Posted by eldon rollins on 4/8/2006, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Farrar, Wooldridge, Clay"
216.110.210.6

This sounds like the Frances (Fanny) Clay,b. c. 1760-61, who was the daughter of John Clay who was grandfather of Henry Clay the statesman and politician. She was the product of his second Marriage, to Mary Bass. Henry Clay's father, the rev. sir John Clay, and his uncle Edward, were the sons of his first marriage to Sarah Watkins. Mary Bass married John Clay shortly before he died in 1761-2. Mary Bass had a son earlier, who was named Jeremiah Bass, who was Fanny's brother. It is currently believed that John Clay was the actual natural father of Jeremiah as well. If you can get your hands on a copy of "The Virginia Genealogist" vol. 31 p 298-305, "Martha (Clay) Bass, and her daughter Mary Bass Clay of Henrico and Chesterfield County, Virginia" by Peggy C. Peacock. I have been trying to track down information about a woman in our direct line of descent named Martha R. Clay, born 1815 in Kentucky, who married Isham Hatfield, and believe she may be related to Jeremiah Bass and Frances (Fanny) Clay, but am by no means certain. The above mentioned article says that Jeremiah Bass/Clay died in or near 1780-1 when he was presumed to be about 20 to 22 years of age. Just letting me know that there is another Jeremiah Clay in that line who was married at a time that could produce a child in 1815 has helped me out immensely, but if you have any more information to share, i would appreciate it. See below the direct line of descent of the Virginia Clays to Fanny Clay: John Clay "The Grenadier", alt. known as Sir John Clay, born 1587 in Monmouth(shire), Wales. His Father John Clay had been knighted by Q. Eliz. I, and came from a long line of John Clays dating back at least to the battle of Tewkesbury, which John Claye was knighted by Edw. IV. John the Grenadier married (Elizabeth) Ann (Nichols) in 1612. He arrived Jamestown 1613 in the "Treasurer", his wife 10 years later in the "Ann". He died in 1639 in Charles City, Va. Ann died before 1660 in Ch. City. If my info doesn't skip a gen., their offspring include Charles Clay, b. 1638, d. june1686. Married Hannah Wilson, when? Their Children include Henry I Clay, b. 3 Aug. 1672, d. 3 Aug. 1764, Henrico County, Va. Married Mary Mitchell, when? Children include: John, b. 1718about, d. 1760 or 1761 about. Married Sarah Watkins, who was the daughter of Edw. Watkins. She was born pre 1726?, died about 1750. He was the Father of the Rev. "Sir" John Clay who was the father of Henry Clay. He was also the father of Edw. Clay, Rev. Sir John's brother. After Sarah Watkins died, John married Mary Bass, but may have been the father of Jeremiah Bass before. After marriage Fanny was born. Fanny was born near the same time John died, circa 1760-1