CLAYDON FAMILY HISTORY

The Descendants of Nicholas Claydon of Fringford, Oxfordshire

By Colin L. Miller

In 2006, a bunch of old letters, documents, and a few tintype photos were found in a collection of old things stored in an attic. The letters were all sent to James Claydon and his 2nd wife Charity in Greenfield Center, NY, from in-laws and Claydon family in England and in the United States of America between 1859 and 1876. This history of the Claydon family puts the letters into context, linking the written events to official records, and gives a deeper meaning.

There is an unbroken chain of child to parent to grandparent going back to the earliest period of life on Earth. Most of those predecessor parents are lost to the passage of time and we will never know their names or who they were and what they did. Only tiny parts of them remain with those living in the present day, in each strand of DNA in our blood, and in more recent years, in our memories and mementos.

Collectively, they all contributed to who and what we are. Had there been even a tiny change in even one ancestor’s life long ago, many of us would not be here or there would be someone else in our places. Out of all the infinite and uncountable possibilities, they and we are the only ones who actually existed. With the ability to keep records and other evidence, the history of our family origins can be uncovered and reconstructed. Lying dormant in a multitude of quiet places are traces of our past waiting to be revealed. With studious research and some luck, those who came before who were lost can be found again.

The Claydon family is known to have lived in the area of Fringford, Oxfordshire, England, at least from the first quarter of the 1700s. Fringford is a small farming hamlet in between London and Birmingham. The Claydon surname comes from medieval times, and relates to a geographic location. Within about a dozen miles from Fringford are locations named Steeple Claydon, Middle Claydon, East Claydon, and Botolph Claydon. About 16 miles northwest of Fringford is the village Claydon. The name Claydon itself is from the old English "claeg(en)", clayey (soil), and "dun", (down, hill, or mountaintop), so it generally means a dirt hill [http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Claydon]. The earliest known Claydon in the family was named Nicholas, according to Oxfordshire, England parish transcripts by researcher Robert Clayton [robclayton@comcast.net]. The transcripts note that Nicholas was married to Johanna Franklin in Fringford on October 28, 1748. On September 6, 1795, Nicholas was buried in Fringford at the age of 84. His widow, Johanna, was buried there on May 7, 1798. Based on the parish records, Nicholas and Johanna had at least nine children from about 1748 to 1771: John, Sarah, Nicholas, Thomas, Hannah, Richard, Nicholas, Edward, and Laurence. There are two sons named Nicholas because the first one died. As of 2008, we only know about Laurence and many of his descendants. The parish records list other Claydons in Fringford and nearby villages of similar age, so Nicholas Senior probably had brothers, sisters, and other relations that can’t as yet be connected to the family tree. Since the transcript covers only Oxfordshire parish records for those with the surname Claydon and similar spellings, the records of neighboring counties such as Buckinghamshire are unknown and may contain more clues. Nicholas and Johanna’s youngest son Laurence married Mary Turner on June 15, 1795, in the nearby village of Godington. They had at least eleven children from about 1796 to 1813: William, Hannah, Sarah, Mary Ann, Thomas, Ann, John, James, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, and Thomas. The first Elizabeth and Thomas died young.

A few members of the family went to the United States of America: first is Thomas Claydon, son of William Claydon and grandson of Laurence and Mary, who married Mary Wise on May 26, 1845, and in 1846, they journeyed to New York City and went to the area of Albany and Saratoga County, New York. After moving well over a dozen times, they finally settled in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois. Second is James Claydon, son of Laurence and Mary, who married Mary Leech in 1831, and in 1848 they went to Saratoga County, New York, eventually settling in Greenfield Center, not far from where nephew Thomas had stayed. Third is Mary Ann, daughter of William and granddaughter of Laurence and Mary, who married George Hollowell and went to Williamsburgh/Brooklyn, New York; and finally Henry Claydon, son of Thomas Claydon and grandson of Laurence and Mary, who married Ann Manks, and lived in Solihull, England, before moving most of his family to Greenfield in 1879 where his uncle James had lived. Henry’s children mostly settled in the Saratoga and Rensselaer County areas.

In the summer of 2006, a 3rd great-grandson of Laurence’s son Thomas (a great grandson of Henry’s daughter Nora) found a bunch of old letters, documents, and a few tintype photos that he inherited from his father, who in turn must have inherited them from other relations in New York. The documents all related to James Claydon and his 2nd wife Charity, who lived on a small farm in Greenfield Center, Saratoga County, New York, until they died in March of 1876. James' nephew Henry Claydon, his wife Ann and most his children would arrive in New York in 1879 and 1880, emigrating from Solihull, England. The letters were probably retained by friends of the family or James and Charity’s executor, Benjamin Robinson, until Henry and family arrived. The letters pertaining to the Claydon family came from James’ friends, in-laws, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews in England and in America. They contained many little details, from how devoted they were to their religion, to the education of their children, the passing of Laurence and Mary, financial struggles on pioneer farms in the American west, and other interesting bits. Collectively, they draw a picture of life in the mid-1800s, and show us a little bit of who they were.

With the information provided by the letters, more documentation was found: the wills of James and Charity Claydon that also mentioned their heirs, the death certificates of Laurence and Mary Claydon that match what was written about in the letters, the marriage certificate of Henry Claydon and Ann Manks with their fathers noted (Thomas Claydon and John Manks), the birth certificates of most of Henry and Ann's children, and some immigration records, including on which ship they journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean. With names, dates and locations known, the people mentioned in the letters were located in the British and US censuses and immigration records. And gradually a larger, more detailed family tree took shape. Hopefully, with more research and some luck, living relatives can be found.

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NICHOLAS CLAYDON & JOHANNA FRANKLIN

Nicholas Claydon was born about 1721 probably in Oxfordshire, England, in the area of Fringford, which is a small farming village about four miles north-northeast of Bicester. According to Oxfordshire parish transcripts of all Claydons compiled by Robert Clayton, Nicholas married Johannah Franklin in Fringford on October 28, 1748 [IGI]. Between 1748 and 1771, they had at least nine children. The transcripts show that Nicholas was buried in Fringford on September 6, 1795, at the age of 74; and widow Johannah was buried there on May 7, 1798.

Google map, Fringford-Hethe-Godington area of Oxfordshire, England.

The villages of Hethe (upper left) and Fringford (lower right)

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9. LAURENCE CLAYDON (1770-1852) & MARY TURNER

Nicholas and Johanna (Franklin) Claydon’s youngest son and ninth known child Laurence married Mary Turner on June 15, 1795, in the nearby village of Godington. They had at least eleven children from about 1796 to 1813: William, Hannah, Sarah, Mary Ann, Thomas, Ann, John, James, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, and Thomas. The first Elizabeth and Thomas died young. All this according to the parish transcripts. Another source is the FamilySearch.org IGI. Nothing is known about the Turner family at this time.

Laurence and Mary first appeared in the British Census after a local census enumerator handed out forms to the local households the week before the census date. Laurence, or a family member who was literate, filled out the form for everyone in the house on the night of Sunday, June 6, 1841. The forms were collected a few days later and compiled into the official census record. On page 20, line 9 of the census record book for Fringford is Laurence Claydon, age 69, agricultural laborer, born in Oxfordshire. The next line lists Mary, age 70, born in the county; Henry, age 8, born in the county; and James, age 6, born in the county. Henry and James are grandsons either visiting or staying with their grandparents. Their mother, Elizabeth, had died about a year previously based on the fact that she is not present in the census, that there are three possible Elizabeth Claydons that had death certificates registered at the time in the Bicester area, and that Thomas Claydon remarried in 1842 [1841 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire. Class: HO107; Civil Parish: Fringford; County: Oxfordshire; Enumeration District: 7; Page: 20; Line: 9; GSU Roll: 474574].

They next appeared in the 1851 census, which was enumerated on March 30 and 31. Residence #34 on the enumerator's schedule for the village of Fringford, Oxfordshire was headed by Laurence Claydon, married, age 81, a pauper (unemployed), born in Fringford. On the next line is Mary, wife, age 81, born in Godington, Oxfordshire. The other person in this household is John Claydon, grandson, age 13, born in Fringford. John is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Claydon, and the brother of Henry and James who were present in the 1841 census [1841 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire. Class: HO107; Piece: 1729; Folio: 489; Page: 29; GSU Roll: 193638]. In 1841, John, age 3, was at the house of Hannah and Thomas Dagley in Godington. Hannah is sister to Thomas and John’s aunt.

1841 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire. Laurence Claydon is on line 9.
Also in the household: wife Mary, and grandsons Henry and James (sons of Thomas Claydon)

On June 29, 1851, the death certificate of Mary Claydon was registered. It says she was 80 years old; wife of Laurence Claydon, laborer; cause of death: debility and old age, certified; informant for the certificate: Mary Cotterell, present at death; certificate registered on June 30, 1851, by Joseph Reynolds, registrar. This certificate is referenced in the FreeBMD Death Index: "Mary Claydon, 2nd Quarter 1851, Bicester, Vol. 16 page 28." Debility: "State or quality of being weak; weakness; feebleness" [http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his480/notes/deth-dic.htm].

On August 19, 1852, the death certificate of Laurence Claydon was registered. It says he was 79 years old; a laborer; cause of death: debility and old age, certified; informant for the certificate: Phebe Wetton, present at death; certificate registered on August 30, 1852, by Joseph Reynolds, registrar. This certificate is in the FreeBMD Death Index: "Laurence Claydon, 3rd Quarter 1852, Bicester, Vol. 3A page 347." In a letter dated April 17, 1873, from John Claydon to James Claydon, John writes “Dear Brother, our mother died June 1851 and [father] August 1852 about 14 months apart.”

1851. REGISTRATION DISTRICT: Bicester DEATH in the Sub-district of Bicester in the Counties of Oxford & Buckingham
No.	When and where died	Name and Surname	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
?89	Twenty Sixth June, 1851, Fringford	Mary Claydon	female	80 years	Wife of laurence Claydon labourer	debility and old age, certified	The mark of Mary Cotterell, present at death	June 30, 1851	Joseph Reynolds, registrar

1851. REGISTRATION DISTRICT: Bicester DEATH in the Sub-district of Bicester in the Counties of Oxford & Buckingham
No.	When and where died	Name and Surname	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
197	Nineteenth August, 1852, Fringford	Laurence Claydon	male	79 years	labourer	debility and old age, certified	The mark of Phebe Wetton, present at death	June 30, 1851	Joseph Reynolds, registrar

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1. William Claydon (1796 - 1849) & Mary ?

William was the first known child of Laurence and Mary Claydon. The Claydon parish transcripts for Fringford list William, son of Laurence & Mary, as baptized on May 1, 1796. Although the parish transcripts don't list a marriage for William, the baptisms of his children are there. On November 28, 1819, William Claydon, son of William & Mary, was baptized; next, on November 11, 1821, Thomas was baptized; then Maria on December 14, 1823; then Stephen on June 15, 1828; and Mary Anne on October 6, 1833. Then, on January 1, 1836, there was a burial for Mary Claydon, age 41 (born 1794).

There is probably another child that precedes son William: there is Sarah Claydon, born about 1817, who married William Cowley. She is not on the baptism list in the Fringford parish transcripts, but her marriage is: on February 26, 1838. In the FreeBMD Marriage Index is "William Cowley/Sarah Claydon, 1st quarter 1838, Bicester, vol. 16 pg. 35". Viewing the marriage certificate would likely confirm who Sarah's father was.

The 1841 census for Hethe, Oxfordshire, doesn't list a wife for William. Son Stephen, age 22, is with the Cowleys in the 1851 census along with William Claydon, age 32, and provides further evidence of a Claydon-Cowley union [1841 British Census, Hethe, Oxfordshire. Class: HO107; Piece 886; Book: 4; Civil Parish: Heath; County: Oxfordshire; Enumeration District: 7A; Folio: 7; Page: 8; Line: 13; GSU roll: 474575].

Google map: Hethe, Oxfordshire.

In the FreeBMD Death Index, there is a “William Claydon, 2nd quarter 1849, Bicester, Vol. 16 pg. 25”. In the parish transcripts for Fringford is a record of the burial of William Claydon, aged 52, of "typhus fever" on April 17, 1849. Typhoid Fever is caused by fecal contamination of food. Typhus is a disease carried by lice. Which one it really is isn't clear.

In 1846 son Thomas and wife Mary left for a new life in the United States, first settling in New York, and then moving numerous times, eventually settling down in Aurora, Illinois. There, in 1859, Thomas caught the disease tuberculosis, known then as “consumption,” and died, leaving wife Mary with four surviving children (See Thomas & Mary Wise Claydon History).

Daughter Mary Ann married George Hollowell and also settled in the United States, in Brooklyn, New York. Living descendants are in the region, including Charlie Clackett [cudavision@aol.com].

Daughter Maria stayed in the home area and married James Lake in the nearby village of Hethe.

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2. Hannah Claydon (1797 - 1843) & Thomas Dagley

Hannah Claydon was the second child of Laurence & Mary. In the parish transcripts for Fringford is a marriage record for Hannah Claydon on December 9, 1823, to Thomas Dagley.

In the 1841 British Census, Godington, Oxfordshire, is head of household Thomas Dagley, age 43, agricultural laborer, born in the county; Hannah, age 43; John, age 16; Jane, age 14; James, age 12; William, age 10; Mary, age 8; David, age 2; and John Claydon, age 3. John Claydon is the son of Hannah's brother Thomas [Class: HO107; Piece 885; Book: 16; Civil Parish: Goddington; County: Oxfordshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 4; Page: 3; Line: 13; GSU roll: 474574]. John's brothers, James and Henry, were staying with their paternal grandparents, Laurence and Mary Claydon, in Fringford.

Google map: Godington.

In the FreeBMD Death Index is "Hannah Dayley, 4th quarter 1843, Bicester, Vol. 16 pg. 21". She is not listed in the parish transcripts because only those records with the surname Claydon were compiled. A more detailed examination will probably reveal a burial for Hannah. In the 1851 British Census, Godington, Oxfordshire, is Thomas Dagley, head, widowed, age 68, agricultural laborer; Jane, daughter, unmarried, age 26; and David, son, age 11 [Class: HO107; Piece: 1729; Folio: 452; Page: 13; GSU roll: 193638].

Hannah was mentioned in the will of her brother, James Claydon: "Second: I give and devise to my brother, Thomas Claydon, of Solihull, Warwickshire, England, such sum as shall be equal to two hundred pounds English money: to be by him divided as follows – one eighth thereof to the heirs of my brother William Claydon, late of Oxfordshire England, who are now living in England – one eight thereof to the heirs of my sister Anna Dagley, late of Godenton, Buckinghamshire, England..."

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3. Sarah Claydon (1799 - 1843)

Sarah was the third known child of Laurence and Mary Claydon. Fringford parish transcripts record the baptism of Sarah, daughter of Laurence and Mary, on July 16, 1799. Twenty-two years later, on July 22, 1821, Philip Claydon, son of Sarah Claydon and an unknown father, was baptized. Philip was a frequent correspondent with his uncle, James Claydon in Greenfield, NY, sending five known letters and probably more which are lost. In one of those letters, dated November 26, 1868, Philip noted that he was 47 years old (1868 - 47 = 1821), which matches the transcript record’s date.

In the 1841 British Census, Caversfield, Buckinghamshire is Sarah Claydon, age 42 (b. 1799) born not in county, in the household of William Gibbs. Caversfield is near Bicester, about 4 miles from Fringford. Sarah was probably working as a servant [Class: HO107; Piece 44; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Caversfield; County: Buckinghamshire; Enumeration District: 5; Folio: 5; Page: 6; Line: 18; GSU roll: 241212].

Google map: Caversfield, Buckinghamshire.

In the Fringford parish transcripts, on November 11, 1843, is a record of a burial of Sarah Claydon, age 44. In the FreeBMD Death Index, there is a record for "Sarah Claydon, Bicester, 4th quarter 1843, Vol. 16 pg. 23".

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4. Mary Ann Claydon (1800 - 1853) & Thomas Gibbard

Mary Ann was the fourth known child of Laurence and Mary Claydon. According to the Claydon parish transcripts, she was baptized on May 17, 1801 in Fringford; and on October 11, 1833, in Fringford, she married Thomas Gibbard. In the 1841 British Census, Newton Purcell, Oxfordshire, is Thomas Gibbard, head, age 41, agricultural laborer; Mary, age 40; William, age 13; George, age 11; Maria, age 6; Selina, age 5; Joseph, age 4; and Phillip, age 2 [Class: HO107; Piece 887; Book: 1; Civil Parish: Newton Purcell; County: Oxfordshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 4; Page: 9; Line: 1; GSU roll: 474575]. Since Thomas and Mary Ann were married in 1833, sons William and George are probably from Thomas' previous wife who likely must have died between 1830 and 1833.

Google map: Newton Purcell, Oxfordshire.

In the 1851 British Census, Thomas and Mary Ann Gibbard were living in Newton Purcell, a village about 2.5 miles from Fringford, with children Mary (age 16), Joseph (age 13), Phillip James (age 11), David (age 9) and Esau (age 7) [1851 British Census, Newton Purcell, Oxfordshire. Class: HO107; Piece: 1729; Folio: 450; Page: 9; GSU roll: 193638]. Daughter Selina Gibbard was in Hendon, Middlesex, visiting her 1st cousin Philip & Emily Claydon, and their sons James and George [1851 British Census, Hendon, Middlesex. Class: HO107; Piece: 1700; Folio: 457; Page: 17; GSU roll: 193608].

In 1853, the FreeBMD Death Index lists “Mary Ann Gibbard, 2nd quarter 1853, Bicester, Vol. 3A pg. 371”. Mary's death was mentioned in a letter from Philip Claydon to his uncle James Claydon, dated October 17, 1859:

In the 1861 British Census, Newton Purcell, Oxfordshire, in Cottage No. 17, is Thomas Gibbard, widower, age 62, agricultural laborer; with daughter Selina, unmarried, age 25; and son Esau, age 17, agricultural laborer [Class: RG9; Piece: 899; Folio: 94; Page: 4; GSU roll: 542718]. The youngest children of Thomas and Mary Ann, sons Phillip J. and David, were boarders working as agricultural laborers in St. Andrew parish, Northampton (about 22 miles northeast of Fringford) [1861 British Census, St Andrew, Northampton. Class: RG9; Piece: 937; Folio: 66; Page: 40; GSU roll: 542724].

In the 1871 British Census, Newton Purcell, Oxfordshire, in the house of Philip I. & Eliza Gibbard: Philip, head, married, age 32, undergardner; Eliza, wife, married, age 35, born in Bicester; Edw., son, age 5; David, son, age 3; Thos. Gibbard, widower, age 72, farm laborer; Jos. Gibbard, age 4 mo. Listed as a visitor is Ann Casemore, age 25, born in Bicester. She is a younger sister of Eliza's [Class: RG10; Piece: 1444; Folio: 95; Page: 4; GSU roll: 828785].

In the 1881 British Census, St Leonard Shoreditch, London, is Thomas Gibbard, age 80, matchmaker, born in Oxfordshire, a pauper at Holborn Union Workhouse [Class: RG11; Piece: 393; Folio: 100; Page: 5; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341085].

Google map: Shoreditch area of London.

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5. Thomas Claydon (1803 - 1807)

The fifth child of Laurence and Mary, Thomas, died at about the age of 4, and he was buried on November 27, 1807 in Fringford.

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6. Ann Claydon (1804 - ?)

Ann was the sixth child of Laurence and Mary. She was baptized in Fringford on December 9, 1804. Nothing further is known about her at this time. There is no indication of a marriage in the Fringford transcripts, and there wouldn’t be an official record until about 1837.

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7. John Claydon (1805 - 1879) & Elizabeth ? (1814 - 1898)

John Claydon was the seventh known child of Laurence and Mary, born about 1805 in Fringford. His birth/baptism is not in the parish transcripts, nor his marriage to Elizabeth, however, three of his children are listed. Based on the baptism of daughter Hannah, they probably married around 1838 (estimated).

On February 9, 1840, daughter Hannah is noted in parish transcripts as being baptized in Fringford. On January 14, 1844, son Richard was baptized; and on August 9, 1846, daughter Sarah was baptized. Daughter Sophia is not in the transcript.

In the 1841 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire, is a household headed by John Claydon, age 35, an agricultural laborer, born in Oxfordshire. Next is Elizabeth, age 25, born in the county, and Hannah, age 1, born in the county [1841 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire. Class: HO107; Civil Parish: Fringford; County: Oxfordshire; Enumeration District: 7; Page: 17; Line: 17; GSU Roll: 474574]. In the 1851 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire, is household #66 on the schedule, headed by John Claydon, married, age 46, agricultural laborer, born in Fringford, Oxfordshire. Next is Elizabeth, wife, married, age 37, born in Gawcott, Buckinghamshire; Hannah, daughter, age 11, born in Fringford; Sophia, daughter, age 9, born in Fringford; Richard, son, age 7, born in Fringford; and Sarah, daughter, age 4, born in Fringford [1851 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire. Class: HO107; Piece: 1729; Folio: 493; Page: 37; GSU Roll: 193638].

In the 1861 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire, is household #77 on the schedule, headed by John Claydon, married, age 67, agricultural laborer, born in Fringford, Oxfordshire. Next is Elizabeth, wife, married, age 47, born in Gawcott, Buckinghamshire; and Sarah, daughter, unmarried, age 14, born in Fringford, Oxfordshire. Hannah, Sophia and Richard are not present. [1861 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire. Class: RG9; Piece: 900; Folio: 20; Page: 34; GSU roll: 542718].

In Hethe, Oxfordshire, daughters Hannah and Sophia were working as servants for the Hethe church rector at the Rectory [1861 British Census, Hethe, Oxfordshire. Class: RG9; Piece: 900; Folio: 10; Page: 13; GSU roll: 542718].

In Fringford, son Richard is working as a servant at the Mansfield house [1861 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire. Class: RG9; Piece: 900; Folio: 19; Page: 32; GSU roll: 542718].

In the 1871 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire, is household #6 on the schedule, headed by John Claydon, married, age 67, agricultural laborer, born in Fringford. Next is Elizabeth, wife, married, age 57, born in Gaucott, Buckinghamshire. Household #5 on the same page is headed by son Richard Claydon, with wife Ann and children Henry, John, and James [Class: RG10; Piece: 1445; Folio: 5; Page: 1; GSU roll: 828786]. In Bennington, Hertfordshire, is daughter Sarah, single, age 24, working at Bennington Lodge as a parlor maid [1871 British Census, Bennington, Hertfordshire. Class: RG10; Piece: 1371; Folio: 23; Page: 2; GSU Roll: 828461]. In a letter dated October 25, 187?, she wrote to her uncle, James Claydon. The return address was “White Hall, Bennington Stevenage, Herts.” She wrote that her father was ill and unable to work for the past three years.

On October 31, 1879, Claydon parish transcripts for Fringford show a burial for John Claydon, age 78 (born about 1801). In the FreeBMD Death Index: “John Claydon, 4th quarter 1879, age 78, Bicester, Vol. 3A pg. 429”.

1881 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire: Elizabeth Claydon, head, widow, age 68, charwoman, born in Gawcott, Buckinghamshire [Class: RG11; Piece: 1507; Folio: 107; Page: 29; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341364].

1891 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire: Elizabeth is staying with her son Richard’s family: Richard Claydon, head, married, age 47, ag laborer, employed, born in Fringford; Annie, wife, married, age 44, born in Twyford, Buckinghamshire; Ada A., daughter, single, age 18, born in Fringford; George, son, single, age 16, ag laborer; Arthur, son, age 14, ag laborer; Amos, son, single, age 8, scholar; Walter, son, age 5, scholar; Agnes A., daughter, age 3; Albert, son, age 1; and Elizabeth Claydon, mother, widowed, age 77, born in Gawcott, Buckinghamshire [Class: RG12; Piece: 1171; Folio 89; Page 26; GSU roll: 6096281].

On July 5, 1898, Fringford parish transcripts show a burial for Elizabeth Claydon, age 80 (born about 1814). In the FreeBMD Death Index is "Elizabeth Claydon, b. abt. 1814, age 84, 3rd quarter 1898, Bicester, Vol. 3A pg. 579".

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8. James Claydon (1806-1876)

James Claydon is probably the biggest reason why many living Claydon descendants reside in Upstate New York. He lived there almost 28 years, from 1848 to 1876. Three years after his death, a nephew named Henry Claydon moved his family from Solihull, England to Greenfield Center where his Uncle James had lived. Although another nephew, Thomas Claydon, preceded James by two years, he didn't stay in New York. Letters from Claydon relatives to James Claydon:

James Claydon was the eighth known child of Laurence and Mary (Turner) Claydon. In the Claydon parish transcripts for Fringford, there is an entry for the baptism of James Claydon, son of Laurence and Mary Claydon, on October 5, 1806. The transcripts also have a record of the marriage of James Claydon and Mary Leech, on October 11, 1831, in Fringford. In the FamilySearch.org IGI is an item for Mary Leech marriage to Jas. Claydon in 1831, Fringford, Oxfordshire [IGI.]

It is known that James did not stay in Fringford. He had at least one friend in the London area, James Banks, who sent a letter to James in 1874 [http://www.colinlmiller.com/family/james_claydon/1874-09-30_bow_common.htm]. In the 1841 British Census, Hendon, Middlesex, there is a dairy farm valued at 300£, with household headed by James Clayton, male, age 35, not born in county; Mary Clayton, age 30, not born in county; and Thomas Clayton, male, age 25, ag laborer, not born in county [Class: HO107; Piece 657; Book: 5; Civil Parish: Hendon; County: Middlesex; Enumeration District: 2; Folio: 36; Page: 27; Line: 19; GSU roll: 438774]. The ages for James and Mary are correct. In other censuses, James is known as a farmer. Thomas Clayton may be his younger brother (although the ages differ by a few years), who was recently widowed, with kids staying with relatives in the hometown of Fringford. Thomas is not found in this census in that area. Also, James' nephew Philip was living in Hendon in 1851, while James & Mary, as well as Thomas were not. Phillip's son James was born there about 1847, and Phillip's wife Emily was born in the Hendon area.

Google maps: Golders Green area of Hendon.

For unknown reasons, James decided to leave England for America. In London, on July 14, 1848, James and Mary Claydon boarded the packet sailing ship Northumberland of the John Griswold Line, with unknown associates Herbert and Charlotte Cotten and their daughter Mary Ann, as steerage passengers. The ticket cost 20£ [see image shown below]. They are also listed in the passenger manifest [Ancestry.com: New York, 1820-1850 Passenger and Immigration Lists Record. Family ID: 1158848; Microfilm sn: M237; Microfilm Roll: 75]. The ship arrived at Castle Garden port of New York on August 31, 1848.

Painting of the Northumberland and Captain R. H. Griswold [Source: http://www.flogris.org/learning/foxchase/html/essay_florence.php].

Passenger manifest for Northumberland, with James & Mary Claydon

Passage ticket for James Claydon's party, signed by Capt. R. H. Griswold

In the 1850 US Census, Wilton, Saratoga Co., NY, James and Mary Claydon are on a farm valued at $2,500 [Year: 1850; Census Place: Wilton, Saratoga, New York; Roll: M432_592; Page: 177; Image: 356]. Based on the 1855 New York State Census, he stayed until about 1853 and then moved to the nearby town of Greenfield.

On December 11, 1852, James' wife Mary died. She was buried at St. John's Cemetery, Greenfield, in section 1-346. A transcript of tombstone inscriptions says she was born in 1809, and was aged 43 years [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nysarato/stjohnc.htm].

In the 1855 New York State Census, Town of Greenfield, First District, is James Claydon, house is wood frame, property valued at $100, age 48, male, born in England, married, resident in town for 2 years, farmer, alien, owner of land; and Charity, age 49, female, wife, born in Saratoga Co., married, resident for 40 years [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nysarato/55Grfld1.htm]. 1860 US Census, Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY: James Clayden, age 53, male, farmer, property valued at $850, personal property valued at $250, born in England; Charity, age 54, female, born in NY; and Dudley Wait, age 11, male, born in NY [Year: 1860; Census Place: Greenfield, Saratoga, New York; Roll: M653_856; Page: 0; Image: 49].

1870 US Census, Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY, James Claydon, age 63, male, white, farmer, $3000 / $1140, born in England; Charity V., age 64, female, white, keeping home, born in NY; and Friend T., age 10, male, white, attending school, born in Illinois [1870; Census Place: Greenfield, Saratoga, New York; Roll: M593_1088; Page: 168; Image: 337]. Friend T. is Friend Thomas Claydon, son of James' nephew, Thomas Claydon, who is son of James' eldest brother William. Thomas and wife Mary came to the USA about three years before James, staying in the Albany, NY area before ending up in Aurora, Illinois, where Thomas died in 1859. His mother sent Friend to live with Uncle James. James and his Claydon relatives in Illinois visited each other, as well as relatives of wife Charity. They were about one day's train ride apart. A daughter of Thomas and Mary, Elizabeth Claydon Reeves, wrote that she remembered Uncle James visiting their farm and carrying her to the barn in a bushel basket [http://www.colinlmiller.com/family/james_claydon/1876-03-03_seney_ia_elizabeth_reeves.htm].

Source: Atlas of Saratoga County, NY.

Yahoo Maps: Greenfield Center, NY.

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9. Elizabeth Claydon (1808 – 1809)

In the Claydon parish transcripts for Fringford is a baptism entry for Elizabeth Claydon, daughter of Laurence and Mary Claydon on September 4, 1808. There is another baptism entry for Elizabeth Claydon, daughter of Laurence & Mary Claydon on June 24, 1810. There is a burial entry on August 26, 1809 for Elizabeth Claydon, infant.

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10. Elizabeth Claydon (1810-1866) & George Foskette

Elizabeth Claydon was the tenth known child of Laurence and Mary (Turner) Claydon. According to the Claydon parish transcript for Fringford, on June 24, 1810, Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence and Mary, was baptized. About the year 1833 Elizabeth married George Foskette. In the 1841 British Census for Hogston (Hoggeston), Buckinghamshire, are George and Elizabeth Fosket with children Zilpha, Sarah, and William. (Hoggeston is about 12 miles east and a tiny bit south of Fringford. Of note are two nearby villages called Foscott and Foscote, and there is also the Foxcote Reservoir. There are also some nearby villages named Steeple, East, Middle, and Botolph Claydon.) [Class: HO107; Civil Parish: Hoggeston; County: Buckinghamshire; Enumeration District: 3; Page: 4; Line: 18; GSU Roll: 241214].

Google map: Hoggeston, England.

In the 1851 census, Elizabeth and George Foskette are in Hoggeston with children William, Phillip, Hannah, and Ruth [Class: HO107; Piece: 1722; Folio: 137; Page: 5; GSU Roll: 193630]. In the 1861 census, Elizabeth and George Fosket are in Hogston with daughters Ruth and Mary [Class: RG9; Piece: 870; Folio: 87; Page: 5; GSU Roll: 542714]. The FreeBMD Death index has an entry for Elizabeth Foskett, born about 1811, death registered in 1st quarter 1866 in Winslow, Buckinghamshire, in Volume 3A, page 347. In a letter dated April 17, 1873, from brother John Claydon to James Claydon, John writes “Our Sister Elizabeth died Febr'y 1866, aged 56 years.”

Elizabeth’s children were generally listed as heirs of her brother James Claydon in Greenfield, NY [Will of Claydon, James - Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY - Book 24 Page 383]: “Second: I give and devise to my brother, Thomas Claydon, of Solihull, Warwickshire, England, such sum as shall be equal to two hundred pounds English money: to be by him divided as follows – one eighth thereof to the heirs of my brother William Claydon, late of Oxfordshire England, who are now living in England – one eight thereof to the heirs of my sister Anna Dagley, late of Godenton, Buckinghamshire, England: one eighth thereof to the heirs of my sister Mary Ann Gibbord, late of Buckinghamshire, England: one eights thereof to the heirs of my sister Elizabeth Foscott, late of Buckinghamshire, England, and the balance of said sum of two hundred pounds to belong to my brother Thomas Claydon above named; the receipt of the said Thomas Claydon for said sum shall be a full and sufficient discharge of my executor, for all liability for such legacy.”

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11. Thomas Claydon (1812 - 1876)

Thomas Claydon was the youngest of eleven known children of Laurence and Mary Claydon. He was born about 1813 according to his age (38) in the 1851 British census. The Fringford parish transcript lists him as baptized on 9/20/1812. He married first to Elizabeth ? about 1831. This marriage is not in the transcript and happened before marriages were registered with the government. On 9/23/1832, son Henry was baptized. On 5/18/1835, son James was baptized. According to FamilySearch.org, son John was baptized on 5/13/1838 (not in the parish transcripts). On 2/13/1839, daughter Ann was baptized. The FreeBMD Birth Index has "Ann Claydon, 1st quarter 1839, Bicester, Vol. 16 pg. 30". The FreeBMD Death Index has "Ann Claydon, 1st quarter 1839, Bicester, Vol. 16 pg. 19". Since Ann does not appear in the 1851 census and onwards, she probably died as an infant. On 4/12/1840, daughter Elizabeth was baptized. The next day, an Elizabeth Claydon was buried. It is unknown if this was the mother or the daughter.

On 7/19/1842, son Thomas (Jr.) was baptized in Fringford. Parents were Thomas and Margaret (Lynes) Claydon. Sometime between 1840 and 1842, first wife Elizabeth died and Thomas remarried to Margaret. In the Free Birth-Marriage-Death Marriage Index (FreeBMD), there are records for “Thomas Claydon/Margaret Lynes, 3rd quarter 1841, Hendon, Middlesex, Vol. 3 pg. 144”. Hendon is the town where the elder Thomas' first cousin Philip Claydon lived as well as his brother James Claydon. In the BMD-Death Index, there are three Elizabeth Claydons that died in the Bicester district in 1840. Two were registered in the second quarter of the year and indexed in Volume 16, pages 21 and 23. A third Elizabeth Claydon was registered in the third quarter and indexed in Volume 16, page 22. Until the three death certificates can be inspected, it is not known which two of the three are the right ones. The third Elizabeth is probably a relative, currently unidentified.

In 1841, sons Henry (age 8) and James (age 6) were at their grandparents Laurence and Mary Claydon’s house [Class: HO107; Civil Parish: Fringford; County: Oxfordshire; Enumeration District: 7; Page: 20; Line: 9; GSU Roll: 474574]. Near the Golders Green area of Hendon, Middlesex, there is a "Thomas Clayton" age 25, ag laborer, at the dairy farm of James & Mary Clayton, not born in Middlesex [Class: HO107; Piece 657; Book: 5; Civil Parish: Hendon; County: Middlesex; Enumeration District: 2; Folio: 36; Page: 27; Line: 19; GSU roll: 438774]. Thomas' marriage to Margaret was recorded in the FreeBMD Marriage Index: “Thomas Claydon/Margaret Lynes, 3rd Quarter 1841, Hendon, Middlesex, Vol. 3 Pg. 144”. In the 1841 Census, there is a Margaret Lynes.

On 10/8/1843, son Philip was baptized. On 7/19/1846, daughter Hannah was baptized. And on 2/11/1849, daughter Sarah was baptized. In the 1851 British Census, Thomas, age 38, ag laborer, born in Fringford; and Margaret, age 32, born in Ireland; were in Fringford with children James, Phillip, Hannah, and Sarah [1851 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire: Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1729; Folio: 492; Page: 34; GSU Roll: 193638]. Son John (age 13) was with his grandparents Laurence & Mary Claydon.

In a letter dated October 17, 1859, Philip Claydon writes to his uncle James Claydon about Thomas: "The last time I was there your Brother Thomas and me stood by the Death bed of my Aunt Mary. I dare not complain at what the Lord has done. He knows what is best and he will take you and me when he sees fit, so I dare not say what doesn’t though, do you ask how did Mary die, well you know how she lived. About the last words she said to me, where Jesus that had been with her in life would not leave her in death, and there my Dear Uncle Thomas and me knelt together and prayed, for let me tell you, your Brother Thomas is a new man born again and a preacher of the gospel. The people say at Fringford a second James Claydon is come again, but he now is gone with his family into Warwickshire to live." Aunt Mary is Mary Claydon Gibbard, who died in 1853.

In 1861, Thomas and Margaret had moved to Solihull in Warwickshire. Children James, Ellen, William and Thomas Lynes were present [Class: RG9; Piece: 877; Folio: 115; Page: 10; GSU Roll: 542715]. Daughter Sarah was at work, serving as a nurse girl at a farm house in Shalstone, Buckinghamshire (about 6 miles northeast of Fringford) [Class: RG9; Piece: 877; Folio: 115; Page: 10; GSU Roll: 542715].

Google map: Shalstone, Buckinghamshire (about 6 miles northeast of Fringford).

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In 1870, the FreeBMD Death Index lists “Margaret Claydon, b. 1820, d. 2Q 1870 Solihull, Warwickshire Vol. 6D Pg. 267”. In the 1871 British Census, Thomas was in Solihull with daughter Sarah and granddaughter Ruth A., age 4. Ruth may be Sarah’s daughter [Class: RG10; Piece: 3189; Folio: 65; Page: 9; GSU Roll: 839252].

In a letter dated December 14, 1871, from Philip Claydon to his uncle James Claydon, Philip writes that he wrote to Uncle Thomas about visiting Philip about two years previously, but Thomas never came, but he lives in Warwickshire (Solihull).

In a letter dated April 17, 1873, from brother John Claydon to brother James Claydon, John writes:

In a letter from Thomas to his brother James Claydon, dated October 8, 1873, Thomas writes that he has married again and his children are grown, most with families of their own [http://www.colinlmiller.com/family/james_claydon/1873-10-08_solihull_thomas_claydon.htm]. In another letter to his brother James, dated May 17, 1874, Thomas writes that his wife Margaret died four years previously and he has remarried [http://www.colinlmiller.com/family/james_claydon/1874-05-17_solihull_thomas_claydon.htm]. Thomas’ daughter Ellen wrote an introductory letter on September 18, 1874, to James Claydon [http://www.colinlmiller.com/family/james_claydon/1874-09-18_isleworth_ellen_cox.htm].

Thomas Claydon was listed as an heir of his brother James in Greenfield, NY [Will of Claydon, James - Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY - Book 24 Page 383]: “Second: I give and devise to my brother, Thomas Claydon, of Solihull, Warwickshire, England, such sum as shall be equal to two hundred pounds English money: to be by him divided as follows – one eighth thereof to the heirs of my brother William Claydon, late of Oxfordshire England, who are now living in England – one eight thereof to the heirs of my sister Anna Dagley, late of Godenton, Buckinghamshire, England: one eighth thereof to the heirs of my sister Mary Ann Gibbord, late of Buckinghamshire, England: one eights thereof to the heirs of my sister Elizabeth Foscott, late of Buckinghamshire, England, and the balance of said sum of two hundred pounds to belong to my brother Thomas Claydon above named; the receipt of the said Thomas Claydon for said sum shall be a full and sufficient discharge of my executor, for all liability for such legacy.”

In 1876, in the FreeBMD Death Index, there is an item for “Thomas Clayton, born about 1812, death certificate registered 2nd quarter 1876, Solihull, Volume 6D, page 304”:

1876. REGISTRATION DISTRICT: Solihull DEATH in the Sub-district of Donhead in the Counties of Warwick and Worcester
No.	When and where died	Name and Surname	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
766	Twenty Sixth April 1876	Thomas Claydon	male	64 years	Farm Labourer	malignant disease of the abdomen, certified by Edw. Page, ___	The mark of Ann Clayton, widow of deceased, present at death, Solihull	Twenty Ninth April 1876	George Stafford, registrar

Ann Claydon was in the 1881 census, listed as a widow, age 55, born in Solihull, working as a charwoman, with sons Charles, John, and James Nason [Class: RG11; Piece: 3082; Folio: 24; Page: 42; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341735].

In the 1891 census, Ann Claydon was listed as a widow, age 65, born in Elmdon, Warwickshire, staying at #127 Warwick Road, and working as a charwoman (house cleaner) [Class: RG12; Piece: 2461; Folio 13; Page 20; GSU roll: 6097571].

In 1894, the FreeBMD Death Index lists “Ann Claydon, born about 1826, death registered 3rd quarter 1894, Solihull, Volume 6D, page 272”.