William Mitchell Clay (1708-1774)

Stats

 * Born: 15 January 1708 Henrico Co, Virginia
 * Died: 6 September 1774 Point Pleasant, Mason Co, (West) Virginia (killed by Native Americans while hunting deer)
 * Burial: 10 September 1774 non-cemetery burial near Point Pleasant, (West) Virginia

Narrative
William was killed by an Indian while he and another soldier (named Coward) were hunting deer to feed their militia comrades. One Indian was shot by the second militiaman, and the other escaped; the Indians had not seen him. Clay and Coward were in Col. John Field's Company of Independent Rangers, part of Gen. Charles Lewis's Regiment. These men were among the elite Virginia militia assembled by Lord Dunmore against the numerous attacks by Indians against Virginia settlers.

William was the first casualty of his unit, and they would shortly engage in the Battle of Point Pleasant (Oct 10, 1774). This battle is considered the only major battle, as well as the final one, of Lord Dunmore's War. This war was waged between the colony of Virginia and several united Native American nations, but many West Virginians have considered it the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Virginia won, and the Indians lost the rights formerly granted by treaty for hunting in the lands bordering the Ohio River, yielding these rights in a new treaty. The frontier in Kentucky and what eventually became West Virginia then opened up for more settlement by the colonists. As friction between the Colonies and Britain grew, the British allied with the defeated Indians against the settlers on the western frontier. Under these considerations, and in the ongoing debate about the status of the battle with these two wars, William's death marks a turning point toward the Revolution. The general interpretation currently is that Dunmore's War was the final conflict of the Colonies. By any definition of the Dunmore War, the shooting of William Mitchell Clay has historic significance.

William's death occurred at what is now Point Pleasant, West Virginia, on the Ohio River, where a battle monument marks the day of fighting in October. William's name is not included on the list of participants, but the name of Mr. Coward (no first name listed) is there. William's son Mitchell also fought at this battle and is on the roster.

Military

 * Lord Dunmore's War: Virginia Militia

Parents

 * Father: Henry Clay (1672-1760)
 * Mother: Mary Mitchell (1693-1777)

Marriage 1

 * Martha Runyon (1713-1765)
 * 1729 Henrico Co, Virginia

Children

 * 1) ♂William Clay (1733-1810)
 * 2) ♀Elizabeth Clay (1734-1793)
 * 3) ♀Judith Clay (1734-1809)
 * 4) ♂Mitchell Clay (1735-1811)
 * 5) ♂Pearce Clay (1738- )
 * 6) ♂Ezekiel Clay (1739-1777)
 * 7) ♂Obediah Clay (1739-1815)
 * 8) ♂David Clay (1740- )
 * 9) ♂Meredith Clay (1742-1806)
 * 10) ♀Hanna Clay (1743- )
 * 11) ♂Jesse Clay (1745- )
 * 12) ♀Nancy Clay (1747- )

Marriage 2

 * Martha Anne Lewis
 * 1752

Children

 * 1) ♀Mary Clay (1755- )

Marriage 3

 * Agnes
 * 8 September 1868