My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL R. CLAYTON, proprietor of the Eagle Hotel, Edgehill, is a native of Moreland township, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born April 21, 1840. He is the son of William and Ann (Roads) Clayton. Mrs. William Clayton was a daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Jenkins ) Roads. William Clayton was the son of Abraham and Margaret (Lukens) Clayton. Abraham Clayton (grandfather) resided on a farm in Moreland township, located on Byberry road, and was engaged most of his life in agricultural pursuits. He died in that vicinity, about 1849.

William Clayton was born on the homestead farm in June, 1801, and acquired an education in the ordinary schools of the neighborhood. On reaching manhood he engaged in teaching in the winter months, as was the custom of keeping schools open at that time in the rural districts, and farming in summer. He held the office of justice of the peace for some years. He was a highly educated man, and was much esteemed in the community in which he lived. He succeeded his uncle Ezekiel on his father’s farm, on which he died in June, 1848. He married Ann Roads, of an old lower Montgomery family. Their children: Edwin, resides in Philadelphia; Samuel R., subject of this sketch; Dr. A. H., residing in Richboro, Bucks county; Levi R., Margaret (deceased), wife of Harman Lauer.

Samuel R. Clayton attended his father’s school, which course was supplemented by some time spent at the Eight Square school on the county line. After leaving school as a boy, he was engaged on a farm for six years. On September 20, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in defense of his country until the close of the war. During that time he participated in many important engagements, and was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg. He was mustered out at Washington at the close of the war in 1865. He then engaged in farming, and cultivated the farm of Widow Dyer and the Willard farm for about two years. He then removed to Abington township, and purchased a farm near where is now Willow Grove Park, which he farmed for ten years. On March 11, 1878, he removed to Edgehill, and rented the Eagle Hotel, which he soon after purchased, and has successfully conducted for a period of more than twenty years. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as assessor and mercantile appraiser. He has never sought public position, preferring to attend strictly to business. His religious affiliations are with the Society of Friends, although he is not a member.

Mr. Clayton married, at Philadelphia, September 20, 1866, Hannah E., daughter of John Shay, a native of Horsham township, in Montgomery county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel R. Clayton; Annie; John Shay; Mary died in childhood; J. J. Morrison; Samuel Luther, Margaret, deceased; A. Harry, deceased.

John Shay, father of Mrs. Clayton, was a son of John and Ann (Hagerman) Shay. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also John Shay. The Shays were early settlers in Horsham and adjacent townships in Montgomery county. John Shay, father of Mrs. Clayton, was born on the old homestead in Horsham township, in October, 1805. He had a brother Edward, who married Hannah Roberts. He engaged in farming in early life, and subsequently became a miller, and followed that occupation until his death in 1884, in his seventy-ninth year. He had two children, Mrs. Clayton and Mary Ann, wife of Harrison C. Green, residing in Horsham township. Mrs. Ann Hagerman died in 1865 in her fifty-ninth year.

The following is a copy of a marriage certificate in the possession of Mrs. Samuel R. Clayton, Edgehill.

WHEREAS Ezekiel Shoemaker, son of Richard Shoemaker of Horsham, county of Philadelphia and province of Pennsylvania, and Ann Williams, daughter of John Williams, of the same place, having declared their intention of marriage with each other before several monthly meetings of the people called Quakers held at Gwynedd according to the good order used amongst Friends, and having consent of parents and of parties concerned in their intentions of marriage, was allowed of by the said meeting.

Now THESE MAY CERTIFIE all whom it may concern that for the full accomplishment of their said intentions this tenth day of the Eleventh month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one, they the said Ezekiel Shoemaker and Ann Williams appeared in a public meeting of the said people at their meeting house at Gwynedd aforesaid and the said Ezekiel Shoemaker, taking the said Ann Williams by the hand, did in solemn manner openly declare that he took her the said Ann Williams to be his wife promising with God’s assistance to be unto her a faithful and loving husband until death should separate them.

And moreover they the said Ezekiel Shoemaker and Ann Williams, she according to the custom of marriage assuming the name of her husband, as a further confirmation thereof, did then and there to these presents set their hands. And we whose names are underwritten, being present at the solemnization of the said marriage and subscription, have as witnesses thereunto, set our hands the day and year above written. Daniel Morgan, Joseph Amber, Joseph Kenderdine, Isaac Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Humphrey Williams, David Davis, Evan Roberts, Jacob Jones, John Hickman, Margaret Hickman, Rachel Kenderdine, Henry Stiffield, Margaret Stiffield, Evan Jones, Elizabeth Gerret, Mary Gerret, Hannah Shoemaker, Joseph Naul, Harry Williams, Mary Williams, Emmor Williams, Hannah Roberts, John Roberts, Joseph Shoemaker, Jonathan Shoemaker, Ellin Evans, Eliza Morgan, Richard Shoemaker, John Williams, Jane Williams, William Williams, George Shoemaker, Theophilus Williams, Agnes Shoemaker, Grace Shoemaker, Peter Cleaver, Thomas Kenderdine, Nathan Cleaver, Joseph Phipps, Edward Ambler and others.