Imogene, Fascinating! Can you tell me more about this Hays family? Did they live in Tennessee in the late 1700's and early 1800's ? What year did James die? The name James fits the name of one of my John's sons. May I presume you are a descendant of this family? Is there any info on James Hays or Elizabeth Clayton parents in your Bible? A list of all their children might give me more clues. Unfortunately I do not have an exact date, but I tend to favor the birth year 1785 for John Hays. The tombstone in Holt county, MO where he died in 1853, says "about 70 years", but the 1850 MO census puts his age at death closer to 68 years. Tell me more! Carol