John Clanton sailed from London, England on October 24, 1635 aboard the ship, the Abraham, and landed in early 1636 at Jamestown, Virginia. Nothing is known of this early immigrant except that he was 26 years of age at this time.

Some have stated that John was father of Marmaduke, who was father of Edward but this has all been mere speculation with no documentation whatsoever. They are, however, probably some sort of relation from back in the old country.