Interim Content

Clayton, William

Biography

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber C. Kimball, 21 Oct. 1837, in River Ribble, Lancashire. Ordained a priest, Dec. 1837, in Lancashire. Ordained a high priest by Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, 1 Apr. 1838, at Preston, Lancashire. Served as second counselor in British mission presidency, 1838–1840. Immigrated to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1840. Served as clerk of high council in Iowa Territory, 1841. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Served as recorder and scribe to JS, 1842–1844, at Nauvoo. Appointed city treasurer and temple recorder, Sept. 1842, at Nauvoo. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 11 Mar. 1844, and served as clerk of council until his death. Participated in plural marriage during JS’s lifetime. Clerk of first company of pioneers to Salt Lake Valley, Apr.–Aug. 1847. Wrote and published Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 1847–1848. Served mission to England, 1852–1853. Died at Salt Lake City.

Links

papers
Photograph, unknown photographer, circa 1855. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)

William Clayton Photograph, unknown photographer, circa 1855. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)

William Clayton
William Clayton
Gender
Male