The case for Guy as father of Cliff
By Brad Blevins
5/2020, revised 11/2020
DNA testing confirms that Clifford Monroe Blevins (1928-1981) was NOT the son of Charles L. Blevins I.
The father of Clifford Monroe Blevins was Guy Holsclaw (1891-1972).
Cliff’s mother, Maude York Blevins, had an extra marital relationship with Guy while she was married to Charlie Blevins, resulting in the child, Clifford M. Blevins b. 1928.
Guy and Maude were never married and, although Cliff’s brother had suspicions which, in later years, he shared with his wife, Maude never revealed the truth regarding the parentage of Cliff, and Charles Blevins raised Cliff under the assumption that Cliff was his son.
1. A “Y” DNA test comparison between myself and Charles I’s other grandson, Charles III, through his other son, Charles Lanceford "Lance" Blevins II, shows that we do not share the same grandfather. That is to say, the DNA eliminates Charles Blevins I as father of Cliff.
2. My DNA test results have been compared and cross-referenced (triangulated, if you will) with the results and trees of other DNA matches, thanks to the help of a few DNA savvy "cousins" on FTDNA and GEDMATCH. This process strongly suggested that Guy Holsclaw was the father of Cliff.
3. Ancestry DNA “Y” Match, with Nathan Holsclaw, a descendant of Guy’s brother, Leslie Holsclaw. Ancestry places us as 2nd Cousins 1x removed, with John Holsclaw (1853-1931) and Matilda Norvell (1856-1916) as Common Ancestors. This fits with our Holsclaw trees.
4. Ancestry DNA Autosomal Matches, sharing a common ancestor Henry Lewis Holtzclaw (1817-1897)
* D.T. (managed by Cheryl Reider) shares 37cM across 3 segments, which is in accordance with his position in his/her (and my) family tree as a 4th-6th cousin. This fits with our Holsclaw trees.
** kKindred92 shares 44cM across 5 segments, which is in accordance with his position in his/her (and my) family tree as a 4th-6th cousin. This fits with our Holsclaw trees.
*** Fifteen Ancestry Autosomal DNA matches sharing common ancestor Henry Holtzclaw (1775-1857) This fits with our Holsclaw trees.
5. Several Documents show that Guy Holsclaw lived and worked as a tradesman in the area where Maude (my grandmother) lived during the right time period.
* 1912 - California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: Guy Holsclaw, Lumberman, Plumas county, California. This page is the Cromberg Precinct page of Index to Precinct Registers of Plumas County, California, for the General Election, Tuesday, November 5, 1912
** 1928 - California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: Contra Costa County 1928-1930 77, Index to the Great Register of Contra Costa County, Cal., General Election Tuesday, November 6, 1928. (Page 108 of 572.) Guy Holsclaw, Welder, 716 Ferry Street, Martinez, Contra Costa County, California, USA.
Note: There are two sections in this collection of registrations. The first starts at page 6 (of 572) and is for the election of November 6, 1928, and the second starts at page 286 (of 572) and is for the election of November 4, 1930. This is the entry for the 1928 election. (p108 of 527)
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61066/61066_i111472-00107/6902...
*** 1930 - California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: Contra Costa County 1928-1930 77, Index to the Great Register of Contra Costa County, Cal., General Election Tuesday, November 6, 1928. (Page 400 of 572.) Guy Holsclaw, Welder, 1602 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, Contra Costa County, California, USA.
Note: There are two sections in this collection of registrations. The first starts at page 6 (of 572) and is for the election of November 6, 1928, and the second starts at page 286 (of 572) and is for the election of November 4, 1930. This is the entry for the 1930 election. (p400 of 527)
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61066/61066_i111472-00399/6905...
**** 1930 United States Federal Census:
Name Guy Holsclaw
Birth Year 1892
Gender Male
Race White
Age in 1930 38
Birthplace Kentucky
Marital Status Single
Relation to Head of House Head
Home in 1930 Richmond, Contra Costa, California, USA
Map of Home Richmond, Contra Costa, California
Street Address Humphrey Ave
House Number 2508
Dwelling Number 118
Family Number 126
Home Owned or Rented Rented
Home Value 20
Radio Set No
Lives on Farm No
Attended School No
Able to Read and Write Yes
Father's Birthplace Kentucky
Mother's Birthplace Kentucky
Able to Speak English Yes
Occupation Welder
Industry Oil Refinery
Class of Worker Wage or salary worker
Employment Yes
Veteran Yes
War WW
California Contra Costa Richmond District 0041
6. There is strong evidence to indicate that Guy knew Maude’s family well. About ten years after his "affair" with Maude, Guy Holsclaw married the Maude’s cousin, Elvyra Hobbs. Estimated marriage date of 1936-1938 based upon:
* 1936 - California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968, Contra Costa County 1932-1936 78:
Guy Holsclaw, Welder, living at 815 Escobar St., Martinez, CA. Elvyra is not listed at the same address.
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61066/61066_i111484-00837/7012...
** 1938 - California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: 1928-1930 California Voter Registration, Index to the Great Register of Contra Costa County, Cal., General Election, November 8, 1938, Walnut Creek Precinct #2, (page 427 of 950) shows Guy Holsclaw, Welder, living at 1955 Dora Ave, Walnut Creek, California, USA. (Just above this entry for Guy, on this page, is also an entry for Guys wife, Elvyra M. Holsclaw at the same address.)
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61066/61066_i111476-00426/6925...
*** 1940 - California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: 1928-1930 California Voter Registration, Index to the Great Register of Contra Costa County, Cal., General Election, 1940, Walnut Creek Precinct #2, (page 934 of 950) shows Guy Holsclaw, Welder, living at 1955 Dora Ave, Walnut Creek, California, USA. (Just above this entry for Guy, on this page, is also an entry for Guys wife, Elvyra M. Holsclaw at the same address.)
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61066/61066_i111476-00933/6931...
**** U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995; Richmond, California, City Directory, 1928 (p269 of 353 begins Polk's Martinez City directory)shows Guy Holsclaw living at r810 Main, Martinez, California, USA.
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2469/3560880/257580865?backurl...
7. Also in support of the fact that Guy knew Maude’s family, one of Maude’s children, Claire Thompson Krebs stayed in touch with Guy and Elvyra for many years, as evidenced by Claire’s address book found in her belongings after she passed. Guy and Elvyra are listed on Claire’s Christmas Card lists from 1949-1973. I am in possession of these lists. Below is Claire’s entry for Guy and Elvyra in 1949.
