Nestor Clay (1799-1835), an early settler of Texas, was born in Kentucky, the son of Mary Jane "Polly" (Dawson) and Thomas Clay, a captain in the Revolutionary War. He moved to Texas in 1822, but returned to Kentucky one year later, to marry Nancy Wilson Johnson (1806-1834). In 1824 they returned to Texas together and had three children. Nestor Clay represented Washington County at the conventions of 1832 and 1833. Both Nestor and Nancy Clay have been reinterred in Austin’s Pioneer Cemetery (now Texas State Cemetery). Nestor’s brother Tacitus completed the construction of Clay Castle, started by Nestor, in 1836.
The Clays’ son, Tacitus Clay (1824-1868), named for his uncle, was an influential businessman, Confederate army officer, and mayor of Independence, Washington County, Texas.
Sources: Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Clay, Nestor, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/fcl20.html (accessed July 6, 2010).
Texas State Cemetery. Nancy Wilson Johnson Clay. http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?pers_id=1 (accessed July 6, 2010).
From the guide to the Clay, Nestor and Tacitus Papers 62-086., 1802, 1832-1860, 1962, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)
