Green Clay Collection

Collection

Identifier: 0010-007

Green Clay Collection

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Scope and Contents

The Green Clay collection is an artificial collection that consists of four documents; photocopies of originals are found in this collection, along with transcriptions of each. Three of the four documents are correspondence to or from Green Clay. Two letters are correspondence with Thomas Jefferson regarding a questionable treaty with the Cherokee Indians. The other letter is from J. Bledsoe to Green Clay. The fourth document is General Green Clay's General Order book during the War of 1812.

Dates

Creation: 1810 - 1823

Creator

Clay, Green (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Use photocopies first

Biographical or Historical Information

"The life of General Green Clay [14 Aug 1757-31 Oct 1828] has been overshadowed by the accomplishments of his son Cassius Marcellus Clay. The elder Clay, a Revolutionary War solder, was not like most of this pioneers who emigrated to Kentucky in the 18th century; he was able to make a success from the 'Dark and Bloody Ground.' Prompted by the spirit of adventure, Green left Virginia before he was twenty years old as a poor young man. Clay learned, as many of his fellows did not, that the secret of success in the wilderness of 'Kaintuck' was land, well chosen, and properly recorded. He died in 1828 as one of the richest men in Kentucky." From White Hall State Shrine: Home of General Green Clay and his son General Cassius Marcellus Clay by David C. Greene. Located in Special Collections and Archives (E415.9.C55 G73 1972).

Note written by Greene, David