Author: James Robert Cook
Lambert Clayton was the second settler in this area and helped with the formation of the county. He served in the Revolutionary War as a sergeant in John McCree’s Company under Colonel Sumner, North Carolina Continental Line. He served in several campaigns in North and South Carolina in 1781 and 1782. He enlisted when he was 21 years old and served for a year. He took part in the battles of Kings Mountain, Guilford Courthouse, and Eutah.
He was born on June 22, 1755 near Rising Sun, Kent County, Delaware which is near Dover Delaware. He was the sixth child of George Clayton and his wife, Sarah Dodson. He married Sarah Davidson on December 14, 1782. She was the daughter of John Davidson and Nancy Brevard, both of whom were killed during the Indian Massacre during the French and Indian War. Together Lambert and Sarah moved from present day Iredell County to the French Broad River of Western North Carolina. They were truly pioneers of western North Carolina and among the very first to settle west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rutherford County at that time encompassed present day Transylvania County.
Lambert entered a land grant on 15 November 1791 for 500 acres in Rutherford County. He and his wife moved here in 1791 and settled near Davidson River where they lived for 40 years. They were the second settlers in this area.
These were the early years of Buncombe County and Lambert was sworn as one of the Justices of the Peace at the first meeting of the Buncombe County court. The Justices of the Peace were the government – they built roads, collected taxes, proved deeds and probate and presided over Civil and Criminal cases. Select judges of each county served as Jurors on the District Court and Lambert was chosen a number of times to fulfill this obligation as a circuit court judge. He was sworn in as one of the Justices of Peace on April, 1792 during the first meeting of the Buncombe County Court. Lambert was well educated.
Lambert was the postmaster at Claytonville, which was established in 1807 and was the earliest post office of record in the area. It was located near Penrose and ceased to operate in 1872. Other post offices of the period were Davidson River in 1840.
He married Sarah Davidson Clayton and they had 9 children and were married for 40 years. She lived to the age of 84 which was a long life for women without modern medical aid during childbirth and illness. She had suffered a lot of deprivation during the year of service when Lambert was away serving in the Revolutionary War fighting the British.
Sarah lived in this remote area and had five more children without help from others in the area since they were some of the earliest settlers in this community. She had none of the items we have today – electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, a refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, television, radio, or air conditioning to mention a few items we consider necessities. To live to the age of 84 years is an accomplishment today as well as in the 1840’s!
Their second son, John Clayton, became powerful in state politics and served in the North Carolina State Assembly. He became a leader in public affairs in Buncombe, Henderson and then Transylvania counties. He is buried in Davidson River Cemetery near his parents.
Lambert received a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War and after his death his wife, Sarah, received a widow’s Pension.
Lambert and Sarah are buried side by side in the Davidson River Cemetery. The gravestone for Lambert is large and ornately inscribed (June 22, 1755 – July 12, 1828). Sarah was born on December 25, 1759 and died on March 20, 1843.


Joint County Historic Presentation Commission, 1998, p. 4
Transylvania County Heritage NC 1995, p. 88
Transylvania County Heritage, 2008, Vol 22 p. 117 – 118.
The Heritage of Transylvania County, Vol. III, 1861 - 2011. p. 8, 221, 234, 121, 341.