Page "Thomas Clayton" Paragraph 1

Clayton was born at Massey in Kent County, Maryland, son of the former Governor of Delaware, Dr. Joshua Clayton, and Rachael McCleary Clayton.

It is said he was born while his mother was fleeing invading British troops on the way from their Elk River landing to the Battle of Brandywine.

While the Clayton ’ s were natives of Kent County, Delaware, Rachael McCleary was the niece and adopted daughter of Richard Bassett, the aristocratic heir to the expansive Bohemia Manor estates.

The family lived at Bohemia Manor and through this connection, Joshua Clayton later acquired his homestead from these estates, in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County.