Thomas Clayton (<1754>1815)

of Columbia County and Morgan County, Georgia
St. Paul's Parish, Georgia, 1774
	Thomas Clayton owned 200 acres on both sides of Sullivan's Creek, in St. Paul's Parish (1), Georgia by November 1, 1774 (see map below.). At that time, it is safe to believe that , he would have been at least 21 years of age, placing his birth no later than 1754.

It is not clear that Thomas Clayton lived in Georgia in 1774, however for an August1, 1786 land record in Richmond Co., Georgia records the sale of 80 acres of this same land to James Landers and indicates that Thomas Clayton was, at that time, living in Ninety Six District, South Carolina (2). This sale was witnessed by Thomas Willingham of Richmond Co., Georgia. Robert Clayton, who is believed to have been a son of Thomas Clayton indicated on the 1860 US Census in Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, that he was born in Georgia in 1774 or 1775. The remaining 120 acres of this tract were later sold by Thomas Willingham, (Jr.) in 1789, however, there is no record of the transfer from Thomas Clayton to Thomas Willingham Jr. (3)

Thomas Clayton is thought to have been living in Columbia Co., Georgia by no later than 1799. He and wife Milly are believed to have had the following children: Robert Clayton b. ca 1775 Nancy Clayton b. ca 1780 Malinda Clayton b. ca 1792 In 1804, Nancy Clayton married John Shaddix in Columbia County. James along with brothers James and William paid a poll tax in Columbia County, in 1803 and in 1805, all three were living on the Little River. Sometime between January, 1805 and April, 1806, Malinda "Milly" Clayton married Isaac Jones probably in Columbia County. Isaac Jones had paid tax in Columbia County in 1805 for land on the Little River. Robert Clayton married Nancy Unknown sometime before 1802 probably in Columbia County. Thomas Clayton and Milly may also be the parents of an Elizabeth Clayton also.

This part of St. Paul's Parish, Georgia was later Richmond County and then Columbia County. This deed actually indicates that Thomas Clayton was in "Craven County of Ninety Six District..." Craven County, South Carolina, an old county, was discontinued in 1769, so I am not sure what the reference to it means. Craven County was definitely not "in Ninety Six District" as indicated in the deed abstract. The two civil divisions were in fact distinct. Some small parts of SC (around latter-day Spartanburg Co., SC) were in both Craven County and Ninety Six District which was formed in 1769. In 1786 Ninety Six District was made up by what was later Pendleton, Greenville, Abbeville, Laurens, Spartanburg, Union, Newberry, and Edgefield Districts which were all formed in the late 1790s. Thomas Willingham Sr., died about 1787. He was married to Mary. He had children: Thomas Jr. b. 1750, Jesse Henry b. ~1753, John b. ~1754 d. 1818 Columbia Co., GA married Ann Spinks, and Abner b. ~1757. Since Thomas Sr., was dead by 1787, the Thomas Willingham listed in the deed is likely Thomas Jr. Thomas Willingham, Jr., sold James Mattett (Mallett) 100 acres on the waters of Cagg (Kegg) Creek on January 5, 1799. This land was bordered on the SW by vacant land and John Weldon, SE by old lines, NW by vacant land, NE by vacant and John Lander’s land. Witnesses were James Ramsey, Isaac Willingham, and John Moon James Shaddix married an Elizabeth Unknown. She is possibly another daughter of Thomas Clayton.