From "A Tale of Crich" Chapter 2 by Dr Geoffrey Dawes
John Claye (whose grandfather John came from Chapel-en-le Frith and had also lived in Crich) built a Manor house next to the Northwest corner of the churchyard. In 1597, John Claye (then said to be ' of Wakebridge') was one of the gentleman of Derbyshire who was 'requested' to make a 'loan' to the Crown. These loans were requested from Counties by the Privy Council acting on behalf of Elizabeth. The Earl of Shrewsbury delegated the job of collecting the money from Derbyshire to John Manners and on an earlier occasion in 1589 he had written to John Manners (his brother-in-law) to say that he was "troubled to hear of slackness of those gentleman who ought to be most favoured to do the Queen's pleasure" - and he recommended that new 'privy seals' be delivered to those in arrear and warning them of the need to make payment by an early date. The 'privy seal' was the official document demanding the particular share of the 'loan' assigned to a particular person, sealed with the royal privy-seal, and sent down to their local agent in the provinces by the Council. John Manners was beset with requests from many of those to whom privy-seals had been addressed - one such being John Claye. Later that year (1589) the Earl of Shrewsbury was informed from the Court that "sums of £50 imposed under a Privy Seal on John Claye of Crich be reduced to £25 - as they have large families and are in debt". Building the Manor House and buying the tithes from Anthony Babington must have upset Clayes 'cash-flow'.
In 1606 there is, in the Talbot Papers, a record of an examination of one John Dakin concerning a report that John Claye of Crich, Gentleman, had made certain slanderous speeches accusing the Earl of Shrewsbury of being forewarned of the Gunpowder Plot and of absenting himself from Parliament "under cover of his happy gout".
Claye had three daughters Susanna, Mary and Elizabeth on whom, in 1612, he settled his estates: he lived until 1632. Each of Claye's daughters married. Susannah married Robert Clark of Mansfield, and Mary, Timothy Pusey of Selston. The third daughter Elizabeth married Sir William Willoughby of Wollaton Hall in Nottingham. (An earlier Sir William Willoughby had married Alice, the daughter of Richard Curzon of Kedleston in the mid-15th Century)."
On the Claye memorial beside the altar is written:
"Here lieth John Claye, Gentleman and Mary whom he first did wive,
With her he lived near eight years space, in which God gave them children five.
Daughter of William Caulton Esq. who was unto that King of fame,
Henry 8th, Chief Cock Matcher and servent of his Hawkes by name.
And as she had a former match, Charnell of Swarkestone in Leicestershire,
So she deceast, this Claye did take the widow of German Pole Esq.
Daughter of Edward who was son to Sir J. Ferrers of Tamworth, Kt.
She lies entombed in this Church with her by whom he first was plight.
So now this Claye is closed in Claye, the fairest flesh doth fade like grass:
He had one sister who unto Stuffyn of Shirebrook married was.
For death doth give an end to all, and now this Claye shall rest therein.
All claye to claye shall come at last, by death the due reward of sinne.
Thou death, his death, Thy death is he whose soul doth rest with Christ for aye.
The sting of death can no one flee, the greatest Monarchs are but claye."
Memorial to John Clay and his family
John Clay married twice. Firstly to Mary then to Margaret the widow of German Pole. Oddly when Margaret died she was interred with her first husband and their tomb is to the left of the altar.
On a tablet in the church is written:
"Soules they are made of Heavenly spirit: From whence they come ye heavens inherite:
But know the bodyes made of claye: Death will denounce by night or day:
Yett is he, as hee was I lay: Ye livinge and dead remaineth Claye:
His very name that nature gave: Is now as shall be in his grave:
Tymes doth teach experience tryes: That Claye to dust the wind up dryes:
Then this a wonder corrupt we must: That want of winde should make Claye dust."
Tablet and verse to the Claye family
Claye's Barn
In 1667 Squire Claye's Barn was the setting for a moving story of Quaker suffering. This tale has passed into Quaker history. Read the full account.
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