Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Nicholas Phy


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Nicholas Phy and four of his descendants down to the third generation.


First Generation
1. Nicholas Phy,1 born ____ (parents not determined). Nicholas married Betsey Plank (born 11 April 1802 in New York, parents not determined; some records give Pennsylvania as her place of birth;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Betsey died 11 September 1887 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan1, 2). Betsey is buried in Wildwood Cemetery, Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan.1

Child of Nicholas Phy and Betsey Plank:

+2i. Nelson Phy, born 18 May 1830 in New York; died 3 June 1905 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan. Married Caroline M. Newton.

  1. Find a Grave (website). Wildwood Cemetery, Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan; Monument with four inscriptions one on each side: Betsey / Gazlay / Apr. 11, 1802 / Sep. 11, 1887; Nelson Phy / May 18, 1830 / June 3, 1905; Caroline M. / Phy / May 4, 1834 / May 11, 1892; John Phy / Nov. 11, 1856 / Feb. 3, 1887.
  2. Michigan, Saginaw County, Return of Deaths for 1887; Betsey Gazlay, died 11 September 1887 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan; widow. Birthplace: Pennsylvania. Parents’ names: Plank, and Plank.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, Michigan, Genesee County, Gaines Township, page 249, family of William Gazley (69, N.York, farmer); Betsey Gazley (47, N.York); Mariah Gazley (15, N.York); Ira Gazley (13, Mich).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Michigan, Genesee County, Town of Gaines, Page No. 358, family of Ira Gazley (23, Mich, farmer); Betsey Gazley (54, NY).
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Michigan, Genesee County, Gaines, Page No. 3, family of Orrin Sprague (72, New York, farmer); Leonard Sprague (31, Mich., farmer); Maria Sprague (34, New York); Betsy Gazley (63, New York); Wallace Keeler (16, Mich., farm laborer); Arthur Steggol (21, England, blacksmith).
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Michigan, Saginaw County, Brady, Enumeration District 293, Page No. 23, family of Nelson Phy (50, NY, farmer); wife Caroline Phy (46, Mass.); son John N. Phy (23, Mich., farmer); son William S. Phy (19, Mich.); mother Betsey Gasley (77, NY, widow); servant Mariah DeForest (18, Mich., servant).
Second Generation
2. Nelson Phy2 (Nicholas1), born 18 May 1830 in New York;1, 2, 3, 4 died 3 June 1905 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan.1, 5 Nelson married, 25 December 1852 in Oakland County, Michigan, Caroline M. Newton6 (born 4 May 1834 in Massachusetts, parents not determined;1, 2, 3, 4 Caroline died 11 May 18921). Nelson and Caroline are buried in Wildwood Cemetery, Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan.1

Children of Nelson Phy and Caroline M. Newton:

+3i. John Nelson Phy, born 11 November 1856 in Michigan; died 3 February 1887 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan. Married Martha M. DeForest.
+4ii. William S. Phy, born November 1859 in Michigan. Married Abigail Reage (née DeForest) .
 5iii. Edwin W. Phy, born 3 September 1869 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan;7 died 10 October 1869 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan.8

  1. Find a Grave (website). Wildwood Cemetery, Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan; Monument with four inscriptions one on each side: Betsey / Gazlay / Apr. 11, 1802 / Sep. 11, 1887; Nelson Phy / May 18, 1830 / June 3, 1905; Caroline M. / Phy / May 4, 1834 / May 11, 1892; John Phy / Nov. 11, 1856 / Feb. 3, 1887.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Michigan, Saginaw County, Township of Brady, Page No. 37, family of Nelson Phy (30, New York, farmer); Clarion [sic] Phy (26, Massachusetts); Nelson Phy, Jr. (3, Michigan); William Phy (7/12, Michigan).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Michigan, Saginaw County, Brady, Page No. 7, family of Nelson Phy (40, New York, farmer); Caroline Phy (36, Massachusetts); John N. Phy (13, Michigan); Wm. S. Phy (10, Michigan).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Michigan, Saginaw County, Brady, Enumeration District 293, Page No. 23, family of Nelson Phy (50, NY, farmer); wife Caroline Phy (46, Mass.); son John N. Phy (23, Mich., farmer); son William S. Phy (19, Mich.); mother Betsey Gasley (77, NY, widow); servant Mariah DeForest (18, Mich., servant).
  5. Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995, available at familysearch.org. Nelson Phy, died 3 June 1905 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan, age 75 farmer, born in New York. The record also gives the names of his parents, Nicholas Phy and Betsey Plank.
  6. Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995; Nelson Phy, age 23, and Caroline Newton, age 18, married on 25 December 1852 in Oakland, Michigan.
  7. Michigan Births and Christenings, 1775-1995; Edwin W. Phy, born 3 September 1869 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan, son of Nelson Phy and Caroline Phy.
  8. Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897; Ervin [sic] W. Phy, died 10 October 1869 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan, age 1 month 7 days. Father: Nelson Phy. Mother: Car. Phy.
Third Generation
3. John Nelson Phy3 (Nelson,2 Nicholas1), born 11 November 1856 in Michigan;1, 2, 3, 4 died 3 February 1887 in Brady, Saginaw County, Michigan.1, 5 John married, 11 November 1880 in Saginaw County, Michigan, Martha M. DeForest6 (born ca. 1863, parents not determined6). John is buried in Wildwood Cemetery, Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan.1

4. William S. Phy3 (Nelson,2 Nicholas1), born November 1859 in Michigan.2, 3, 4 William married, 17 November 1888 in Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan, Abigail Reage (née DeForest) 7 (born ca. 1865 in Sanilac County, Michigan, the daughter of Harrison DeForest and Martha _____7, 8).

  1. Find a Grave (website). Wildwood Cemetery, Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan; Monument with four inscriptions one on each side: Betsey / Gazlay / Apr. 11, 1802 / Sep. 11, 1887; Nelson Phy / May 18, 1830 / June 3, 1905; Caroline M. / Phy / May 4, 1834 / May 11, 1892; John Phy / Nov. 11, 1856 / Feb. 3, 1887.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Michigan, Saginaw County, Township of Brady, Page No. 37, family of Nelson Phy (30, New York, farmer); Clarion [sic] Phy (26, Massachusetts); Nelson Phy, Jr. (3, Michigan); William Phy (7/12, Michigan).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Michigan, Saginaw County, Brady, Page No. 7, family of Nelson Phy (40, New York, farmer); Caroline Phy (36, Massachusetts); John N. Phy (13, Michigan); Wm. S. Phy (10, Michigan).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Michigan, Saginaw County, Brady, Enumeration District 293, Page No. 23, family of Nelson Phy (50, NY, farmer); wife Caroline Phy (46, Mass.); son John N. Phy (23, Mich., farmer); son William S. Phy (19, Mich.); mother Betsey Gasley (77, NY, widow); servant Mariah DeForest (18, Mich., servant).
  5. Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897; John N. Phy, died 3 February 1887 in Brady, Saginaw, Michigan, age 30 years 3 months 2 days, farmer. Father: Nelson Phy. Mother: Caroline M. Phy.
  6. Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995; John Nelson Phy, age 24, and Martha M. Defonet [sic, actually Deforest], age 17, married on 11 November 1880 in Saginaw, Michigan.
  7. Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, William S. Phy, age 29, and Abbie Deforrest Reige, age 23, married on 17 November 1888 in Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan. Groom’s father: Nelson Phy; Groom’s mother: Caroline Newton; Bride’s father: Harrison Deforrest.
  8. Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995; August Reage, age 25, born in Germany, and Abigail De Forest, age 20, born in Sanilac County, Michigan, married 14 August 1886 in Saginaw County, Michigan.