Record Summary
Evidence Category:
Published Source
Record Type:
Newsletter
Date:
Jul-Sep 2025
Individuals Mentioned:
Minnie May Amsberry, Lindsey Apple, Arthur Bane, Lucindia Bazell, Phoebe Belcher, Lucy Clay Boyajian, Julia Brock, Rebecca Cecil, Bartley Clay (1799–1870), Bartley B. Clay (1799–1850), Charles Clay (c. 1643–c. 1686), The Rev. Eleazar Clay, Elizabeth Ann Clay, Elizabeth "Bessie" Eaves Clay, Gail Clay, Harold Johnson Clay, Henry Clay Sr. (1672–1760), Henry Clay (1711–1764), Sen. Henry Clay (1777–1852), Henry Milton Clay, Irene Eaves Clay, James Franklin Clay, James William Clay, Jessica Clay, John Clay (1613), John Clay (1718), John Clay [article author], Sir John Clay, John Mitchell Clay, Jonas Clay, Judith "Judah" Clay, Kennerly Clay, Lavinia Clay, Lawrence Edward Clay, Lemuel Mitchell Clay, Lucinda Katherine Clay, General Lucius D. Clay, Mandeville Green Clay, Mary Elizabeth Clay, Maurice Clay, Mitchell Clay (1735–1811), Capt. Mitchell Clay Jr. (1772–1851), Paul Carrington Clay, Percival Clay, Ralph Richard Clay, Robert "Bob" Clay, Samuel Clay (1780–1856), Stephan Augustus "Gus" Clay, Stephen Oscar "Buster" Clay, Tabitha Clay, Thomas Clay (1797–1877), William Clay (1708–1774), William Clay (c. 1737–c. 1814), William Clay (1879–1935), William Addison Clay, William Harry Clay, William Henry Clay, US Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr., William M. Clay (1777–1842), William Wilson Clay, Nina L. (Clay) Cole, Nancy Cook, Dr. Phillip Milton Cook, The Rev. Deacon Susan M. Disharoon, John Frederick Dorman C.G. F.A.S.G., Nikki Gastineau, Ann Gillespie, Edrie Greer, Lucretia Hart, George Washington Hatcher, Josiah Hatcher Sr., Marium Adeline Elizabeth "Eliza" [or "Mary"] Hatcher, Mary Lena Hatcher, Samuel Clay Hatcher, Avis Arlene Headley, Elizabeth Hudson, Dawn (Clay) Johnson, Ruth Samera Johnson, Mary Kline, Brantley Bolling Knowles, Gen. Robert E. Lee, Steve Little, James Madison, David McPhetridge, Mary Millman, Mary Mitchell, David Myers, Marjory Clay Myers, Martha M. Old, Leontyne (Clay) Peck, Nancy Prince, Charline Rambaud, Mary (Bobbitt) Richardson, Dr. Paul Richardson, Miriam [or Mariam] Royal, Mary Elizabeth Rucker, Linda Russell, Bill Schultz, William Guy Smith III, Jeremiah [Solesbury/Shrewsbury], Mark Thompson, John Tucker, Millie Tucker, Elizabeth [Unknown] (1590–1655), Elizabeth [Unknown] [wife of John Clay (b. 1595)], Martha [Unknown], Sarah Watkins, Hannah Wilson
Repository:
Clay Family Society Digital Archives
Archive Reference:
Folder: 01_Pieces_of_Clay/2007-2025
Summary
Focused on Why Do We Do This?, 2025 Gathering, Cousin Marriages, Clays Who Served (General Lucius D. Clay), DNA Corner (Large Language Model (LLM) & AI Agent) – Ned Boyajian, President
Clay Line: Board
Asset
Source Citation
Pieces of Clay, Clay Family Society, (Summer 2025): 14 pages; CFS Archive ID POC-2025-03.
Historical Context
Cousin Marriages: The John Clay (1613) and William Hatcher lines share multiple historical cousin marriages spanning over a century. This includes the 1798 marriage of Tabitha Clay and Samuel Clay (2nd cousins), the 1851 marriage of Stephan Augustus “Gus” Clay and Marium Hatcher (2nd cousins), and the 1853 marriage of George Washington Hatcher and Lucinda Katherine Clay (2nd cousins). The most recent known occurrence was the 1902 marriage of Stephen Oscar “Buster” Clay and Mary Lena Hatcher (2nd cousins).
First Cousin Union: The John Clay (1613) branch documents a first-cousin marriage between Mitchell Clay Jr. and Judith “Judah” Clay in the late 18th century, which concentrated the family’s DNA in subsequent descendants.
Distinct Lineage Mergers: The Jonas Clay (1643) New England branch and the John Clay (1613) branch—the two oldest immigrant lines—merged on June 17, 1919, through the marriage of Harold Johnson Clay and Elizabeth “Bessie” Eaves Clay. They share a common ancestor from roughly 19,800 BCE in Kazakhstan, making them approximately 724th cousins.
General Lucius D. Clay Lineage: Despite historical claims, DNA evidence proves that General Lucius D. Clay did not descend from John Clay (1613). He belongs to the Y-DNA haplogroup root of E (rather than R), descending instead from Percival Clay.
Solesbury/Shrewsbury Connection: The parentage of Mary Elizabeth Clay remains unverified, but a Solesbury/Shrewsbury family time capsule placed at the Mercer County Historical Society is expected to reveal more details regarding her lineage.
