Born in Finningham.1

From Cambridge Alumni :-
"S. of Samuel, Esq., of Gt Yarmouth and of Trimingham, and Anne, dau. of William Ray, of Worlingworth"

Baptised in Finningham.2

Father - Samuel Clayton
Mother - Ann Clayton

Career in Shenley.3

Curate

Married Ann SMYTH in Whitechapel, St Mary.22

From the Parish Register :-
Groom - William Ray Clayton of the Parish of Houghton in the County of Bucks.
Bride - Mary Smyth of this Parish, widow
By Licence
Vicar - Thos. Wright, Rector
Witnesses :-
John David
Ann Davis

Mentioned in Will

Of Lydia Ray - died 1818
Annotated as "my  nephew"

Birth of daughter Mary Ann Ray CLAYTON in Suffolk.10

Vicar at wedding in Norwich, St Giles.4

of Thomas Damant Eaton & Lydia Ray

Mentioned in Will.5

Of Catherine Clayton - died 1846
Annotated as "my brother"

Occupation Clergyman.6

Recorded in census in Norwich, Mancroft (St Giles).6

William Ray Clayton - 63 - Clergyman,
Ann Clayton - 67
Mary Ann Ray Loftus - 29
George Loftus - 2
Mary Ann Loftus - 1
Staff x 5

Research note :-
Living next door to his sister - Lydia Ray, born Clayton

Mentioned in Will

Of Lydia Ray née Clayton - died 1848
Annotated as my brother"

Mentioned in Codicil to Will.7

Of Lydia Ray née Clayton - died 1848
Annotated as "my dear brother"

Mentioned in Will.8

Of Deborah Clayton
Described as - "my brother the Reverend William Ray Clayton"

Legacy.9

Received a legacy of GBP 200 pre tax from the estate of Lydia Ray

From the Legacy Receipt - Stamps and Taxes :-
"William Ray Clayton - brother - legacy"

Occupation Rector of Ryborg.10

Recorded in census in Norwich, St Giles.10

William Ray Clayton - Head - 73 - Rector of Ryborg - born Finningham
Ann Clayton - Wife -75 - born W. Indies
Mary Ann Ray Loftus - ,Daughter - 37 - born Suffolk
Mary Ann Loftus - granddaughter - 11 - born Norwich
Visitor - Ann Caton - 25 - born London Middlesex
Staff x 1

Death of Ann SMYTH in Norwich.20,21

Death of daughter Mary Ann Ray CLAYTON in Norwich.17,18,19

Died in Norwich, Mancroft.1,12,13,14,15,16

From the Ipswich Journal :-
"12th inst., in St Giles', Norwich, in his 81st year, the Rev. William Ray Clayton, rector of Great Ryburgh, Norfolk"

From the Norfolk News :-
"On Thursday last, at his residence in St Giles', in this city, in his 81st year, the Rev. Wm. Ray Clayton, rector of Great Ryburgh, in this county"

From the Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette :-
"Thursday last, at his residence in St. Giles', in this city, the Rev. Wm. Ray Clayton, rector of Great Ryburgh, in this county, in the 81st year of his age."

Probate in Norwich.13

of the Will of Reverend William Ray Clayton of the Parish of St Giles in Norwich, Clerk, Rector of Great Ryburgh Norfolk.
Effects . Under GBP 40,000.Resworn at the Stamp Office April 1861 under GBP 35,000.
Executors :-
John Godwin of the Norwich, Esquire
Reverend Edward Priest of Cringleford, Clerk,

Cambridge University Alumni in Cambridge University, Emmanuel.1

"Name : William Ray Eaton
College : Emmanuel
Entered : Michs. 1796
Ded : 12 Aug 1858
Adm. pens. at Emmanuel, Feb. 6, 1796. (S. of Samuel Esq., of Gt Yarmouth and Trimingham, and Anne, dau. of William Ray, of Worlingworth.) Matric. Michs. 1796; B.A. 1800. V. of Great Ryburgh with Little Ryburgh, Norfolk, 182-1858. V. of St Mary Coslany, Norwich, 1832-51. Died Aug. 12, 1858, aged 81, at Norwich."

Research Note.11

From "The Black Book" in the Norfolk Record Office :-

“Only two of the children of Samuel Clayton & his wife Ann (née Ray) married – a son the Rev Wm Ray Clayton & a daughter Lydia who married became the second wife of my great grandfather William Ray of Tannington Place Suffolk.

The Rev. Wm Ray Clayton lived at Churchman House St Giles Street Norwich after the death of his brother Samuel. It is curious that years later Churchman House was owned & occupied by Sir Peter Eade M.D. a family connection.

On the death of Wm Ray of Tannington Place his widow Lydia (née Clayton) lived with her step daughters in a house in Willow Lane Norwich hired from Thomas Eaton. One of the stepdaughters (Lydia Ray) married Thomas Damant Eaton (son of Thomas Eaton) & was my grandmother.”