Born on the 23rd of February 1833, the son of John Lloyd Clayton, Esq., of 11 Portman Square. London. So keen was he to get his son into the Army that he wrote to Lord Fitzroy Somerset (later Lord Raglan) on the 25th of October 1844, when his son was still only 11 years old, that:
"he was most anxious that his son should enter the Army when old enough and asked for him to be placed on the Commander-in-Chief's list for a commission by purchase in some infantry or cavalry regiment."
Cornet in the 13th Light Dragoons: 12th of April 1850
Lieutenant, 13th Light Dragoons: 12th of October 1852.
Captain, 13th Light Dragoons: 15th of December 1854.
Captain Clayton served in the Eastern campaign from the 3rd [?] of August 1855, including the Siege and fall of Sebastopol.
Returned to England, on a "Medical certificate", on the 12th of February 1856.
Retired, by the sale of his commission, on the 19th of January 1857.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish Medal.
1861 Census
14, Portman Sq, London.
John W Clayton, 28, Retired Officer (Army), born Marylebone.
Four servants together with his butler with a family of a wife and 7 children are also shown.
Births registered
Isabel Emily Florence Clayton [daughter], December Quarter 1863, Gloucester.
Harold Hugh K.G. Clayton [son], March Quarter 1868, Marylebone.
1871 Census
14, Portman Sq, Marylebone.
J.W. Clayton, aged 38, From Household Property [?], born London.
Mary Clayton, 26, born Gloucester.
Isabel Clayton, 7, born Gloucester.
Harold Clayton, 3, born Gloucester.
A sister [his? Mary's?] and five Servants are also shown.
1881 Census
14, Portman Square, Marylebone, London.
The 1881 Census shows him as a widower, Late Captain, 13th Light Dragoons, aged 48, born in London, living with his late wife's mother, Elizabeth Somerset, 62, born in Ceylon (British subject), and a daughter, Isabel E.T., 17, born in Gloucester.
Five Domestic Servants were kept.
1891 Census
14, Portman Sq.
Isabel Clayton, single, 27, living on own means, born Gloucester.
Two servants are also shown.
Additional birth registrations, and Census information for 1861, 1871, 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.