Several members of our local community (Bedford County, VA) have taken an interest in the burial site of Rev. Charles Clay (d. 1820), a close personal friend of Thomas Jefferson and an influential voice in support of the American Revolution.
The Clay Family Society provided a grant for cleanup a number of years ago, but the site is badly in need of restoration. It is currently located on the Ivy Hill Golf Course and the owner of the course would like to improve the site and feature it as a historic attraction at the course. A group of individuals met at the golf club in Forest, VA at 4pm on March 8, 2022 to organize and develop a plan for restoring the site. If you would like more information, please contact me at ddonald@liberty.edu. We especially welcome input from any Charles Clay descendants.
Donna Davis Donald
Director of Public History Initiatives
Liberty University
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/16986925/person/1997459928/facts
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2487638/ivy-hill-cemetery-(pettygrove)
Thanks for the great forum post. The kind of thing all Clay descendants should get behind and promoting. I’m about 5 hours away, but will try to attend.
I’m pleased to report that we had nine people in attendance at our meeting yesterday. Three of them are descended from Charles Clay: Gynger Cook and her daughter and granddaughter. Our next meeting will be scheduled in early April. We hope to be able to offer it in person and via Zoom. If you would like to be added to the email list of interested parties, please leave a comment here or email me. You may find my email on the Liberty University History page: https://www.liberty.edu/arts-sciences/history/faculty/.
Donna Davis Donald
Director of Public History Initiatives
Liberty University