James Thompson Claybourn was born May 19, 1822, probably at Knoxville, Tennessee. But when James was still a young child of about three years old, his family moved to DeKalb County (c. 1825) and lived two or three miles from the log cabin village of Liberty, Tennesee. At the age of twenty-one, on December 21, 1843, James married Belinda Scott (born August 17, 1827). Roughly twenty years later James' parents left Liberty for Kentucky, but James stayed and settled in on the farm his parents had owned.

The American Civil War affected virtually family in the country, and James' was no different. As a southerner James would be expected to join the Confederate cause, just as the family of his brother John B. Claiborne of Arkansas had done. On the other hand, his other brother William Divine Claybourn of Illinois ardently supported the Union and fought to keep it intact, as did William's children.

James faced a tough choice, and in spite of his southern location, he appears to have sided with the Union. In 1936 researcher Harriette Threlked visited Nancy Johnson, the youngest child of James. Nancy showed Harriette a certificate signed by J. A. Jusan, M.D., certifying that he had examined James T. Claybourn and found him unable to perform militia duty because of "hemroids" (sic), signed December 16, 1861. William Divine once told Harriette that James was "loyal to the Union" and some of William Divine's campaigning took him fairly close to the Liberty neighborhood [1]. One could speculate then that James might have concocted medical problems to avoid fighting for the Confederacy. Either way, James did not fight in the conflict.

During Harriette's visit to the family farm in Liberty in 1936 it was owned by "Peps" Johnson, the brother-in-law of Nancy Johnson. Nancy was James' youngest child and the only one of his children living at the time. Harriette reports: "She was a neat, tiny little lady 69 years of age. We spent the afternoon visiting with her and her son's family on his farm about two miles southwest of Ephraim's farm. We went through Dismal from Liberty to reach this place" [2]. She goes on:

We examined James T. Claybourn's family Bible and copied the birth dates of his family from it. We saw his large framed photograph, and he bore a striking resemblance to the photo of his brother William Divine Claybourn. "Aunt Nan," as she was called, answered instantly that her grandfather was Ephraim Claybourn, but when asked her great grandfather's name, she couldn't recall it. When asked if it were Joshua, she brightened up, as if remembering, and said, "Yes, that's it." She had learned of a William Hawker, near Liberty, when asked if any Hawkers lived there then.

I also examined two old letters in her possession. She later lent them to me to copy. One was written by James and Martha (Claybourn) Lones from Allen County, Kentucky, to James T. Claybourn and wife "Malinda" and began, "Dear Brother and Sister." "Mother" was referred to, and they wrote, "We haven't had no letter from Billy or Taylor since Mother got home." The date was not clear but looked like 1870, so we wonder whether it refers to Polly's visit to Illinois after the Civil War and the "Billy" is William Divine, as that is what he was called. The Taylor is no doubt Taylor Bennett, a brother-in-law. However, the letter continues, "Father is no better. Mother has a very bad spell of fever though I think she is on the mend." The father and mother referred to could be the Lones side, for if the date is 1870, Ephraim had long been gone. [3].

The other letter was really an undated fragment and so worn along the edges that many words could not be made out, but it was written by Polly Claybourn to her son James. She was visiting somewhere and wanted to know when James could come for her.

She wrote, "I want to go home and I want to (know) when you think (you can) come. I could come on the train but I don't want to . . . without (someone) to take care of me." It is signed, "I remain your affectionate Mother until death. Rite soon. Polly Claybourn." [5].

Harriette writes: "The Johnsons lived in a five room house, very clean, with flooring of white ash wood. They were very cordial, and although there were several children and Aunt Nan there, they invited the six of us to stay all night, with true hospitality. That we could not do as we drove clear to Scottsville, Kentucky, before stopping for the night, and the next day visited Ephraim's farm and burial place. Aunt Nan kissed us all and cried when we left."

Pedigree Chart

				Joshua Claybourn (Cliborn) 1758 - 1799
		Ephraim Claybourn 1788 - 1850
				Sarah
James Thompson Claybourn 1822 - 1900
		Mary "Polly" Browning 1792 - 1874
				Sally Browning

Descendants

In the following records, the birth dates were taken from the family Bible, but the married names were written down by Harriette phonetically as "Aunt Nan" gave them to her. James and Belinda's children follow:

1. Mary E. Claybourn: Born October 12, 1844. Married Littleton Vanatta, who was born in 1836.
1. Samuel
2. john
3. Thomas
4. James Vanatta - resided in Alexandria, Tennessee
5. Mary (Bain) - resided in Smithville, Tennessee
6. Mattie Vanatta
2. Martha M. Claybourn: Born April 18, 1846. Died August 1, 1865
3. Sarah Claybourn: Born September 7, 1847. Married a Neal
1. Abraham Lincoln Neal: Born December 20, 1862. Died November 7, 1882
2. Frances (Driver)
3. Harriett (Hale) - resided in Smithville, Tennessee
4. James Neal - resided in Liberty, Tennessee
5. Ephriam Neal - resided in Alexandria, Tennessee
6. Three other children who died when small
4. John Branchford Claybourn: Born November 3, 1849. Lived Alexandria, Tenn. John G. Claybourn (of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Panama) and his wife Elsie visited the farm on which Ephraim lived about 1925. In Alexandria, Tenn., they met John B. Claybourn, the oldest son of James T. Claybourn, then 76 years of age. He said that Ephraim's father was named Joshua, which further reinforces what deeds have also proven.
   Married (1st) Mary Sandlin.
1. James Monroe
2. Sally (Talley)
3. Three infants deceased
Married (2nd) Roxanna Baliff (or Baififf)
1. Ida (Roberts) - resided in Alexandria, Tennessee
2. Maggie (Granstaff) - resided in Alexandria, Tennessee
3. Ella (Eaton) - resided in Alexandria, Tennessee
4. John Claybourn - resided in Watertown, Tennessee
5. Ephraim Claybourn: Born January 29, 1852. Married Sarah Jane Neal of Brush Creek, Tennessee
1. Malinda
2. Sally
3. William
4. Arthur - resided in Brush Creek, Tenn. He spelled his name Cleiborn. Verner M. Claybourn had some correspondence with him.
5. Beatrice - married - was allegedly in Illinois
6. Phoebe Ann Claybourn: Born January 24, 1854. Married Sylvester Crook
7. Lutecia A. Claybourn: Born August 31, 1855
   Married (1st) John Crook
   Married (2nd) William Crook, John's brother
   1. George Crook - resided in Nashville, Tennessee
8. William Horace Claybourn: Born March 31, 1857. Married Matilda Driver
1. Charles Claybourn - resided in Liberty, Tennessee
2. Clay Claybourn - resided in Liberty, Tennessee
3. Elijah Claybourn - resided in Liberty, Tennessee
4. Bonnie Claybourn - resided in Liberty, Tennessee
5. Evie (Braswll) - resided in Smithville, Tennessee
6. Maudie (Cubbins) - resided in Smithville, Tennessee
9. James F. Claybourn: Born September 20, 1859. Died July 12, 1861
10. Thomas B. Claybourn: Born October 17, 1860. Married Manda Vanatta
1. James Claybourn - resided in McMinnville, Tennessee
2. Melissa (Parker)
3. Sterling Claybourn - Texas
4. Others unknown
11. Belinda (called Malinda): Born September 20, 1862. Married a McCaffrey
1. John McCaffrey
2. Jordan McCaffrey
3. Sarah McCaffrey
4. Lucinda McCaffrey
5. WillieMcCaffrey
12. Manson Claybourn: Born August 31, 1864. Died July 27, 1865
13. Nancy Jane Claybourn: Born July 31, 1867, the only one of James Thompson Claybourn's children who was still living in 1936. Married Manis Johnson.
1. Linzy Thompson Johnson - born in 1890
   1. Cordean (Starnes) - born in 1912 and resided in Liberty, Tenn.
   2. Gertie Irene (Scott) - born in 1914 and resided in Liberty, Tenn.
   3. Eunice Elmer (Caplinger) - born in 1916 and resided in Liberty, Tenn.
   4. Charlie Franklin Johnson - born in 1919 and resided in Liberty, Tenn.
   5. Leon Johnson - born in 1921 and resided in Liberty, Tenn.
2. Clifford Johnson - born in 1899
   • Virgie Mai - born in 1920
3. William Overton Johnson - born in 1906 and once resided at 1310 Jones St., Old Hickory, Tenn.
   1. Fred Everett Johnson was born in 1917 and lived in Ashland, Kyentucky for much of his life. He was a melter in open hearth at Armco Steel. Fred died at the age of 90 on November 19, 2007. He is buried at Rude Cemetery.
   2. Ned Johnson
4. Nealie Belle (Driver) - born in 1909 and once resided at 804 Bryant St., Old Hickory, Tenn.

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References and Notes

[1] Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959).
[2] Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959).
[3] Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959).
[4] Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959).
[5] Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959).