Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Clay, Joseph 1764 - 1811
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 3, 2005, 12:46 am

Author: J. H. Campbell

HON. AND REV. JOSEPH CLAY.

  The author has been at much trouble in endeavoring to obtain such an account
of this great and good man, as he would feel warranted in placing before the
public, and as would occupy a conspicuous place in this work. Most of those to
whom he has applied have failed to come to his assistance. He would mention with
gratitude, as an exception to this remark, Honorable John M. Berrien, to whom he
is mainly indebted for the following brief, but deeply interesting, account.

  Mr. Clay was a native Georgian, and was born in the city of Savannah, August
16, 1764. Mr. Berrien says, "I knew him well—he was the friend of my father, and
my legal preceptor. At his own request, I lived in his family in the country,
while engaged in the prosecution of my law studies, and had, therefore, an
opportunity of knowing and appreciating his many virtues. He was descended from
one of the oldest and most respectable families in our State, and was himself
possessed of talents of the highest order. He was liberally educated, and
received the first honor in the class of which he was a member, at the college
of Princeton, where he graduated. When many years afterwards, (Mr. Berrien
continues,) I became a student of that institution and a member of the Diosophic
Society, with which he had also been associated, his name was still cherished
with affectionate regard, and the records of the society bore testimony to the
estimation in which he had been held, while at Princeton. Returning to Georgia,
he entered upon the study of the law, and having been admitted to the bar, soon
rose to the highest eminence in his profession. He was particularly
distinguished as an advocate, and especially in criminal cases. I remember even
at this distance of time, and with as vivid a recollection as if it were an
occurrence of yesterday, the effect produced by a speech of his, in a case of
this description. It is the only instance in my life, in which I have seen, in
its whole extent and resistless influence, the power of eloquence. So far as my
observation extended, there was not a single individual in a crowded auditory,
who could command his feelings. At the commencement of the trial, the
popular-feeling was strongly excited against the accused, but an instant
acquittal was the result; and when the trial was ended, men wondered at the
means by which such result had been accomplished.

  "Mr. Clay was a leading member of the Convention which formed the present
Constitution of Georgia. The original draught was carefully prepared by him in
his retirement, but the Convention met in times of high party excitement, from
the then recent controversy about the sale of our western lands, commonly
denominated the Yazoo lands, and the plan of government submitted by Mr. Clay
received various modifications, which diminished its value.

  "Mr. Clay was called from his retirement, (in what precise year I do not
recollect,) to fill the office of District Judge of the United States for the
District of Georgia, and presided in that Court for several years, with
distinguished ability and with universal approbation. But he was destined, in
the providence of God, to a higher sphere of action. Mr. Clay had always been a
moral man. His disposition was peculiarly amiable, and he was distinguished by a
warm and active benevolence. These, combined with his social qualities, made him
an object of universal affection and respect in the community in which he lived,
If any one of that community had been requested to point to a man of blameless
conduct, he would have been designated. He alone did not concur in this
judgment. While he was yet actively engaged in his judicial duties, the subject
of religion presented itself to his mind and engrossed his thoughts. He became
deeply impressed with a sense of his own unworthiness, and was happily enabled
to seek and to find relief in the atoning blood of the Redeemer. He labored, for
a considerable time, under great mental depression; but when at length he was
enabled to discern the path of duty, he did not hesitate to pursue it. He
resigned his judicial office and devoted himself to the ministry, with a
persuasive eloquence, but yet more with a sincere and humble but ardent piety,
which was, I trust, by the blessing of God, efficient in the salvation of many
souls> In concluding this hurried and very imperfect sketch, I can only add,
that among those with whom it has been my fortune to be associated in life, he
stands pre-eminently distinguished for his talents, his virtues and his piety;
and that his affection, his kindness and his counsels are among my most valued
recollections."

  It is with singular pleasure the author records the above testimony of
Georgia's most distinguished son, concerning one of the most gifted men ever
connected with our denomination in this country.

  From other sources the following additional facts have been gathered. It was
under the ministry of Dr. Holcombe that Mr. Clay was converted, and by him was
baptized. He was brought up under Episcopal influence, and, even after he
professed hope in Christ, was much perplexed on the subject of baptism. At one
time he was conversing with the elder Fuller, of Beaufort, on the subject, and
came to the conclusion that he would throw aside all books except the Bible, and
search that only. His poedo-baptist friends drew the very natural inference,
"Then he'll be a Baptist." So it turned out; for he was baptized and licensed in
1802, at Savannah, and ordained in 1804, by Messrs. Furinan, Cook and Holcombe.

  He preached in most of the cities of the United States, and finally settled in
Boston, the successor of Rev. Dr. Stillman. But his race was short, having died
in that city January llth, 1811. Mr. Clay was a ripe scholar, a profound jurist,
a persuasive orator, a refined gentleman, an humble Christian. His family
connexions are numerous and highly respectable. The Rev. Joseph Clay Stiles, a
Presbyterian minister of great ability, is a nephew of Mr. Clay.


Additional Comments:
From:

GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.


MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.





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