HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 389 



s. w. from Newcastle, and commands a beautiful and extensive 

 prospect. According to Pope Nicholas's taxation, the prior of 

 Trentham held at Clayton (therein termed Claxton) in the deanery 

 of Newcastle, two carucates of land, which was worth ten shil- 

 lings a carucate ; and the profits of gardens, which he had from 

 thence, amounted to one shilling a-year. Clayton gave name to a 

 family who were seated there at a very early period : the last of 

 the eldest branch of the male line, Thomas Clayton, Esq. died 

 about the eleventh of Charles 2d, leaving two daughters. Eliza- 

 beth, the eldest, and heiress, married Thomas Lea, Esq. This gen- 

 tleman was descended in the direct male line from the antient 

 Earls and Dukes of Suffolk, and the Earls of Lichfield. 



Mary Clayton married William Windsor, Esq. of Rees-hall, 

 Cheshire, and the Grange, Shropshire. Part of the foundation of 

 the ancient Clayton-hall still remains : it was taken down by Mr. 

 Lea, who built the old mansion, which is now in a state of dilapi- 

 dation, having been inhabited by farmers for more than fifty years, 

 the family residing in Shropshire. In September 1812, the Clayton 

 and other family estates descended by the death of the Rev. John 

 Lea, of Acton Burnell, Shropshire, to the three daughters of his 

 youngest brother, the late Thomas Lea, Esq. of Chester. The 

 Rev. John Lea had long held in abeyance all the honours and titles 

 belonging to his family. 



The Claytons, of Clayton, possessed anciently large estates in 

 Cheshire, which passed into other branches of this family settled in 

 other counties. 



The seat of Hugh Booth, Esq. is pleasantly situated in the 

 village. 



According to the population returns of 1811, Clayton contained 

 24 houses, 31 families ; 87 males, 84 females : total of inhabitants, 

 171. 



STONE, 



Is a very extensive parish of Pirehill South, consisting of uneven 

 upland, but in general of a good loamy quality. 



The town of Stone is a place of great antiquity, and owes its 

 origin to the inhumanity of Wulfere, King of Mercia, who slew hit 

 two sons for embracing Christianity, but afterwards repented, and 

 converted his Heathen temples into Christian churches. The 



Saxons, according to custom, gathered stones and heaped them 



4 



