Percival Clay was born on a day shortly before he was baptized, on 27 Mar 1722 at Hollym, Yorkshire, England. Little is known of his early years, up until he stole something at Kirk Ella near Hull, was caught and was then sentenced to transportation for his crime, about Oct of 1745. He arrived in Virginia as a criminal transportee with a court-imposed contract around March of 1746, and his contract (called an “indenture” which was for “indentured servitude”) was sold to a Mr. Brown. Percival must not have enjoyed his time with Mr. Brown because a few weeks after his arrival, he ran away to make his own life (see the above image):
Ran away from the Subscriber, on Saturday the 26th of July, a Convict Servant Man, named Perciball Clay, a Blacksmith by Trade, of a middle Stature, dark Complexion, and looks wan, having been lately sick. Had on when he went away a blue Cloth Jacket, made after the Sailor’s Fashion, a Pair of long Oznabrigs Breeches, a white Shirt ruffled at the Bottom, a Pair of Virginia-made Pumps, with large plain Pewter buckles, a black Wig and an old Hat. He has likewise carried with him several other Clothes, and a Pair of Pistols.
Whoever brings the said Runaway to my House on Wicomoco River in Northumberland County shall have two Pistoles Reward, besides what the Law allows, paid by
Francis Brown.
Virginia Gazette, July 31, 1746
A word about the “two pistoles reward.” A “pistole” was a Spanish 2 Escudo gold coin which circulated widely in Virginia in those times.
Blacksmiths were always in good demand in Colonial Virginia, and Percival would work his way through Virginia down south into North Carolina. Sometime around 1755 in North Carolina Percival would marry a woman named Sarah, and they would have four children: Percival, Jr., David, Sarah, and Chalender Clay.
It is unknown what Percival, Sr. & Jr. did during the Revolutionary War, but records of militia service have been located for David and Chalender, who served in the same company of militiamen. Also serving with them was Henry Holland, who would later marry Sarah Clay in North Carolina in 1783.
1783 also marked the end of the Revolutionary War, and within a few years Percival and all of his children would remove to Georgia, where all four of Percival’s children would leave descendants down to the present day.