The Clay family have been assoiated with the Manor of Finningley since at least 1350, however a Clay is recorded at nearby Hodsock and Robert Del Clay was vicar of Selston in 1250. The nearby village of Blyth was obviously a stronghold of  Hugh del Clay as we have many references to him.

Looking at what we have, we might suggest the line of Del Clays ran thus:

Robert del Clay of Blyth

Hugh del Clay of Finningley, possible brother Adam, vicar  and holder of the manor of Walesby

Edmund del Clay of Finningley died c1394

George del Clay of Finningley died 1458, a possible other son Robert, rector of Finningley

George del Clay of Finningley died 1502

John Clay of Finningley M Margaret died c1543, possible brother George, niece Katherine

The above of course is speculation, particularly the earlier parts but we may not be too far away from the facts with later entries, only further research will tell us.

As yet we have no definitive proof that the del Clays held the Lordship of Finningley, however we have Edmund granting the manor to Alice Perrers in 1368 and in 1541 we have John Clay and his wife Margaret arguing over the advowson of the church at Finningley which would suggest ownership or presumed ownership of the Lordship. In 1543 the widow of John Clay, Margaret is claiming the manor of Finningley against a Thomas Fayrfax. The last reference we have with regard to  Finningley is Katherine Clay, daughter of George in 1543, there after there are no more references to Clay and Finningley.

(all references from The Clay of England Society) see in links.

Edward III

1350. Oct. 20th. Complaint against Hugh de la Clay of Finningley and some 40 others broke the close of Geoffrey de Moubray at Wrote co Lincs drove away 5 horses, 10 oxen worth £20 carried away some of his goods and burned others, assaulted his men and servants. (TNA. Calendar of Patent Rolls 24 Edw. 111 membrane 16d).

1368. Edmund del Clay to Ellis de Blacbourn a messuage in Everton and Harwell in Nottinghamshire for 10 years.  (TNA Ref.- DL25/1103).

1368. Oct. 22nd. Alice de Pereres had the manor of Fyllyngley by the grant of Edmund del Clay. (Inquisitions Post Mortem relating to Notts vol. 4. C145/212/5).

1370. July 4th. Commission to Roger Beler. Sheriff of Nottingham held at Bingham by the oath of Ralph de Cley and 8 others who say that  Geoffrey de Staunton held the manor of Staunton by knights service. (Inquisition Post Mortem Notts vol. 4).

1372. Inquisition of all the Chantries belonging to Southwell. Rents and tenements of the Chantry. Richard de Clay of Southwell. 10 shillings. (Antiquities Historical etc in Nottinghamshire).

1374. June 15th.  Edmund de Clay of Fynynglay (Finingley)  concerning the manor of Staynton co. York by Tickhill.  (Ref.- Calendar of Close Rolls vol. 14 membrane 23d).

Richard II

1377. July 2nd. Commission of the Peace in the county of Nottingham. Edmund de Clay is listed with 8 others. (TNA. Calendar of Patent Rolls. 1377 - 81).

1378. Alice Perrers had an estate for 3 years in the Manor of  Fyningley by Grant of Edmund del Clay. (Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous  vol. 4).

1378. Inquisition. The said Alice had an estate for 3 years in the manor of Fyningley by grant of Adam del Clay. (Ref.- TNA Inquisition).

1378. Edmund Clay of Nottingham. (Ref.- Calendar of Close Rolls. Rich. 11. Vol. 1). BHO.

1380. Dec. 24th. Edmund del Clay and others concerning the commission of the peace in the county of Nottingham in the place in the place of Elias de Thoresby. (Cal. Pat. Rolls. 4 Rich.11 memb. 4d).

1381. Dec. 28th. Robert de Eure going to Ireland in the King's service has letters nominating Edmund del Clay his attorney in England for 1 year. (Calendar of Patent Rolls. 5 Rich.11 part 1 membrane 4).

1382. Feb. 21st. A Writ by Edmund de Clay of Nottinghamshire and 3 others in favour of  2 men  who were accused of  breaking the law. (Ref.- TNA Close Roll).

1383. Edmund de Clay in a Writ issued by the King summoning him to take upon himself the degree of Sergeant - at - Law. (Ref.- Book.- The Judges of England).

1383. Edmund de Clay is made Sergeant of the Coif - Coif is medieval  headwear worn by all classes. (Ref.- Book - The Order of the Coif page 19).

1383. Nov. 4th. Commission to Edmund Claye and 4 others to investigate a complaint by the Prioress of Brodeholm co. Nottingham  that men broke into her close, felled trees, assaulted her servants and threatend her and her nuns with death. (TNA Ref.- Calendar of Patent Rolls membrane 18d page 355).

1385. Edmund de Clay, Chief Justice of the Common Bench - his descendant George Clay (Died 1458) was taxed £16 in 1451 and had a son George Clay of Finningley.

1385. Edmund de Clay an English born lawyer served as Lord Chief Justice in Ireland in 1385 and 1386 and reappears back in Nottinghamshire by 1389. (Ref.- Book entitled - The Judges in Ireland 1221 - 1901).

1388. Clay involved in several court cases representing various people Christian name not given but most likely is Edmund Clay who was the lawyer at that time. (Year Books of Rich.11).

1389. Edward del Clay and 6 others listed in the county of Nottinghamshire. (TNA. Calendar of  Patent Rolls. 1388 - 1392 vol. 4).

1390. March 1st. Commission to Edmund del Clay and 8 others to enquire about repair to the metes and bounds of Holland and Kesteven co Lincs. (TNA. Calendar of Patent Rolls 13 Rich.11 part 2).

1391. Jan. 26th.  To the Sheriffs of London. A Writ and Order of Edmund Clay of Nottingham and 2 others of Yorkshire. (Calendar of Close Rolls vol 4).

1391. April 25th. John de Clay witness to a property transfer in Appulknoll. (Ref.- Nottinghamshire Archives Office.- DD/P/CD/77).

1394. Appointment of Attorney to deliver seizen of lands etc of Edmund del Clay in Alkelay and Fynyngley to Edwards son. (Notts Archives Ref.- DD/SR/209/18).

Henry IV

1409. Robert Clay. Rector of Finningley Church. Holy Trinity and St Oswald. (Ref. - Church History List of Incumbents).

Henry VI

1428. June 16th.  Commission to the Sheriff of Nottingham to arrest a number of men (named) including George de Clay and to bring them before the King's Council. (Cal. Pat. Rolls. 1422-29 vol. 1).

1430 and 1435. George Clay. (Ref.- MS305 and DDMG (1) 22-23).

1434. George Clay took the oath with around 100 others at Nottingham. (Calendar of Patent Rolls 1429 - 1436 Hen. V1 vol. 2).

1458. Jan. 25th. George Clay esq of Nottingham. (Calendar of Fine Rolls membrane 27).

1458. Easter. George Clay of Finningley. Notts. Esq. Sued two men for a debt of £6-13-4. (Ref.- Book - Baildon and Baildons by Francis J. Baildon page 166).

1458. George Clay of Finningley. Notts. - Will at York.

1460-80. George of Clay v William Aldeburgh and 2 others complaining that they have deprived him of the presentation to the church of Finningley  co. Notts. (TNA. Calendar Patent Rolls).

Edward IV

1475. Court Case.  Clay v Aldeburgh. Complaint that Aldeburgh conspired to deprive George Clay of his presentation to the church of Finningley. Notts. (TNA Ref.- C1/2/99).

1476. Jan. 25th.  Court. William Kirkeham of Finingley for not appearing before the Justices of the Bench to answer George Cley esq touching a trespass. (Ref.- Calendar of Patent Rolls membrane 26).

Henry VII

1500s. Catherine Claye of noble family was married to Robert Whitmore of Caunton. Nottinghamshire and had 12 children. Robert died 1540. (Ref.- Worcester Society of Antiquity page 26).

1504. John Clay aged 28 and more son and heir of George Clay who died in 1502 entered his late fathers messuage, premises and lands 580 acres  (at Finningley) without licence. (Ref.- Calendars of Inquisition Post Mortem series 2 Vol 3).- BHO.

1504 - 1505. Aug. 22nd. Inquisition Post Mortem. Nottingham. George Clay. Landed Estates.  (TNA Ref.- E150/730/15).

1505. Oct. 30th. Nottingham Inquisition. George Clay died in 1502  in possession of a number of messuages in Finningley and district and John Clay aged 28 is his son and heir who entered the premises without the King's Licence. (TNA.- Inquisition Post Mortem).

1506. Thomas Darcy knight and 3 others claimed against John Cley the manor of Blythe and 10 messuages and 300 acres of land in Blythe, Ranskyll, Torworth, Norney and Sterap also the advowson of the church of Fynnyngley. (Ref.- Thoroton's History of Notts vol. 3 page 315).

1507. John Clay esq and Margaret his wife had 1 acre of land in Finningley. (TNA Ref.- Feet of Fines CP25/1/186/42 no 28).

1507. John Clay was called to warrant lands in Everton, Harewell, Sturton, Clayworth and Finningley. (Thoroton's History of Notts. vol. 3 page 321).

Henry VIII

1526. John Clay witness / warranty - Finningley land dispute in Everton. (Ref.- Throsby 1796). - BHO.

1541. John Cley and Margaret his wife called to warrant regarding the advowson of the church of Finningley. (Ref.- Thoroton).

1543. Margaret who had been the wife of John Clay claimed against Thomas Fayrfax the manor of Fynnyngley. (Ref.-Throsby 1796).- BHO.

1563. Pedigree of Blyton. Robert Whytmore son of Ales Blyton married Kateren daughter of George Clay of Finningley. Notts. (Ref.- Visitation of Yorkshire 1563 -64 )

Below is a map which shows the villages associated with the del Clays, it is bounded by the cities of Sheffield, Nottingham, Doncaster and the towns of Chesterfield and Southwell.