WILLIAM BONHAM CLAYTON

WILLIAM BONHAM CLAYTON, of Buckingham, is a representative of one of the oldest families in Bucks county, being a lineal descendant of James CLAYTON, of Bolton, Lancashire, England, who with his wife and six children took passage with many other residents of Bolton, who later became prominent residents of Bucks county, in the ship “Submission,” sailing from Liverpool 7 mo. 5, 1682, and arriving at Choptank, Maryland 9 mo, 2, 1682, “being brought thither through the dishonesty of the Master James SETTLE.  The party, which included Phineas PEMBERTON, the first clerk of the courts of Bucks county, his wife, father and father-in-law, James HARRISON, made their way overland to Bucks county, stopping for a time at Appoquinimink, Delaware, where another son, Joseph, was born to James and Jane CLAYTON in 1683.  The children who accompanied them from Lancashire were James, Sarah, John, Mary, Joshua, and Lydia.  James CLAYTON settled in Northampton township, where some of his descendants still reside, though many others are widely scattered over the United States.

            Amos K. CLAYTON, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Montgomery county, January 20, 1816.  His parents dying when he was quite young, he was reared by his uncle, Clayton KNIGHT.  He learned the carpenter trade, which he followed several years, but later engaged in farming.  He was of a somewhat roving disposition, living for a time in Newtown, Wrightstown and Solebury townships.  About the close of the war he removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres on which he resided about six years.  He then sold his farm to his son Jacob, who still resides there, and returned to Bucks county.  He died in Ewing, New Jersey, in 1881, aged sixty-five years.  Amos K. Clayton was twice married, his first wife being Deborah CADWALLADER, by whom he had seven children, three of whom survive: Jacob C., of Missouri; Joseph C.; and P. Ella, a single woman residing at Trenton, New Jersey.  He married (second) Elizabeth BRIGGS, by whom he had five children, three of whom survive; William B., the subject of this sketch; Elwood L., a carpenter of Trenton, New Jersey; L. Harper, a carpenter of the same place.  The family were members of the Society of Friends.  Amos K. CLAYTON died February 23, 1881, aged sixty-five years, one month and three days.

            William Bonham CLAYTON, the subject of this sketch, was the oldest son of Amos K., and Elizabeth Briggs CLAYTON, and was born in Wrightstown, June 30, 1863.  He acquired his education at the public schools and at Trenton Business College.  At the death of his father he entered the store of George W. METLAR, at Doylestown, as clerk, and a year later accepted a position in the store of Henry BEIDLER at Lansdale.  An indoor life proving detrimental to his health, he was advised by his physician to seek an outdoor occupation, and, returning to Bucks county, he worked on the farm of his uncle, Simon BROOKS, at Rushland, for one year.  On December 25, 1886, he married Carrie K. ATKINSON, daughter of Abraham and Hannah (KEPLER) ATKINSON, of Buckingham, and the following spring located on his father-in-law’s lot near the Roller Flour mill then operated by E. B. COX, and drove the mill team for five years, since which time he has followed farming.  In 1893 he purchased the J. Comly Kirk farm in lower Buckingham, and still resides there, his wife’s father, Abraham ATKINSON, residing with him, Mrs. ATKINSON being deceased.  Mr. CLAYTON was reared in the Friends’ Faith, and attends their meeting.  In politics he is a Republican.  Mr. and Mrs. CLAYTON are the parents of four children: Edward, born May 7, 1888; Frank W., born March 12, 1891; Harry P., born July 25, 1897; and Roland N., born November 20, 1899.

Text taken from page 556 to 557 of: 

Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III

Transcribed September 2006 by Joan Lollis as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html

Published September 2006 on the Bucks County, Pa., USGenWeb pages at www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/