Background
Clayton was born at Wood End Farm, Clayton, near Chorley, Lancashire, 5 October 1764, the only son of George Clayton, a bleacher. He had nine elder sisters.
Clayton was born at Wood End Farm, Clayton, near Chorley, Lancashire, 5 October 1764, the only son of George Clayton, a bleacher. He had nine elder sisters.
He was educated at Leyland grammar school, and was apprenticed to his brother-in-law, Boultbee, an apothecary in Manchester.
He became known for his conservative social views, after the Priestley Riots. At the end of four years he ran off, and made his way to the house of a married sister in London. Clayton was taken to hear the Review
William Romaine preach, and a religious conversion followed.
Clayton was then introduced to the Countess of Huntingdon, and sent by her to Trevecca College. He became a popular preacher, and was sent to take charge of a chapel at Tunbridge Wells.
He also preached frequently in London. In 1777 he sought episcopal ordination, but difficulties arose, and reading Michaijah Towgood"s Letters on Dissent made him a nonconformist.
The Countess rebuked him in a long letter.
In 1793 Clayton was appointed one of the preachers at the merchants" lecture. He held similar posts at Fetter Lane, Holborn, and Hare Court, Aldersgate. About 1820 Clayton bought a small estate at Gaines in Essex, and in 1826 he resigned the charge of the Weigh-house, after a pastorate of 48 years.
He is buried in Bunhill Fields.
The case was tried before Lord Mansfield 25 July 1808, and the verdict of the jury awarded 40 shillings damages, just enough to carry costs. John Clayton, junior was pastor of the Poultry Chapel, London, and died at Bath, Somerset 3 October 1865, aged 85.
He published sermons and a treatise on The Choice of Books, 1811.