Established 2001

Clay Family Society

Public

POC-2025-02 – POC, 2025 Qtr 2, Spring

Record Summary

Evidence Category:
Published Source
Record Type:
Newsletter
Date:
Apr-Jun 2025
Individuals Mentioned:
Tod Ackerly, Muhammad Ali, Jessie Amerson, Samuel Argall, Pheobe Belcher, Ned Boyajian, Mathew Benjamin Brady, Madeleine McDowell Breckenridge, Roberta Brooks, Trevor Chauncey, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Catherine Clay, Charles Clay, Edna Clay, Franklin Clay, Henry B Clay, Henry Clay, J. W. Clay, John Clay, John S Clay, Jonas Clay, Laura Clay, Mary Clay, Mitchell Clay, Paul Clay, Robert Clay DD, Thomas Clay, William Clay, William R Clay, Jonas f. Jonae Clay de Ealand, Jonas f. Thome Clay de Ealand, Thomas fi. Willmi Clay de Greetlande, Mary Ann Cook, Mary R. Cook, Mitchell Cook, William Doby Cooke, Sir Thomas Dale (Marshall), Baron De La Warr (Delaware), Donald Everett Drake, Hugh B Thomas Drake, Nicole Dyer, Mary Elliott Flanery, Sir Thomas Gates (Dep. Gov.), Honor Ann Harper, Everett Elmer Hash, Levi Robert Hash, Loretta Hash, Nicholas Hawes, James Camden Hotton, Tod Massa, Richard Miller, Mary Mitchell, William Nicholls, Leontyne (Clay) Peck, Sir Robert Rich, Ira Rosenberg, Martha Runyon, Jane Savile, Bill Schultz, James Larry Smith, Robert Sparkes, Anne Stevens, Catherine Stewart, Ralph Stewart, Rosetta Eveline Walker, Thomas G. Walker, George Washington, Hannah Wilson, Josie James "Virginia" Wilson
Repository:
Clay Family Society Digital Archives
Archive Reference:
Folder: 01_Pieces_of_Clay/2007-2025

Summary

Focused on: Clays Who Served, 2025 Gathering, The Virginia Colony (1606-1660), Clays Who Served (Col. Robert Pepper Clay), DNA Corner (atDNA to Y-DNA) – Ned Boyajian, President

Clay Line: POC

Asset

View Public Asset

Source Citation

Pieces of Clay, Clay Family Society, (Spring 2025): 19 pages; CFS Archive ID POC-2025-02.

Historical Context

Jonas Clay Ancestry: Researcher Tod Ackerly traced the roots of Jonas Clay, the progenitor of the New England Clays. St. Mary’s Church Register in Elland, Yorkshire, revealed a strong immigrant candidate, “Jonas f. Jonae Clay,” baptized February 28, 1618–19. It also identified “Jonas f. Thome Clay” (baptized 1589) as a candidate for his father, and “Thomas fi. Willmi Clay” (baptized 1565) as a potential grandfather.

AI Limitations in Research: Testing with AI platforms revealed critical flaws; “AI Mode” hallucinated a false marriage record linking the immigrant family to the noble Savile family. While AI is useful for translations and historical context, it is highly untrustworthy for specific citations, names, and structural tree links.

John Clay (1587–1655) Migration: Donald Drake’s research confirms John Clay arrived in colonial Virginia in February 1614 (NS) aboard the warship *Treasurer*. Evidence regarding his heavily armed status on the 1625 muster suggests he initially served as a soldier under Admiral Samuel Argall before settling as a civilian in Jamestown.

Lineage Track: Member Donald Drake documented a direct 12-generation lineage extending from John Clay and his wife Elizabeth down to himself, passing through key ancestors Henry Clay, Mitchell Clay, and the associated Cook and Hash families.

DNA and Collaborative Findings: The society is transitioning to an evidence-based, collaborative research model utilizing “Workgroups” to resolve conflicting lineages. Additionally, updates to the FamilyTreeDNA platform offer improved matching, deeper scientific research tools, and stronger integration with traditional trees to map out the Ancient Clays Haplotree.