Re: Claytons' of Early VA.

Jerry, this group of Claytons is my family group tree.I have done much of the research in this group back to 1651 and on thru to the current times.William Cleaton, Sr. was a tobacco merchant in old Rappahannock Co., VA.His wife, Hannah, acted as his collection agent in many of the court records of those time.William, Sr. died about 1667/8 and Hannah carried on the business.William Cleaton, Jr. first came into promience in 1687 when he became 21 years of age, and used the courts to collect the cattle due to him.It is believed that He married his wife, Mary, very shortly afterwards.Hannah Cleaton Married Andrew McAlster after 1792, and moved to New Kent Co.,VA after that.William Cleaton, Jr. wrote his Will in December, 1705, and died very shortly after that, with the Will being probated in court in early 1706.William Cleaton, Jr. was the father of Stephen Cleaton.Not much is known about Mary, after the death of William Cleaton, Jr.All of the Cleatons were believed to have moved from this area, with the exception of William.Alexander Cleaton died in 1717/8, without ever having married, but his estate was given to a lady friend.
Stephen cleaton was in one other county, before moving on to North Carolina, where he later died.
There is the possibility that William Cleaton, Sr. is associated with the tobacco merchants, Thomas Clayton and William Clayton, in Liverpool, England.I have never been able to trace them back that far, at this time.

Joe Parker