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Statue of Mitchell & Phoebe (Belcher) Clay in front of the Mercer Co, WV Courthouse commemorating the August 1783 murder of their children
Stats[]
- Born: 1736 Henrico Co, Virginia
- Died: 1811 Pearisburg, Giles Co, Virginia
- Burial: Birchlawn Burial Park, Pearisburg, Giles Co, Virginia
Narrative[]
Mitchell Clay was a veteran of the Battle of Point Pleasant (Lord Dunmore's War) and of the Revolutionary War. They were the first settlers of Mercer County in what is now West Virginia. They owned the property known as Cloverbottom where they lost three of their children in the Shawnwee massacre. There is a monument commemorating the event situated at the Mercer County Court House known as the "Agony In Stone". After the deaths of their children, Phoebe and Mitchell returned to Pearisburg where they lived out their lives. The complete story of their lives at Cloverbottom can be found in most histories of Southwestern Virginia.
Military[]
- Lord Dunmore's War: Virginia Militia
Parents[]
- Father: William Mitchell Clay (1708-1774)
- Mother: Martha Runyon (1713-1765)
Marriage[]
- 1760 Henrick, Franklin Co, Virginia
Children[]
- ♂David Clay (1761-1818)
- ♀Tabitha Clay (1763-1783) massacred by Shawnee attackers
- ♀Rebecca Clay (1764-1844)
- ♂Bartley Clay (1766-1783) massacred by Shawnee attackers
- ♂Ezekiel Clay (1767-1783) massacred by Shawnee attackers
- ♀Obedience Clay (1769-1829)
- ♂Mitchell Clay (1769-1851)
- ♂John Clay (1771-1783)
- ♀Mary Clay (1772-1851)
- ♀Naomie "Nannie" Clay (1773-1791)
- ♂Charles L Clay (1774- )
- ♀Patience Clay (1775-1810)
- ♂William Mitchell Clay (1777-1842)
- ♂Henry J Clay (1781-1866
- ♀Sarah "Sallie" Clay (1783- )
- ♀Polly Clay (1789- )
Notes and references[]
.jpg "Mitchell Clay grave (Birchlawn Burial Park Pearisburg Giles Co VA).jpg (44 KB)")