Cyprian

Workgroup Name: Cyprian – Start Date: 26 Sep 2026

Scope and Research Question: Tradition (hypothesis), espoused by Cyprian himself, is that he was a son of John Clay (1775-1829) the Statesman’s brother and John’s wife, Julia Duralde. This seems unlikely, as the Duraldes and the Clays were well-known, socially prominent families and if Cyprian were Julia’s son, there should be copious documentation of the relationship, but there is none found as yet. Cyprian might have been a son of John and a woman of color. His mother may have been Adelaide Raguet or another woman. Evidence domains include primarily documents and DNA.

Output: Expected output from notes, lineage analysis and DNA is at lease one published Archive Item with the workgroup’s finding,  opinions and conclusions.

Duration and Review: Ongoing – will submit findings periodically in the POC newsletter, or at a Bienneal Business Meeting. This Workgroups may be revised, merged, or concluded as research questions evolve.

Initial Action Plan

The Prominent Family Check: Freshly check records of John Clay and Julia Duralde through probate records, wills, and family bibles. If Cyprian is truly absent from these documents, the oral tradition can be safely classified as an unverified tip or folklore.

The Alternative Hypothesis: Search for property transfers, manumission papers, cohabitation records, or church registries involving John Clay and Adelaide Raguet or other free/enslaved women of color in the specific counties where John lived.

Cyprian’s Own Timeline: Work backward from Cyprian’s 1903 death record, obituaries, and earliest available census appearances to see if any associates, neighbors, or witnesses share a connection Clays or Raguets.

Y-DNA Testing (Paternal Line): If direct, an all-male-line descendant of Cyprian Clay is found or suspected, seek CFS to pay for a Y-DNA test to compare against known male-line descendants of John Clay or his brother Henry. A match confirms a shared biological paternal lineage, proving Cyprian belonged to this specific Clay family line.

Autosomal DNA Testing (Maternal & Collateral Lines): If Cyprian’s closest living descendants are found, (grandchildren or great-grandchildren) to check for shared matches. A total lack of matches tracing back to the Duralde family helps rule out Julia Duralde, while a distinct cluster of matches connecting to the Raguet family would heavily support Adelaide Raguet as his biological mother.