They go from 1685 to 1731 and are in Chester Co., PA, New Castle Co., DE, and Cecil Co., MD.
We’re still looking for more information about him.
Chester County
September 1685
John Hurst presents James Stamfield for abusing and drawing a knife upon him.
Witnesses attested, Thomas Massy, Isaac Brickshaw, George Cleave. They ass declare that James Stamfield did draw a knife upon John Hurst and did run at him
Joseph Clayton being attested declares that the said James Stamfield did draw a whittle and made a pass at John Hurst.
Upon a due examination of the whole matter and upon their submission each to other and promising the Court to live peaceably and quietly the Court discharge them.
June 1689
Josiah Elfrith v. Joseph Clayton in an action of the case: the plaintiff declares for 2£ 5s 8d due by account. The names of the witnesses taken in New Castle County before John Cann and Edward Black produced in writing under the clerk’s hand and county seale, Elizabeth Priestner, Edward Bolton, Wm. Stanyard, Richard Reynolds, and Mary Evans. The names of the petty jury: William Jenken, Robert Bsrber, John Child, Albertus Hendrickson, Walter Marten, Thomas Smith, John Wood, Adam Rhodes, Nathaniel Parks, John Mendenhall, John Steedman, James Swaford. The defendant says in his answer that he has satisfied the debt and produced and account for the same. January 4, 1689 the jury give the verdict for the plaintiff with cost & charge of suit & six pence damage; hereupon judgment is granted.
August 1689
Henry Cadman, plaintiff v. Joseph Clayton, in an action of debt upon Bond
Chester
Declaration
Henry Cadman of Chester County complains of Joseph Clayton of the County of New Castle in the territories of Pennsylvania of a plea that he renders him six pounds twelve shillings lawful money of this province which to him he owes & unjustly detains etc. And thereupon the said plaintiff says that whereas the said defendant by his written obligation under his hand and seal here in court produced dated the 27 day of April 1687 did acknowledge himself to owe and stand justly indebted unto the said plaintiff in the sum of six pounds twelve shillings to be paid to the said plaintiff when he the said defendant should be thereunto required; nevertheless the said 6£ 12s has not been rendered but the same to him hitherto to render has denied and still does deny to the plaintiff damage of forty shillings and thereof brings suit, etc.
The defendant confesses judgment upon Bond being six pounds twelve shillings with cost of suit.
June 11, 1700
Court of Common Pleas
Joseph Clayton, plaintiff v. Jno. Mayfield, withdrawn (p. 60)
New Castle County, Delaware
August 15, 1699
Joseph Clayton of the town of New castle, carpenter, to John Olgle of Turk Cr., planter. Joseph Clayton for a competent sum of money granted to John Ogle a tract of land lying on the east side of the main branch of Christiana Cr., land of Jonas Arskins & land of Andre Tille, containing 444 acres; signed Joseph Clayton; delivered in the presence of Cornelius Empson & John French; rec. 15 Aug. 1699 (B2:150)
January 21, 1700
Joseph Clayton is a witness to the delivery of a deed: Christian Urinson, John Scott, and Jarvis Scott all of the county of New Castle to Urin Anderson of the said County; John Smith is the other witness. Rec. 20 Sep 1704 (B2:277)
March 4, 1703
Sheriff’s deed
John French, high sheriff of the county of New Castle, to James Coutts of New Castle, Esq. Whereas James Askew at the court of common pleas on 18 May last past recovered against Joseph Clayton, late of the county, carpenter in the county of New Castle, the sum of £9 4 shillings & damages to be levied on the lands of Joseph Clayton in the county of New Castle. Whereas for the value of £13 14 shillings I have seized a tract of land of the aforesaid Joseph Clayton. Now I, the said sheriff according to a writ & for £13 14 shilling granted to James Coutts a tract of land (being part of a greater tract belonging to Joseph Clayton) containing 50 acres situated on the west side of White Clay Cr., opposite the land of John Guest, Esq. & other land of Joseph Clayton. Signed John French. Delivered in the presence of R. Dehayes & William Touge; rec. 9 Jan 1704 (B2:258)
May 10, 1707
Joseph Clayton witnesses the delivery of a deed from Hans Marcusson of Cecil Co., planter, to George Dakeyne of the county of New Castle, surveyor; £28 a tract of land situated on south side of the main branch of St. George’s Cr. adjoining the land of John & Robert Darby, 228 acres’ ack in court 1 Nov 1707 (C1:104)
August 17, 1724
Joseph Clayton is mentioned in a deed from John Jordan of Mill Cr. Hundred, blacksmith, to Josiah Ramage of Mill Cr. Hundred, yeoman, for £38, 200 acres, bounded by land of Francis Bradley, formerly taken up by Nicholas Daw and by the said Nicholas Daw conveyed to Joseph Clayton, New Castle Co., carpenter, on 22 April 1686 & by Joseph Clayton assigned over to John Jordan on 28 Oct. 1720; signed John Jordan; delivered in the presence of James Robinson, William MeMehen, and James Waters; rec. 22 Sep 1724 (G1:244)
August 17, 1731
A certain Mr. Clayton’s land is mention in a deed between Wm. Battell of the town & co. of New Castle, gent. and Pamela his wife for 51 pounds, sold to Robt. Meers of White Clay Cr. Hundred in said co., cordwainer, two parcels of land and premises situate on the north side of man branch of Christiana Cr., 34 acres, 66 perches. This is part of a tract confirmed by patent to Thomas Langshane and afterwards seized by said Wm. Battell. Also one tract adjoining, both surveyed into one tract. It bounds the mouth of Lathan’s Run along Mr. Clayton’s line and containes 91 acres and 11 perches. Signed: W. Battell, Parnellah Battell; wit: H. Keith, Jno. VnGezell, James Armitage. Ack: Aug. 1731 (I1-447)
Note: The title “Mr.” can denote old age or status (or both). Perhaps Joseph was an aged man in 1731.
Cecil County, Maryland
June 19, 1701
Joseph Clayton is a witness to a deed: from Christopher Hendrickson of Cecil Co. and Mary his wife in consideration of an unspecified sum of tobacco, to Thomas Severson of the said county, a tract of 50 acres of land called Hendrickson on the east side of Chesapeake Bay on the south side of Elk R. bounded by parcels of land formerly taken up by Hendrick Hendrickson and Andrew Clemenson. Another tract of 50 acres of land called Hendricks formerly taken up by Bartless Hendrickson on the south side of Elk R. Made 19 June 1701. Other wit: Hugh Rice, Matthias Vanderheyden; ack: 12 Aug 1701 (No. 2 1700-1716 p. 11)
SIDE-NOTES
January 22 & 23, 1676
Richard Clayton appears in a deed in New Castle County (at that date it was probably in Chester Co.). William Penn, late of Bickmersworth in the county of Hereford, now of Berminghurst in the county of Sussex, Esq. Gaven Laury of Landon, Merchant; Nicholas Lucas of Herreford in the county of Hartford, maulster; and Edward Byllinge of Westminster of the county of Middlesex, gentleman to Richard Mew of Ratcliffe in the Stepney; Steuben Heath of the county of Middlesex, merchant; Percival Toule of the same place, baker; Peter Hailes of Lymehouse in the parish and co. aforesaid, distiller; Thomas Martin of the same place, melaman; Nicholas Bell of Ratcliffe aforesaid; & Richard Clayton of Bishopsgate Street, London, linen draper; they divide the land up in varying ways; signed William Penn, Gaven Laury, Nicholas Lucas, Edward Byllinge; delivered in the presence of Harbart Springett, Thomas Rudyard, Benj. Griffith, Thomas Poynett, & John Burley (B:22)
August 2, 1730
Asher Clayton, Gentleman, appears in a New Castle cO. mortgage deed. William Battell of the town and county of New Castle, Gentleman, and Parnella his wife, for the sum of 885 pounds, discharge upon Ashur Clayton and Robert Chapman in their actual possession, for the term of one whole year, a tract of land and plantation situate in White Clay Hundred in said county, containing 500 acres. It begins at Rum Branch to Latham’s Run to Christiana Cr. (Men. indenture dated 7 April 1730 by said Battell to David French and Andria Peterson, Gentlemen, trustees of the Gen. Loan Office for 60 pounds.) Signed: W. Battle, Parnella Battell; wit: Sam Blakely, David French; ack: Nov. Term 1730 (I1-352)
RELATED
Clayton Deed Records in New Castle County, Delaware
Clayton Deed Records in Chester County, Pennsylvania
The Records of William Clayton, Jr., and Elizabeth Beazer
The Records of Henry Reynolds and Prudence Clayton
Records of John Beales, Chester County, PA
William Clayton and Prudence Lankford
Honour Clayton and James Brown
SOURCES
June D. Brown Abstracts of Cecil County, Maryland, Land Records, 1673-1751 (Westminster, MD: Heritage, 1998)
Carol Bryant, New Castle County, Delaware Land Records, 1715-1728 (Westminster, MD: Heritage, 2007)
—, New Castle County, Delaware Land Records, 1673-1710, (Westminster, MD: Heritage, 2008).
Carol Garrett, New Castle County Delaware, Land Records 1728-1731 & 1734-1738, (Lewes, DE: Delmarva Roots, 2001).
Records for the Court of Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1681-1697
Records of the Courts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, vol. 2, transcribed by Dorothy Lapp (Danboro, Pennsylvania: Richard T. and Mildred C. Williams, 1972).
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