A Penwortham Saint

William Clayton

• 17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. 
• Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. 
• Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. 
• Baptized into LDS church by Heber C. Kimball, 21 Oct. 1837, in River Ribble, Lancashire. 
• Ordained a priest, Dec. 1837, in Lancashire. 
• Ordained a high priest by Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, 1 Apr. 1838, at Preston, Lancashire. 
• Served as second counselor in British mission presidency, 1838–1840. 
• Immigrated to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1840. Served as clerk of high council in Iowa Territory, 1841. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Served as recorder and scribe to JS, 1842–1844, at Nauvoo. 
• Appointed secretary of Masonic lodge, city treasurer, and temple recorder, Sept. 1842, at Nauvoo. 
• Participated in plural marriage during JS's lifetime. Clerk of first company of pioneers to Utah, Apr.–Aug. 1847. Wrote and published Latter-day Saint Emigrants’ Guide, 1847–1848. Died at Salt Lake City.