jesse Pugh and William Day among others were sworn on the Grand Jury in Hampshire County. He returned to Grand Jury duty again in March 1797 and again in June 1798. Late that same year a road was surveyed from Claytons "on the Frankfort Road."

Thomas was mentioned yet again in July 1799 when a petition of "sundry inhabitants" ordered that the court view a proposed road to pass from John Kieners to Thomas Clayton’s and report. By 1800 Thomas appears to have moved to Turkey Creek, Somerset County, Pennsylvania as he meets up with others for the migration to Ohio. We assume this is how son Samuel met his wife-to-be, Phebe Rush who was a member of the Jersey Church in Somerset County.

Thomas began paying for Congressional lands in Muskingum County Ohio in December 1805. He is listed as an Entryman and continued to make payments at the Zanesville Land office until 1810 when his land was entered and all payments received. Thomas and his family settled in what was then Muskingum but would become known as Clayton Township, Perry County, Ohio shortly after his death. The township was named in his honor. His patent was registered 23 December 1811. In April the following year son William received a patent in the same area as an assignee of Thomas.

Thomas Clayton died in August 1813 in then Muskingum County, Ohio leaving a will that was probated on August 25^th. He provided for his wife Mary leaving her bed and bedding and land of her choice. He also requested that his dwelling house and personal effects be sold and the money divided among his children. The sale was advertised in the Zanesville Express September 6, 1813. No grave has been located but it has been assumed that Thomas Clayton and possibly Mary were buried in early graves in Unity Presbyterian Church in Clayton Township.

We know so little about Mary. Women of the day were often there to do the work and have children. It appears that while Mary had a choice of property she was not allowed to stay in her own "dwelling house" as it was sold according to court records. Mary Clayton is probably the Mary Clayton who is on the roll of Unity Church in 1816. She was dismissed in March 1822 thus can not be daughter-in-law Mary Brown Clayton who remained with the church until asking to go to the New Lexington parish with her husband in 1837. Seven months after being dismissed from church Moses Goodin, Sr. married Mary Clayton on 24 October 1822 in Perry County. Moses was born before 1755 and had grown children. Age wise he would have been a contemporary of Mary. When Moses married he was 67 years old. Moses Goodin sold Mary Clayton’s grandson property in Reading Township in 1825 and at the same time purchased property from Mary’s son, John, in Clayton township. The land in Clayton township was described as second class with no meadow. Moses Goodin died 20 September 1836 and was buried in Hopewell Cemetery in Somerset, Perry County. Goodin researchers report no information on Mary. When Moses died his will written 17 April 1831 mentions no wife only his children by his first marriage. It is assumed by this researcher that Mary must have died between 1825 and 1831 and from all appearances was the widow of Thomas Clayton.

Thomas and Mary’s daughter Mary married Isaac Brown and through their daughter Jane are direct ancestors of Past President Richard Milhous Nixon.