Clayton Martinez

Ancestors

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Clayton Martinez [send private message]

Clayton Martinez is a descendant of an Acadian

Clayton Martinez has German Roots.

Clayton Martinez has Scottish Ancestors.

Clayton Martinez has Spanish ancestors.

Clayton Martinez is of Swiss descent

Clayton Martinez has English ancestors.

Clayton Martinez has Irish ancestors.

Clayton Martinez has French origins.

Biography

Born 7 January 2001 at Atrium Health Cabarrus (then known as Carolinas Medical Center—or CMC—NorthEast) in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to David S. Martinez & Anita M. Bolick, I was named Clayton Anthony Martinez. I was named after both of my grandfathers: Clayton, my first name, was from my maternal grandfather, Clayton Ray Bolick; & Anthony, my middle name, was from my paternal grandfather, Davis Anthony Martinez.

I lived & was raised in Rowan County in the small community of Bear Poplar along with my older sister, Taylor Anderson. My neighbors were my maternal grandparents, Ray & Martha Bolick, & my maternal uncle, Randy Bolick.

Other than Taylor, I have one other sibling: a brother whom I've met since was put up for adoption soon after his birth, Tyler Biggerstaff.

I was educated in the Rowan County School System; attending Mount Ulla Elementary School from 2006 to 2012, West Rowan Middle School from 2012 to 2015, & West Rowan High School starting in 2015. I struggled in school a lot. I would have graduated in spring 2019. However, I ended up quitting school when I was in the 10th grade for mental health reasons.

During middle school, I was diagnosed with a few mental issues. Asperger's syndrome, OCD, & severe anxiety disorder. I feel I've overcome them a little bit since then. And, in May 2016, I was hospitalized for a week after developing a limp the week before after waking up one morning & finding my legs numb & not being able to walk or stand up. While I was in the hospital & after various tests were done, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. My life hasn't been too easy since then. I'm pretty convinced I've had 1 or 2 relapses since then. And I've suffered & still suffer from several symptoms from the disease. But with help from my friends, family, & my doctors, I'm getting through it. And I'm not letting MS take control.

Some of my interests are RMS Titanic & the other Olympic-class liners, history, United States Presidents, the British royal family & the British monarchy, Biltmore House, lighthouses, & learning of & about the populated places in North Carolina.

I also have quite a few hobbies. Genealogy, dancing, reading, listening to music (mostly Adam Lambert), playing video games (mostly just Grand Theft Auto games, Red Dead games, & Minecraft), collecting certain things (like the Hess toy trucks, coins, old documents & other old items, bottles & cans, & anything with wolves or Titanic.

I am also a member of the furry fandom & have been since about November 2017. It is one of my biggest hobbies. I have one costume—which is called a fursuit—of a dog named Iceland.

I was raised & am a Christian & am a lifelong member of Ebenezer Church (formerly Ebenezer United Methodist Church) in Mount Ulla, Rowan County, NC. Started attending regularly again on Christmas Eve 2017. In the summer of 2019, I was in charge of creating a record for Ebenezer's cemetery. With help from friend & fellow genealogist, Mr. Charles "Jeff" Thompson, I made a detailed cemetery record that I am proud of. I followed it up a year or so later with a sort of "guide" which details every person buried in the cemetery. Since I finished the 2019 record, I have been appointed the record keeper for Ebenezer Church Cemetery. And in about 2021, I accepted the job of custodian for the church. These are 2 roles in the church that I'm proud & grateful to have.

Now for what got me into genealogy in the first place. It was in late 2015—I was 14 years old at the time. My mom had some genealogy books that she inherited from my great uncle, Gene Blackwelder, upon his death in 2000. The books were "Our Family Tree: A History of Our Family," "Our Family Tree: A Keepsake Book," & "The Family Heritage Book" for the Blackwelder family. I got to looking at them one day & saw that my mom never took the time to fill them out. So I decided to fill them out myself. I got what information I could from my parents, grandmother, & other relatives & went to the internet to find what else I didn't have. And the rest is history.

In "The Family Heritage Book," near the back, there is a certificate that has my granduncle's name on it. Certifying that he was the owner. On the pages immediately before it, there are various charts & some family signature sheets that can be filled out. Forward lineage charts, individual heritage charts, & personal history sheets. In honor & memory of Gene, I filled out the first of each different one with him as the focal person.

I am currently in a relationship with a wonderful man, Paxton. He was born in November 2002 in Statesville, Iredell County, NC; which is where he still lives. We've been together since June 2022. He makes me extremely happy & I can't imagine my life without him.

My talents are saxophonist, percussionist, recorder player, dancer, decorator. And a cool fact about me is that I'm left handed. My family, friends, pets, & church mean everything to me. You can also find me on Find a Grave!

Find a Grave profile: Clayton A. Martinez

Family

My parents are David S. Martinez and Anita M. Bolick. I have one sister, Taylor (Anderson) Holder. And a brother whom I've never met, Tyler Biggerstaff. My paternal grandparents are Davis A. Martinez & Teresa J. Whitley. My maternal grandparents are C. Ray Bolick & Martha E. Blackwelder. My paternal great grandparents are Sidney J. Martinez & Helen M. Blouin; Liston O. Whitley & Shelvie J. Shepherd. My maternal great grandparents are Harrison M. Bolick & Florida Anderson; Lewis F. Blackwelder & Elma K. Miller.

Ancestry

I have Spanish ancestry (Martinez), German ancestry (Bolick, Blackwelder), English ancestry (Whitley), Scottish ancestry (Anderson), Irish ancestry (McCall), Swiss ancestry (Pfeiffer), French ancestry (Blouin, Chauvin), Danish ancestry (Swinderly/Swinderby), & most likely some more. Those are all I've come across so far in my research.

Notable Relatives

• Charles the Great — 35th great grandfather

• William the Conqueror — 27th great grandfather

• Queen Elizabeth I — 3rd cousin, 16x removed

• Queen Victoria — 13th cousin, 7x removed

• Queen Elizabeth II — 12th cousin, 3x removed

• Diana, Princess of Wales — 12th cousin, once removed

• Pres. George Washington — 3rd cousin, 10x removed

• Pres. John Adams — 1st cousin, 11x removed

• Pres. Abraham Lincoln — 5th cousin, 7x removed

• Pres. Theodore Roosevelt — 13th cousin, 6x removed

• Pres. William H. Taft — 6th cousin, 7x removed

• Warren G. Harding — 8th cousin, 5x removed

• Pres. George H. W. Bush — 8th cousin, 3x removed

• Dale Earnhardt — 6th cousin, 2x removed and 6th cousin, 4x removed

• Robert E. Lee — 7th cousin, 6x removed

• Elvis Presley — 8th cousin, 2x removed

• Mark Twain — 5th cousin, 6x removed

• Betty White — 15th cousin, 2x removed

• Rue McClanahan — 9th cousins, 2x removed

• Orville & Wilbur Wright — 8th cousins, 4x removed

• Rev. Billy Graham — 3rd cousin, 3x removed

• Philip Babb, II of Appledore Island, Maine: 10th great grandfather

Brick Walls

Just some brick walls I've ran face-first into in my research. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Eddie Albarado - My great grandfather's half brother. I have not been able to find a 1930, 1940, or 1950 Census for him. I only know of one marriage which took place in 1943. I don't know if he was married any other times or if he had any children.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Clayton Martinez.

Acknowledgments

Many, many heartfelt thanks to the late Find A Grave contributor Remembrances (Charles Thompson (1935-2023)) for all the genealogical help he had given me over the years. I wouldn't have gotten as far as I am now in my research if it wasn't for him. Sadly, Mr. Thompson passed away on 16 April 2023 at the age of 88 years. May God bless him & keep him. And may he rest in heavenly peace.