John Clay was born in Petrockstowe, Devonshire, in 1802 to Zachariah and Elizabeth Clay.  Like his father and grandfather he was a farmer at Hallwood Farm.

In 1834 he married Agnes Moase, daughter of Rowland & Catherine Moase, at Frithelstock, Devonshire.  (Agnes was born in 1812).

On 16 July 1851 John & Agnes Clay arrived in Adelaide, South Australia and later that year they shifted to Melbourne, Victoria.  John set up as a storekeeper in Fitzroy.

In 1854 he bought land in Doncaster – then a country area outside Melbourne – where he “established one of the best orchards in the district”.

John died in Doncaster in 1871 and was buried at Boroondarra General Cemetary, Kew, Victoria.

Agnes died in Wandin, Victoria, at her daughter Mary Anne's home in 1881.

Their children were:

William born Petrockstowe 1835, died Doncaster 1910, no children

John born Petrockstowe 1837, died Hoddles Creek 1894, no children

Mary Anne born Petrockstowe 1839, married William Mitchell

Richard born Petrockstowe 1842, married Mary Ann Carnegie

Joseph born Petrockstowe 1844, married Lucy Steede Crossman

Frederick born Petrockstowe 1846, married Mary Jones

Catherine Elizabeth born Collingwood 1853, married Robert Edwin Wilson