Research by David Clay       Email: dmclay@btinternet.com

Clay of Berkshire

Clay Hall, Windsor (Residence of Sir William Herschel 1785-86).

1189. - 1190. Ricardo de Claie magistro (teacher). Witness to a Charter relating to Reading Hospital. (Reading Abbey Cartularies Charter number 00100203).

1349. Robert Clay of Berkshire and John Pentlow are debtors of £80. (The National Archives Ref.- C241/126/164).

1440. Sept 3rd. Land in Eton  between the  grave yard of Eton church on the south and land sometime of Walter Clay on the north. (Calendar of Patent Rolls Hen. V1 vol. 3).

1442.  A tenement in Eton lying between the church and land which once belonged to Walter Clay on the King's highway leading through the middle of Eton. (Ref.- PC2023).

1442. The land of Eton College called Le Werde  near the highway leading from Wyndesore to Le Slough  lying near the tenement late of Walter Clay and Robt' Goodrome. (Cal. Pat. Rolls. Hen. V1 vol. 4).

1473. March 23rd. Grant to William Westbury a plot of land in Eton and a cottage sometime of Walter Claie lying within the precinct of the college. (Calendar of Patent Rolls membrane 10).

1555.12th Sept. Catherine Claye married John Brocke at Reading. (Parish Register Transcript).

1630. Nicholas Clay married Christian Frogley at Childrey. Berkshire. 22nd November.

1631. Hugh son of Nicholas and Christian Clay baptised at Childrey.  Berkshire. 20th July.

1632. Thomas son of Nicholas and Christian Clay baptised at Childrey. Berkshire 2nd February.

1639. William son of Nicholas and Christian Clay baptised at Childrey. Berkshire. 31st March.

1682. Inquisition. Elizabeth Clay makes a claim for £600 for debt owed to her by Sir Charles Englefield of Englefield. Berkshire. (Museum of English Rural Life Ref.- MS145/EN1/2/22).

1690. Mary daughter of Thomas and Mary Clay baptised at Abingdon. Berkshire. 8th February.

1696. Thomas son of Thomas and Mary Clay baptised at Abingdon. Berkshire. in April.

1708. Stephen Clay defendant in a court case concerning land in the parish of Wingfield. Berkshire. (TNA Ref.- C6/357/54).

1772. Probate Lawsuit. Elcock v Clay concerning Elcocks widow of Aston Tirrold. Berkshire. (TNA Ref.- PROB18/83/39 and 58).

1776. April 20th. Henry Clay married Betty Saunders at Faringdon. Berkshire.

1777. May 13th. Samuel Clay married Elizabeth Sadler at Faringdon. Berkshire.

1779. Sept. 23rd. John son of Samuel and Elizabeth Clay baptised at Faringdon.

1782. March 8th. William son of Samuel and Elizabeth Clay baptised at Faringdon.

1782. July 28th. Francis son of Henry and Betty Clay baptised at Faringdon.

1784. May 3rd. Queen Charlotte mentions in her diary that "on Saturday 3rd May we went to see a small place called Clay Hall near Old Windsor". (Royal Collection Trust. Ref.- GEO/ADD/43/3c).

1785. Mention of a house called Clay Hall at Old Windsor in Berkshire. (Cambridge University Press).

1805. June 20th John Clay age 20 Born Berkshire registered for Military Service at Bucking.

1813. July 1st. Gentleman Cadet William Clay from The Royal Military College to be Ensign. (Sandhurst. Berkshire).

1816. May 28th. Notice is hereby given that the partnership as Carriers at Newbury in the County of Berkshire between Richard Clay of Newbury and Richard Basing of Speen under the firm of  Richard Clay and Co has been dissolved by mutual consent. (London Gazette).

1824. Sept. 29th. Notice is hereby given that the partnership between Samuel Burton, Richard Clay and Henry Batty of Maidenhead in Berkshire Booksellers Stationers and Printers was dissolved by mutual consent. (Ref.- The Gazette Newspaper).

1842 / 3. John Clay amongst the defendants in a case Webb v Grace concerning estates in Theale and Tilehurst in Berkshire. (TNA.- Ref.- C101/3997).

1848. Plan of Clay Hall Farm at Old Windsor. Berkshire. (TNA Ref.- MPEE1/9)

1855. Lease of Clay Hall Farm.  A dwelling house and 100 acres in Old Windsor. Berkshire. (Berkshire Archives Office - Ref. - D/ESBT116).

1874. August 31st. William Henry Clay of Reading. St. Giles. (Berkshire Archives Office. Ref.- R/JQ/6/21/43).

1874. Sept. 4th. William Clay (age 18). the jockey who was thrown from his horse on Friday whilst riding for the Forbury Stakes at Reading has died from concussion of the brain. (Leicester Journal).

1893. Admin of Phoebe Harris Clay of Marcham. Berks, spinster who died 16th June 1893 was granted to Henry Clay retired butcher. (National Probate Calendar).


1851 Census. Great Faringdon. Berkshire.

William Clay      age  40  Agricultral Labourer          Born  Littleworth. Berkshire.

Mary Clay           age  34  Wife                                             Born  Kempsford. Gloucestershire.

H. Clay                   age    7   Son  Scholar                            Born  Faringdon. Berkshire.

F. Clay                     age    6   Son Scholar                            Born  Littleworth. Berkshire.

M. Clay                   age   4   Daughter                                  Born  Littlewoth. Berkshire

1851 Census. Great Faringdon. Berkshire.

Ann Clay        age  69  Widow                                  Born  Great Coxwell. Berkshire.

Eliza Clay       age  36  Daughter Unmarried   Born  Littleworth.  Berkshire.

J. Clay              age 13  Grandson.  Scholar         Born  Littleworth.  Berkshire.

W. Clay            age   Grandson.  Scholar         Born  Littleworth.  Berkshire.

1851 Census. Reading. Berkshire.

Minster Street.

Phoebe Clay    Age 22  House Servant.                Born  Elsfield. Oxfordshire.

Living with Hounslow family (Grocers).

1861 Census. Faringdon. Berkshire.

William Clay    age 50  Agricultural Labourer.           Born  Littleworth. Berkshire.

Ann Clay          age  44  Wife  Ag Lab.                                Born   Kempsford. Gloucestershire.

Charles Clay  age 11 Son.                                                      Born   Littleworth. Berkshire.

Francis Clay   age  6 Son.                                                        Born   Littleworth. Berkshire.

George Clay age   4 Son.                                                         Born  Littleworth. Berkshire.

Mary Anne Clay age  I  Daughter.                                     Born L ittlewoth. Berkshire.

Ann Clay  age  78  Widow. Lodger                                    Born  Coxwell. Berkshire.

Eliza Clay age 46  Unmarried. Lodger. Ag Lab.          Born  Littleworth. Berkshire.

Francis Clay  age  23   Unmarried. Lodger. Ag Lab.  Born  Littleworth. Berkshire.

1861 Census. Stanford Road. Buckland. Berkshire.

Mariah Clay    age 14  Servant. Dairymaid.          Born  Littleworth. Berkshire.

1861 Census. Slade Gate. Bradfield. Berkshire.

John Clay    age 44  Agricultural Labourer.         Born  Basildon. Berkshire.

Harriett Clay   age 33  Wife                                         Born  Ashampstead. Berkshire.

1861 Census. Horn Street. Reading. Berkshire.

John Clay    age. ?                                                       Born Hampshire.

Mary Clay age  59  W ife                                       Born   Metfield. Berkshire.

Ann  Clay age 27  Daughter  Unmarried.    Born  Metfield. Berkshire.      

Henry Clay age   20  Son  Carpenter              Born  Metfield. Berkshire.

George Clay age 17   Son  Carpenter            Born  Metfield. Berkshire.

1871 Census. Littleworth. Faringdon. Berkshire.

Ann Clay             age 53   Widow                           Born  Hempsford. Gloucestershire.

William H. Clay  age 27   Son. Ag.Lab.             Born  Faringdon. Berks.

George Clay        age   14   Son  Ag.Lab.            Born  Faringdon. Berks.         

Mary A. Clay       age   11  Daughter                  Born  Faringdon. Berks.

1871 Census. Egham. Berkshire.

Henry Clay    age 33  Railway Labourer              Born  Portsmouth. Hampshire.

Pattie Clay age 32  Wife                                              Born  Oxfordshire.

Arthur H. Clay  age   6   Son                                       Born   Egham.

Pattie H. Clay age  4  Daughter                               Born  Egham.  

1871 Census. Kingstone Winslow. Ashbury. Berkshire.

John W.Cley        age 49  Agricultural Labourer    Born  Black Bourton. Oxfordshire.

Mary Ann Cley   age  51  Wife                                        Born  Ferham. Berkshire.

Young Cley           age !4  Son    Shepherd                   Born   Ashbury. Berks.

Henry Cley            age 13  Son    Ploughboy              Born  Ashbury. Berks.

Benjamin Cley     age   10  Son   Ploughboy             Born  Ashbury. Berks.


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