People who take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.
— Thomas Macaulay
The Claybourn Genealogical Society (CGS) serves as the leading authority on Clyburn, Claybourn, Claiborne, Clayborn, and Claybourne family history. Although our name highlights Claybourn, our expertise covers multiple family lines—from 18th-century North Carolina to 21st-century biographies. Founded in 2009, CGS operates the award-winning Claybourn.org, an extensive online database with over 5,000 searchable names. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we welcome all who share an interest in this rich family heritage.
Mission and Activities
CGS actively builds connections among descendants and diligently safeguards manuscripts, books, cemeteries, and memorabilia. Our historical sources vary widely, encompassing family records, ancient Bibles, court documents, tombstones, personal letters, interviews, and media publications. To maintain the accuracy and relevance of our records, we welcome useful contributions.
While our site offers extensive biographies and detailed accounts of thousands, it captures only a fraction of the known Claybourn history. We invite questions about information not yet included. The well-being of CGS depends on updates and corrections from engaged volunteers.
History of CGS
CGS traces its origins to 1906, when Verner Marvin Claybourn started gathering information on the Claybourn family, including their presumed English ancestors. Around 1935, Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld joined in, researching hundreds of descendants of her great-grandfather, William Divine Claybourn. Building on this foundational work, Joshua Andrew Claybourn launched this unique website to update and enhance biographies of those linked to the Claybourn lineage.
Using this Site
The site is organized in a hierarchical structure. Click here to learn more about using this site and ways to research your genealogy. If you have further questions or comments, don’t hesitate to contact us. Please take time to read the CGS Terms of Use.
Awards and Recognition
- “The Federation of Genealogical Societies is proud to award The Claybourn Genealogical Society an Award of Merit for meritorious contributions benefiting the genealogical community. The Claybourn Family History website is truly indeed deserving of this award.” ~ The Federation of Genealogical Societies
- “The Claybourn Genealogical Society website is a great example of how a family-oriented website can be fun, attractive and informative.” ~ GenealogyBlog
Credits
In their early work, Harriette and Verner extended gratitude to all who helped compile the data. They gave special thanks to John G. and Elsie Claybourn, Myrtle Jones, Norah Hunsinger, Eula Osborn, Iona Ranstad, Orla Hawk, and Stella Guess for their foundational research in Tennessee. We owe them an enduring debt, especially Harriette and Verner, for their relentless, lifelong quest to document the family’s history. Harriette, also an artist, contributed several drawings showcased on this site.
Privacy Policy
While a privacy policy for a genealogical website may seem contradictory, the Claybourn Genealogical Society is committed to handling any personal information responsibly. Our existence depends on visitors sharing information about themselves and their ancestors, but we pledge to manage this information with care. Please read the full CGS Terms of Use, which includes our privacy policy.