Clay Joseph was an American clergyman, lawyer, and jurist. He served as a United States district judge for the District of Georgia from 1796 to 1801. He was a pastor of the First Baptist church in Boston, Massachusetts from 1807 to 1809.
Background
Joseph Clay was born on August 16, 1764 in Savannah, Georgia, United States. He was the son of Joseph and Ann (Legardère) Clay. He had natural gifts of a high order and the advantage of belonging to a family of means, social standing, and political influence.
Education
When twenty years old he graduated from Princeton with highest honors, and later studied law at Williamsburg under the celebrated jurist and teacher, George Wythe.
Career
In 1790 Clay began to practice the law in Savannah. He became one of the most influential members of the convention of 1795, which revised the Georgia constitution, and the original draft of the constitution which was framed in the convention of 1798 was from his pen. On September 16, 1796, he was commissioned United States district judge for the District of Georgia. Letters to President Washington from the great Carolinian, Chancellor DeSaussure, from the Postmaster-General at that time, Joseph Habersham, and from Representative Abraham Baldwin, indorsing Clay for this office have been published. On Feb. 24, 1801, he was commissioned United States circuit judge for the 5th Circuit, under the “Midnight Judges Bill. ” By the repeal of this act which took effect July 1, 1802, he was legislated out of office.
About 1803 Clay joined the church in Savannah of which Dr. Henry Holcombe was pastor. He was soon called to be his assistant, and in 1804 he was ordained. From this time on, he devoted himself almost wholly to religious work. As a member of the General Committee of the Baptist Association of the state, he worked to promote education and missionary effort. A visit to New England in the autumn of 1806, where he preached in various cities, resulted in his being called to become an associate of the aged Dr. Samuel Stillman of the First Baptist Church, Boston, with right of succession. He accepted, and on the death of Dr. Stillman became pastor, being installed August 19, 1807. Mr. Clay himself preached the sermon, which was on the nature and duties of the ministry. Failing health caused him to resign in 1809. Death came to him in his forty-seventh year, and he was buried in the Granary Burying Ground, Boston.
Achievements
Religion
An Episcopalian by early training, he was converted to Baptist doctrines in 1803, and joined the church in Savannah of which Dr. Henry Holcombe was pastor.
Politics
Clay was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party.
Personality
Clay was a man of fine personal appearance, above the average height, with a kindly face, and eyes of singular beauty.
Connections
On November 25, 1789, Clay was married to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Butler) Savage, of Charleston, South Carolina.