NICHOLAS CLAYDON (1721-1795) & JOHANNA FRANKLIN (1725-1798)
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, Nicholas married Johannah Franklin in Fringford on October 28, 1748 [IGI and parish transcripts]. 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.
The villages of Hethe (upper left) and Fringford (lower right). Click on image for Google map.
According to the Fringford parish church records transcribed into books at the Oxford County Library, the earliest known Claydon first appears on July 23, 1721 with the baptism of John, son of John and Elizabeth Cleydon. John & Elizabeth may be the parents of Nicholas, but a baptism record was not found. However, the first son of Nicholas was named John. Then, on September 27, 1725, there was the baptism of Joanna, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Franklin.
FRANKLIN family outline, from parish transcripts at Oxford County Library:
- Edward FRANKLIN m. Elizabeth ?.
- Elizabeth FRANKLIN, bap. Fringford on 7/26/1719.
- Mary FRANKLIN, bap. Fringford on 1/17/1720.
- Joanna FRANKLIN, bap. Fringford on 9/27/1725.
- James FRANKLYN, bap. Fringford on 2/9/1727-8.
Children of Nicholas and Johannah Claydon
Only the youngest, #11 (Laurence) has been positively identified and researched. Most public records such as births, marriages and deaths were not available until after the lifetimes of most of the children. Laurence, the youngest child, is the only known exception. Parish records may have more information. [Abbreviations: "b" = born, "abt" = about, "bap" = baptized/christened, "m" = married, and "bur" = buried]:
- John (b. abt. 1748 in Fringford, bap. 12/11/1748).
- Richard (b. abt. 1751 in Fringford, bap. 6/9/1751) [probably died young as another Richard was baptized in 1762].
- Elizabeth (b. abt. 1751 in Fringford, bap. 6/9/1751).
- Sarah CLAYDON (b. abt. 1753 in Fringford, bap. 5/4/1753).
- Nicholas CLAYDON (b. abt. 1754 in Fringford, bap. 1/26/1755; d. 2/2/1755, bur. Fringford).
- Thomas CLAYDON (b. abt. 1758 in Fringford, bap. 3/13/1758).
- Hannah CLAYDON (b. abt. 1759 in Fringford, bap. 1/27/1760; bur: 8/23/1769) [transcript notes "4th he's buried this year"].
- Richard CLAYDON (b. abt. 1762 in Fringford, bap. 5/9/1762; bur. 8/2/1769).
- Nicholas CLAYDON (b. abt. 1766 in Fringford, bap. 5/11/1766; bur. 7/29/1769).
- Edward CLAYDON (b. abt. 1768 in Fringford, bap. 8/14/1768; bur: 3/27/1769).
- Laurence CLAYDON (b. abt. 1770, bap. 1/13/1771 in Fringford; d. 8/19/1852, bur. 8/22/1852 in Fringford) m. 6/15/1795 in Fringford to Mary Turner.
Familysearch.org:
CLAYDON FAMILY OF TWYFORD, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (a few miles from Fringford) Nicolas CLEYDON m. Anne FREMER at Twyford on 9/25/1682 [IGI] 6/24/1683 Nicolas, so. Nicholas & Anne [IGI] 1/1684 Anne Cleydon, do. Nicolas & Anne 1/1685 Lawrence Cleydon, so. Nicolas & Anne 3/4/1687 William Cleydon, so. Nicholas & Anne 6/25/1690 Thomas Cleydon, so. Nicolas & Anne 7/30/1693 Elizabeth Cleydon, do. Nicolas 8/23/1696 John Cleydon, b. 8/21/1696, so. Nicolas 9/26/1697 Richard, b. 9/22/1697, so. Nicholas Cleydon 6/9/1700 Mary, b. 6/4/1700, do. Nicholas
3/4/1711 William Cleydon, so. Nicolas & Alice 6/20/1714 John, so. Nicolas & Alice 1/13/1716 Thomas, so. Nicholas & Alice 7/5/1719 Anne, do. Nicolas & Alice 2/12/1720 Richard, so. Nicolas & Alice 4/14/1723 Elizabeth, do. Nicholas & Alice 8/8/1725 Nicholas, so. Nicholas & Alce 7/21/1728 Francis Claydon, so. Nicholas & Alce 7/21/1728 Ann, do. Nicholas & Alce