Born in Clarke Co, VA, on 19 Apr 1851, Robert Clay Tapscott was the only child of Robert Francis and Lucy who never married. Robert started out as a farmhand in Virginia, probably working on his family’s farm, and ended up in Santa Barbara Co, CA, where he continued as a farm laborer. He may have moved to California with his brother Beverly and Beverly’s mother- and father-in-law, Nancy Jane Row and Daniel McHenry; however, very limited evidence indicates that Robert moved there before the others. By 1900, Robert Clay was boarding with Nancy and Daniel in Santa Barbara Co. Later on, Robert boarded in Santa Barbara Co with his brother Beverly.
Robert passed away on 16 Mar 1921, and was laid to rest in Santa Maria Cemetery, Santa Maria, California. He left no known descendants.
