Gazlay Family History
William H. Gazley
DIRECT DESCENDANT OF JOHN GAZLAY (from England c.1715)
William H. Gazley5 (Thomas Gazley,4 Jonathan Gazlay,3 John Gazlay,2 John Gazlay1)
William H. Gazley5 (Thomas Gazley,4 Jonathan Gazlay,3 John Gazlay,2 John Gazlay1)
Parents
| Father | Dr. Thomas Jefferson Gazley (13 August 1798 - 31 October 1853) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Boyce (ca. 1799 - ca. July 1886) |
Personal Information
| Record Created: 30 May 2011; Last Edited: 3 February 2022 |
| Person ID | 2379 |
| Name | William H. Gazley |
| Gender | Male |
| Born | ca. 1831 in Texas1, 2, 3 |
| Married | 5 August 1852 in Colorado County, Texas to Margaretta Ann Shepherd4 |
| Died | 1876 in Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas5, 6, 7 |
Biography
William served as a captain in the civil war, 33rd Regiment, Texas Cavalry, known as Duff’s Partisan Rangers.8
William and his son Tom were murdered in the Spring of 1876 (sometime before 25 March). The circumstances are not known, but their killer was identified as Aaron Burleson. Aaron was himself killed the following September.5, 6, 7
Person/Family
| Spouse 1 |  Margaretta Ann Shepherd |
| Born | ca. 1835 in Pennsylvania |
| Married | 5 August 1852 in Colorado County, Texas to William H. Gazley |
| Children | of William H. Gazley and Margaretta Ann Shepherd: |
| 1. | Thomas Jefferson Gazley |
| Born | ca. 1856 in Texas |
| Died | 1876 in Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas |
| +2. | Kate Gazley |
| Born | 6 May 1858 in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas |
| Married | 27 February 1877 in Lee County, Texas to Pierce Nagle |
| Died | 29 December 1943 in Dallas, Texas |
| 3. | Margaretta Lee Gazley |
| Born | 1 May 1864 in Texas |
| Died | 20 December 1945 in Dallas, Texas |
| 4. | Anna Gazley |
| Born | ca. 1869 in Texas |
| 5. | Henry Littleton Gazley |
| Born | 3 May 1873 in Texas |
| Married | 4 April 1902 in Austin, Travis County, Texas to Mabel Roosevelt |
| Married | ca. 1907 to Ida _____ |
| Married | 12 August 1912 in Bexar County, Texas to Ruth L. ‘Ruie’ Oshea (née Kennedy) |
| Died | 26 January 1944 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas |
Sources
- U.S. Federal Census, 1850, Texas, Bastrop County, family of Thomas J. Gazely (50, NY, farmer); Eliza Gazely (50, Del.); Thomas J. Gazely (24, Ill., farm hand); William Gazely (19, Texas, farm hand); Edwin Gazely (14, Texas); Augustus F. Gazely (8, Texas).
- U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Texas, Colorado County, Page 50, family of W. H. Gazley (28, Texas, atty at law); M. A. Gazley (24, Pa.); T. J. Gazley (4, Texas); Kate Gazley (2, Texas); Susan A. Shephard (50, SC); Webb Shephard (17, Texas); Robert Shephard (14, Texas).
- U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Texas, Fayette County, Corporation La Grange, Page No. 18, family of Wm. H. Gazley (38, Texas, lawyer); Margaretta Ann Gazley (34, VA); Thos. J. Gazley (14, Texas); Kate Gazley (12, Texas); Margaretta Lee Gazley (5, Texas); Anna Gazley (1, Texas).
- Texas Marriages, 1837-1973; marriage of William H. Gazly [sic] and Margaret Ann Shepherd, 5 Aug 1852, Colorado County, Texas.
- The Galveston Daily News, 2 September 1876. Report of shooting of Aaron Burleson, who ‘killed Capt. Gazley and son last spring.’
- Austin Genealogical Society, Austin History Center Newspaper Index, July 26, 1871-Dec 21, 1877; Two articles: Letter says Aaron Burleson killed Tom Gazley-Bastrop 3/23/1876; Bastrop Co aroused over Burlesons murder of Gazley 3/25/1876.
- 1927 Smithville Times: History of Their Home City; Compiled jointly by Mrs. Arnold E. Adamcik and Mrs. E. Clay Williams. Available at Texas Gen Web. “The first tragedy was the shooting and killing of William Gazley and his son, Thomas by Aaron Burleson, then about two weeks later Burleson was killed by a man hired to murder him.” [Other articles indicate that the Gazleys were killed around March 1876, and Aaron was killed in September 1876.]
- U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865; Gazley, William; Captain, 33rd Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Duff’s Partisan Rangers).