The Mystery of Giles County

This information is presented by Johnathan J. Clayborn.

Background

I first became involved with the Claiborne-Clyborn DNA Project in the early 2000s. I was a very active genealogy researcher on the internet at the time and Dr. Alex Waldrop III, who was the original project administrator, reached out to me and asked if I would participate. I agreed, I sent in my DNA sample, and I waited. The results were surprising. Although my Haplogroup was R1b, the same as the Westmorland group, the DNA showed that I was a direct descendant - not a match. Somewhere along the line my biological ancestor was not a Clayborn.

After the initial shock set in, we went back to the records. Where could it be? How long ago was the break? After much digging and careful examination, we ended up in Giles Co, VA. There is zero doubt that I am the son of Kevin, and that Kevin is the son of Marris, and that Marris is the son of Bascom (Grandpa Bas we called him). There is also no doubt whatsoever that Bas was the son of John Harvey Clayborn (1880-1962) and that John Harvey was the son of "Grandpa Willy", who on paper turns out to be James William Clayborn (1854-1930). There are photos of everyone in that sequence and the family resemblance is undeniable.

So that brings us back one generation - to Elemuel B. Cliburn. Elemuel, who also shows up as Lemuel in half the records, fought in the Civil War. His tombstone lists him as Elemuel Clyburn. He death certificate lists Lemuel B. Clyburn. His civil war muster rolls list him as Lemuel Clyburn. The 1900, 1880, 1870, and 1860 census all list him as either Lemuel B. Cliburn or L. B. Cliburn. By this point there was little reason to doubt the connection.

Until the 1850 Census. Here we have dwelling #498, District 20, Giles County, VA. In the house is one W. Clyburn, whom we know to be William, aged 57. Also listed in the home is one Christina Croy, aged 50, and one "Samuel B." (who is really Lemuel) aged 16, and Sarah E. J., aged 9. Since we knew that Lemuel B. Clyburn lived and died in Giles, it was no surprise to find him in the house of William Clyburn. I had always thought it strange that they listed the mom's birth name on the census. After the DNA results, however, I realized that the children would have had the same surname as the preceding adult. So it was really Lemuel B. Croy, and Sarah E. J. Croy. Mystery solved, the biological ancestor must be a Croy.

Naturally, the next thing I did was compare my DNA to Croy. It did not match that either. Peculiar. Back to the records.

In the 1840 Census I find Christina Croy again. She is listed as the head of household in a residence where she is the sole adult, living with 6 children.
1 male under 5
2 males between 5-10
1 male between 10-15
1 female between 5-10
1 female between 15-20
1 female between 40-50

From this list we know that the one adult woman is Christina, who should be about 40, and Lemuel should be one of the two males between 5-10. But who in the world are all the rest of children?