Vital Information
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | John Clanton Sr. | Will |
| Born | c.1720, Virginia | Geni profile |
| Died | Before 16 Aug 1781, Sussex County, Virginia | Will probate date |
| Father | William Charles Clanton | Geni profile |
| Mother | Mary Seward Holt (daughter of William Holt and Alice Stagg) | Geni profile |
| Wife | Amy Wyche (b. ~1712/1722, VA; d. ~1804, Sussex Co, VA) | |
| Daughter | Abigail "Abby" Clanton (b. 17 Apr 1742, bapt. 13 Jun 1742, Albemarle Parish), m. Nathaniel Holt | Will names "Abby Holt"; baptism in Family Tree |
| Daughter | Lucy (m. Andrews) | Will names "Lucy Andrews" |
| Daughter | Martha (m. Roe) | Geni; Clanton Wiki |
| Daughter | Mary (m. Gilliam) | WikiTree Clanton-272 |
| Son | Drury Clanton | Geni |
| Son | John Clanton Jr. | Will |
Will
John Clanton's will (Sussex County, VA, Will Book C, p. 422) names wife "Amey," son John Clanton, and daughters including Lucy Andrews and "Abby Holt" (confirming that daughter Abigail married into the Holt family). He left 269 acres to wife Amey for life, then to son John.
The Albemarle Parish Register records a "Holt Clanton" born 5 May 1759 to parents Nathaniel and Mary Clanton, showing the Holt surname used as a given name within the intermarried family. The naming of Nathaniel Holt's daughter "Amy Wyche Holt" (b. 21 Aug 1770, per the same register) further confirms Amy Wyche's identity as John Clanton's wife.
Note on the Clanton-Holt intermarriage: John Clanton's mother was Mary Seward Holt, daughter of William Holt and Alice Stagg. His daughter Abigail married Nathaniel Holt, son of Charles Holt and Sarah Judkins. Both Charles Holt and Mary Seward Holt were children of William Holt, making John Clanton and Charles Holt half-siblings (different mothers). Abigail thus married her father's half-nephew. This endogamy is typical of colonial Surry County planter families.
Amy Wyche: Identity Clarification
James Wyche's will (dated 14 Feb 1748, Surry County) names a "daughter Amy Jackson" (married to Ambrose Jackson), not "Amy Clanton." The Family Tree flags this discrepancy (Moderate Signal). It is possible Amy Wyche Clanton was a different daughter of James Wyche not named in the will, or that she was a granddaughter or niece rather than a daughter. The Albemarle Parish Register's naming evidence (Amy Wyche Holt, born to Nathaniel and Abigail) strongly suggests the Wyche connection is real, even if the specific parent-child link to James Wyche remains unproven.
Document Sources
| Document | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Will of John Clanton, Sussex County VA (probated ~Aug 1781) | Probate | Referenced in Geni; names "Abby Holt" as daughter |
| Surry County, Virginia Deeds and Estate Accounts, 1757-1786 (Heritage Books) | Published compilation | Not directly consulted |
| L.R. and V.E. Clanton, Clanton Family History and Lineage Lines (1993), 2 vols. | Published genealogy | Not directly consulted |
| Albemarle Parish Register of Surry and Sussex Counties, VA (1717-1778) | Parish register | Published by Boddie (1958); "Holt Clanton" b. 5 May 1759, parents Nathaniel and Mary |
| James Wyche will (dated 14 Feb 1748, Surry Co, VA) | Probate | Names "daughter Amy Jackson" (m. Ambrose), not "Amy Clanton"; WikiTree Wyche-40 |
| WikiTree Clanton-272 (Mary Clanton Gilliam) | Database | Consulted; daughter of John and Amy |
Related Files
- Daughter: Nathaniel_Holt (wife Abigail Clanton)
- Grandson: Drury_Holt_Sr