Thomas Clayton, , [Zebulon, John, Edmund, Henry] was born About 1700 in New Jersey. He was the son of Zebulon Clayton and Mary Hartshorne.

Thomas Clayton and his wife Hannah had a son Moses born 25 April 1725 in New Jersey. Their other children Mary, William, Hannah and James were born between 1726 and 1738. Thomas and Hannah’s youngest son, Thomas was born about 1742 in New Jersey.

Thomas was executor of his father Zebulon’s will in May 1744. In August 1745 newspapers in Upper Freehold, Monmouth County announced a sentence of execution for a negro servant named John owned by Thomas Clayton. The paper stated that he had died very "penitent."

In 1752 Robert Hartshorne owed Thomas an amount of money which was brought into court. And on April 28, 1754 Thomas Clayton "yeoman" of Upper Freehold sold 250 acres given him by his father’s will, with free consent of his mother Mary and signed by Hannah his wife.

The early Claytons practiced the Quaker faith and this compiler believes that the Thomas Clayton who acknowledged at Burlington Monthly Meeting that he had driven a team conveying military stores and bearing arms was either Thomas or his son Thomas who is also our ancestor. Thomas Clayton appears to have died prior to 1783 according to researchers and nothing more is known of his wife Hannah. His youngest son Thomas removed to Virginia before 1777 where he also aided the military by supplying flour. Because of aide to military they were shunned by the Quakers and no longer appear in monthly minutes.

                                                  iii. James Clayton, born 1738

iv. Thomas Clayton, born 1742 in NJ; died August 1813 in Muskingum County Ohio; married Mary --?-- Abt. 1772.

                                                   v. Mary married Henry Swingler.

                                                 vi. Hannah Clayton, born Abt. 1734; married Garret Hulseart 18 September 1752.