Clayton became a carpenter by trade and a follower of the Quaker religion.
[1] Clayton was a founder of the Pennsylvania colony, serving as an original commissioner for William Penn, as well as one of Philadelphia's first judges.
[2] In 1677, Clayton set sail for America, arriving in New York after being selected by Penn to serve as a commissioner.
[3] In 1681, his family removed to Chichester, Pennsylvania, where Clayton had secured a 500-acre land patent.
[4] In 1681, he presided over the first Upland Court in Chester, Pennsylvania and eventually was one of the first judges of nearby Philadelphia.