Fourth Generation (Continued)
Family of John CLAYTON Jr. (23) & Elizabeth MOORE

64. Mary Letitia CLAYTON. Born on 23 Aug 1817 in Stokes Co., NC. Mary Letitia died in Stokes Co., NC on 6 Apr 1871, she was 53.337 Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

On 25 Apr 1839 when Mary Letitia was 21, she married Gabriel Redd MOORE, in Stokes Co., NC. Born in 1815 in Stokes Co., NC. Gabriel Redd died in Forsyth Co., NC in 1861, he was 46.

Gabriel died before his share of his father's land had been disposed of, it went to his heirs. When Charles Edward, Gabriel's brother died in 1894 having never been married, then all that Gabriel's father left belonged to the heirs of Gabriel. Gabriel's son, John Tucker, bought out his brothers and sisters shares and he and his nephew, William Gabriel Moore, built the Moores' Springs Hotel and cottages. In the early 1920's, the Moores Springs property was sold. On 25 Dec 1925, the hotel burned and was never rebuilt.

They had the following children:
i. Sarah. Born on 2 Aug 1840 in Stokes Co., NC. Sarah died in Forsyth Co., NC on 19 Jan 1922, she was 81.

Sarah married Jesse SHOUSE. Born on 11 Jul 1832 in Stokes Co., NC. Jesse died in Forsyth Co., NC on 6 Apr 1907, he was 74.
ii. Mary Jane. Born on 20 Sep 1842 in Stokes Co., NC. Mary Jane died in Stokes Co., NC on 29 Sep 1910, she was 68.

Mary Jane married Flavius H. LASH. Born on 19 Aug 1844 in Stokes Co., NC. Flavius H. died in Forsyth Co., NC on 24 Feb 1915, he was 70.
iii. John Tucker. Born on 17 Dec 1846 in Stokes Co., NC. John Tucker died in Forsyth Co., NC on 19 Jan 1927, he was 80.

In 1895 when John Tucker was 48, he married Eliza SHOUSE, in Forsyth Co., NC.
iv. G. Jackson. Born in 1848 in Forsyth Co., NC. G. Jackson died in Forsyth Co., NC in 1925, he was 77. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.
159 v. Charles Edward (1851-1886)
vi. Ann Letitia. Born on 18 May 1854 in Forsyth Co., NC. Ann Letitia died in Forsyth Co., NC on 2 Nov 1920, she was 66.
160 vii. Martha E. (1857-1916)
viii. Matthew C.. Born in 1860 in Forsyth Co., NC. Matthew C. died in Forsyth Co., NC in 1863, he was 3. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

65. John Edward CLAYTON Esquire. Born on 18 Dec 1820 in Stokes Co., NC. John Edward died in Forsyth Co., NC on 27 Jan 1905, he was 84.

26 Jan 1857 - John E. Clayton, Esq. married R. L. Walker, Esq. to Mrs. Minerva E. Matthews of Winston.

24 Sep 1857 - John E. Clayton, Esq. married Mr. John H. Marshall to Miss Ellen Pegram.

22 May 1863 - A letter from John to his brothers, Matthew and Gabriel concerning the death of their father:
"Open Ponds, Forsyth County, NC
Dear Brothers Matthew & Gabriel,
It with with grief & anguish
that I undertake to drop you a line to night
to let you know what what the creation has this day
done in our midst, this evening at six o'clock
our Father departed this life - We did not
think he would have died so soon - he was taken
suddenly at the Zimmerman place last Wednesday,
was a week & they had to haul him home on Sunday
he sent for me (I was coming anyway) I met Patr-
ick - turned him back and found Par doing poorly but not
dangerous as I thought, - & left him Monday evening
much better as I thought, on Tuesday evening I
returned & found him about the same or better
on Wednesday evening I went for, Dr. Bitting, for him
as Dr.Jones was in Virginia or had been, & he had
had Bitting, Bitting came with me & pronounced
him better & I went home that night, - night,
before last. But what was my surprise to day
to find Jones & Bitting both here & agreeing that,
his case was quite doubtful. I came before 12 [o'clock]
was not here 2 hours till I saw that, he was dying
Though he was in his right mind & knew me & every
one when I came - he died very easy -without a
struggle even - & said nothing - an hour or so before
he died, he tried to talk but could not, be understoo-
-d. We expect to bury him on Sunday at 7 o'clock.
We have no other news. - Par's attack was hemorage
of the lungs, puking blood when he was taken in additi-
-on to his old complaint, All the rest of us & the
neighbors generally are well. I can' think why
you all never write to me - do write.
I intended vesting your money in Salt, & got
Dr. Dicks (who is nephew of Dr. Worth the state
agent) to write on & see what it could had at,
at Fayetteville & what at High Point, - before he
recd. an answer he went to Randolph & saw
his uncle & says that, Salt, is 12 Dollars per Bu.
at Wilmington & rising at that, so I am afraid
to risk an investment.
Write soon & often. Your Brother John
& all the family
Friday night, 22nd May."366, 366, 361

On 8 Jun 1850 when John Edward was 29, he married Margaret (mn unk) CLAYTON, in Forsyth Co., NC. Born in 1815/1824 in Stokes Co., NC. Margaret (mn unk) died in Forsyth Co., NC in 1889, she was 74.

They had the following children:
i. John C.. Born abt 1838.
ii. Orelius C.. Born abt 1840.
iii. Margaret S. T.. Born abt 1844.
iv. Mary E.. Born abt 1852 in Forsyth Co., NC.
v. Franklin E.. Born abt 1853 in Forsyth Co., NC.
vi. Nancy E.. Born abt 1856 in Forsyth Co., NC.

66. Reuben Moore CLAYTON. Born on 30 Dec 1824 in Stokes Co., NC. Reuben Moore died in Stokes Co., NC on 7 Dec 1865, he was 40. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

1850 - Forsyth Co.,NC - Reuben and his wife Christina Banner are living in the household of Reuben’s father, John and Elizabeth Clayton.

On 8 Jun 1850 when Reuben Moore was 25, he married Christine "Adeline" BANNER (61) , daughter of Benjamin BANNER Jr. (20) (ca 1792-10 Oct 1879) & Margaret "Peggy" KIGER (1802/1808-), in Forsyth Co., NC.340 Born on 3 Aug 1828 in Stokes Co., NC. Christine "Adeline" died in Forsyth Co., NC on 25 Feb 1890, she was 61. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

They had the following children:
155 i. William "Billy" Wilson (1851-1920)
ii. Selestia C.. Born abt 1852 in Forsyth Co., NC.
iii. John P.. Born abt 1855 in Forsyth Co., NC.
iv. Benjamin E.. Born abt 1858 in Forsyth Co., NC.
v. Mariah. Born in 1862 in Forsyth Co., NC.
vi. Mary. Born in 1862 in Forsyth Co., NC.
vii. Sarah E.. Born in 1866 in Forsyth Co., NC.
viii. Lelia C.. Born in 1866 in Forsyth Co., NC.

67. William Franklin CLAYTON. Born on 28 Nov 1828 in Stokes Co., NC. William Franklin died in Forsyth Co., NC on 15 Feb 1885, he was 56.337 Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

On 4 Dec 1854 when William Franklin was 26, he married Mariah SULLIVAN, in Forsyth Co., NC.340 Born abt 1830 in Stokes Co., NC. Mariah died in Forsyth Co., NC bef 1870, she was 40.

They had the following children:
i. Sarah Frances "Fanny". Born in 1858 in Forsyth Co., NC.
ii. Louise E.. Born in 1859 in Forsyth Co., NC.
iii. Bettia. Born in 1863 in Forsyth Co., NC.
iv. Mary. Born in 1867 in Forsyth Co., NC.

68. Matthew Columbus CLAYTON. Born on 27 Oct 1830 in Stokes Co., NC. Matthew Columbus died in Forsyth Co., NC on 4 Dec 1920, he was 90. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

2 Jun 1864 - Letter from Matthew to Sarah McKinney
"Near Richmond, Va., 21st Regt. NC Troops
I take this occasion to try to write
you a few lines to inform you that
My Brother Gabriel T. Clayton was
killed on the 16th May in battle below
Richmond some 10 miles on or not far from
James Rive[r] & about two miles from Drewrys'
(J?) Bluff on the south side of the River.
It is with grief & anquish that I attempt
to write you this sad & unwelcome news
yet I have thought it prudent under the
circumstances to inform you that he fell
at his post at least in our front about 12 o'cl
ock onthe 16th May. The ball struck him above the
right eye & passed through his head coming
out about the middle of the lower part of
his head leaving death or its immediate cause
plainly to be seen as the wound was fatal &
he died even without a struggle so I was told
by those who were near & witnessed the sad
& heartrending scene. I hope he has gone to rest.
Capt. D. C. James was near by & attempted
to go to his assistance but unfortunately had
only gone a few steps when he was wounded
in the breast & only lived about an hour afterwards
I was not far off & saw the ambulance corps
take Capt. James & bear him off the field
but I did not know that brother Gabriel had
fallen until some half hour afterwards, but
as soon as I could I went with help & carried
his remains to Drewrys Bluff & on 17th May Leieut
Whitlock our acting Quartermaster at the time
& others saw his remains buried in a good coffin & good
grave I was present also in an enclosed graveyard, Near fort
Drewry which is on James River about nine
miles below Richmond. It is my intention
to remove his remains or have it done as soon
as it can conveiniently be done. I have written
home to my sisters concerning the removal yet
I suppose it will be very uncertain when
it can be done as the railroads are so crowded
almost constantly so I understand that a citizen
can scarely ever get passage & the enemy are
constantly tearing up the different railroads
to Richmond. As I am situated in line of battle
& a private & all of us of late been moving a great
deal & had to be on picket & other dutys looseing
a good deal of sleep I hope you will excuse
one for not answering or not writing sooner as
yours comes to hand several days ago but I only
opened it just before I commenced writing & only
read enough to be certain that it was from
you & after being fully convinced I sealed it
again & now I am going to send it to you again
by the first mail. We have not been in any
regular battle since brother Gabriel was killed &
he fell i the last part of the battle. Some two
on three others were killed in this Regt. besides
brother Gabriel & Capt. James at the late battle
our Brigade took part in on the south side of James
River. We are on the north side of that River at present
& under the shells of the enemy constantly. We are
in good breastworks & although we are so near
the enemys heavy guns & they throw their shells some
two miles or more in our rear at times they have
not killed but one man in the Regt yet but I suppose
several very slightly wounded. There is skirmishing
going on constantly almost in front of our
breastworks. Our Troops are in good spirits
and hope to whip our enemys in this gigantic
struggle of theirs to capture out Captital of the
Confederate states & the Capital of Va. also.
There has been some severe fighting already here
& so far as I have learnt our Troops have been
blest with victory. Excuse bad writing & a
very badly connected letter.
Matthew C. Clayton to Sally McKiney
Ps should I have
left out any thing you wish to know
just write to me & I will take a pleasure
in giving you any information I can concerning
brother or any of his transactions. We have a
sister living at our home who will if you make
yourself known to her take pleasure in giving you
any information & be glad to see you at any time.
Or home can be found very easy by any person as
it is just 22 miles from Mt. Airy on the main road
leading from Mt. Airy to Greensboro. We have
another sister living about a mile from our home
& about 2 miles from Hausertown who would be
delighted to see you at any time. I would like
to hear from you soon as it would be some satisfaction
for me to know that you received this imperfect letter
written in haste. M. C. Clayton"

21 Mar 1865 - Letter from Matt to Sarah McKinney
"Camp 21st NC Regt. Near Petersbury, Va.
Dear Friend
With great pleasure I try to answer your
very kind & interesting letter of Feb. 26th. Though
I can't expect to write anything that will interest
you. I was ever glad to hear from you &
hope this will find you in good health. We have
moved to a new position nearer Petersburg. We
are within about one mile or one & half miles of
town on the line of fortifications that protects
Richmond & Petersburg & this is the same line we kept our
pickets on while we were south of Petersburg at our
old camp. We moved up here last Wednesday.
Thie is rather a strange position from any we
have been placed in since the commencement of
the war. The two armies have been near each
other here a long time & have been fortifying a
great deal. We live in what is called bombproof
houses here all together. They are small rooms dug out
below the surface of the ground & resemble cellars
covered over with earth but some say that they
are not properly bombproof unless they were covered
over with rail road iron. They are all covered with
timber & earth heeped on top. We can even walk along
the breastworks at any time without being exposed to the
enemies balls but we can't ramble about camp as we
have been in the habit of doing without exposing ourselves
more or less to the fire of the enemy. There is a pass way
from our works to town dug out the most of the way so that any one can pass
to & from town without being exposed. We are not well
pleased with our present position but I think the men
generally like it better than they did a day or two after
we come here. About one third on us are in the breastworks
constantly & it is a hard task to be on guard 1/3 of every
night. I don't mind it mutch in the day especially in clear
weather. Sometimes I think there will not be mutch fighting
in this part of the line & if we become better satisfied here
perhaps it is as good a place as we could expect to be
pleased in as all the men nearly concur in the opinion that
the spring campaign will be the most desperate that we
have yet experienced. We have very good water here but
I dislike our houses. They are daump & I think unhealthly.
That the army & people at home are discouraged to some extent
is plain to be seen I suppose to every one. Though it is
in accordance with humanity & civilization. Every one
wants peace & I suppose I want it as bad as any one. I
want it on the best terms we can get. Should the continu-
ation of the war depend on slavery I am very willing to
give up all the slaves in the south as far as I am concerned
in order to have the war stoped. I would rather the yanks
would take the negroes out of the southern states than to have
them set free among us. Well Sallie I have thought more serious
on my future state for the last year or so I suppose than I used
too but I fear I am a wicked creature in fact I am well
satisfied that I am very wicked indeed though I don't like
to make promises. Should I contemplate trying to do better in
the future I would not wish to promise any one that I would
for then they would expect me to improve & I might not
make any improvements. I hope the Lord will protect us all
& cause us to look to him for help in time of need.
As every good & perfect gift cometh down from the father of
sight in wisdom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning.
This as as well as I remember Some portion of the scripture
reads though it may not be entirely correctly written here
as I am forgetful. Hoping to hear from you soon I will
close. This leaves me well. All the troops are in good health.
I think I mean as a general thing. Your affectionate friend.
M. C. Clayton to Sallie McKinney.

10 Apr 1865 - Appomattox Court House,Va.
"THE BEARER, Corpl. M. C. Clayton of Co. "D" 21sr Regt.
of N. C. Troops Paroled Prisoner of the Army of Northern Virginia, has per-
mission to go to his home and there remained undisturbed.
S. E. Miller Lt
Coincl? Company"

5 Jun 1865 -" Officers Provist Marshall
Winston, NC - This is to certify M. C. Clayton of Forsythe County
State of North Carolina has this day voluntarily
taken the oath of Allegiance as prescribed by the
President of the United States.
N. W. Lilkin
Maj. and Pro. Marshall"361, 361, 361, 361

Research: Matthew left school at the outbreak of the Civil War and enlisted 22 May 1861 in Company D, of the Twenty-first regiment, North Carolina Troops. On account of wounds and sickness he was unable to continue his service throughout the war, but was present in many of the greatest campaigns and battles including, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Drury's Bluff. He was wounded in a skirmish and narrowly escaped death. A bullet struck him in the nose, entered his head, and twenty one days later was removed by the surgeon who located it behind the left ear. In passing through his head the bullet almost miraculously missed the vital spots. Matthew and his wife commenced housekeeping in the old log structure and his wife cooked by the open fire. This home was placed on the National Register Study List as one of the best preserved log dwellings surviving in Forsyth Co. In 1879 , Matthew erected a substantial brick home and frame barn and in many ways improved his possessions.
There are nine outbuildings and the family cemetery are grouped to the sides and rear of the brick house.
Slave Cabin - Circa 1860, served as the slave quarters for the slaves of the family.
Potato House - Circa 1880, a potato drying house.
Store - Circa 1900, a store operated by John G. Clayton in the early twentieth century. In the 1940s his son James G. and Alma made their home here as newlyweds.
Barn - Circa 1880, rebuilt Circa 1950, a one story, 3 bay open shed.
Diary - early 20th century frame, front structure on a concrete foundation that originally functioned as a diary.

Written on the tomb of Matthew located in the Clayton Family Graveyard:
"A Confederate Soldier of great courage and endurance.
Volunteered in 1861 Co.D 21st Reg. NC Troops.
This company numbered 165, only 12 being present at surrender, was never captured, shot through the head with a minnie ball near Harpers Ferry. Received full discharge. Re-enlisted and was with Early in his raid on Washington,DC. Surrended with Lee at Appamattox. Participated in all the major battles of Va., Md., and Penn.
Born, raised, lived and died on this plantation."390, 390, 391, 390

On 26 Feb 1866 when Matthew Columbus was 35, he married Sarah Mildred McKINNEY, in Surry Co., NC. Born on 2 Apr 1840 in Surry Co., NC. Sarah Mildred died in Forsyth Co., NC on 9 Jan 1916, she was 75. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

They had one child:
161 i. John "Gideon" (1873-1931)

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