John Clay, Esq., of Crich

John Clay, Esq., of Crich & Mary Clay were not the parents of John Clay, Ancient Planter

Biography

John Clay of Crich, Derbyshire

https://sites.google.com/site/clayofderbyshire/john-clay

John Clay originated from Glapwell in Derbyshire, which is about two miles from Hardwick Hall. His parents were Robert and Emma Clay of Glapwell and the family were yeoman farmers who had acquired land and became prosperous working for “Bess of Hardwick”, the Countess of Shrewsbury. John Clay moved from Glapwell to the parish of Crich and is listed there in 1570 when he bought the Tithes and lands, he married twice into well to do families (both widows) first to Mary daughter of William Calton who was “Servant of the Hawks” to King Henry VIII.

John and Mary had five children:

Three daughters

1. Mary,
2. Penelope and
3. Susan

and two sons

1. William, who died in infancy, and
2. Theophillus who died without issue.

His wife Mary died in 1583 and then John married again to Margaret Pole widow of German Pole. Lord of the Manor of Wakebridge.

After his parents died, John Clay sold the lands in Glapwell in 1585 for the sum of £600, which was a fortune in those days, and he bought more lands in the parish of Crich which had been confiscated from Anthony Babington, who was executed in 1586 for being involved in the plot to free Mary Queen of Scots who was being held prisoner nearby at South Wingfield Manor.

https://www.crichparish.co.uk/webpages/clayejohn.html

On the Claye memorial beside the altar is written:

"Here lieth John Claye, Gentleman and Mary whom he first did wive,
With her he lived near eight years space, in which God gave them children five.
Daughter of William Caulton Esq. who was unto that King of fame,
Henry 8th, Chief Cock Matcher and servent of his Hawkes by name.
And as she had a former match, Charnell of Swarkestone in Leicestershire,
So she deceast, this Claye did take the widow of German Pole Esq.
Daughter of Edward who was son to Sir J. Ferrers of Tamworth, Kt.
She lies entombed in this Church with her by whom he first was plight.
So now this Claye is closed in Claye, the fairest flesh doth fade like grass:
He had one sister who unto Stuffyn of Shirebrook married was.
For death doth give an end to all, and now this Claye shall rest therein.
All claye to claye shall come at last, by death the due reward of sinne.
Thou death, his death, Thy death is he whose soul doth rest with Christ for aye.
The sting of death can no one flee, the greatest Monarchs are but claye."

https://www.crichparish.co.uk/webpages/plaque44.html

Source: Extract from The genealogist edited by Walford D. Selby, v. 1-5; Keith W. Murray, v. 6-10; H. W. Forsyth Harwood, v. 11-38 (1891) p.69

References

1. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/51905599/person/19...
2. The Clay family tomb. The tomb was erected in 1603, so after the deaths of both John Clay's his wives and of his two sons. It was also after the marriage of John's daughter Penelope, but before those of his two other daughters.
3. 1569 Visitation indicates that the Clays were present in Crich at the time. Their arms were later confirmed under the hand of Sir William Dethick in 1588. It appears they existed earlier but were not granted until 1588.
4. https://www.crichparish.co.uk/webpages/clayejohn.html
5. https://sites.google.com/site/clayofderbyshire/john-clay
6. At the Heralds Visitation of Derbyshire in 1611 the gentry had to prove their descent and John Clay gave his parents as Robert and Emma Clay of Glapwell and his grandparents as John and Joan Clay of Glapwell and according to dates of various events relating to him John Clay must have been born around 1545 and lived well into his eighties.
7. https://www.crichparish.co.uk/webpages/clayejohn.html
8. https://www.andrewsgen.com/photo/derbyshire/crich_church_andmrclay.htm
9. https://www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/30603897775
10. Clay of England Society https://sites.google.com/site/clayofengland/
11. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237888008/john_clay
12. Daniel Lysons, Samuel Lysons, 'Parishes: Clowne - Cubley', in Magna Britannia: Volume 5, Derbyshire( London, 1817), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol5/pp89-94 [accessed 20 September 2024]. In the parish church, which is in the deanery of Derby, are some monu ments of the family of Clay (fn. n2), with quaint epitaphs, in which there is a per petual play upon the name.
    1. n2. John Clay, Esq. died in 1632; Mary, his first wife, daughter of William Calton, Esq., chief cock-matcher and servant of the hawks to King Henry VIII., ob. 1583; his second wife was widow of German Pole, Esq. and daughter of Edward Ferrars, of Tamworth.