Family History - Abraham Gazlay
| 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. |
Although Abraham is believed to be a son of Jonathan Gazley, only indirect evidence has been found to support this relationship: the notice of Curator’s Sale for disposal of his property after his death names Thomas J. Gazley and Geo[rge] Gazley, who are believed to be Abraham’s brothers. Thomas is known to be a son of Jonathan.4
He is believed to be the Abraham Gazlay who married Mary McCully in New Jersey in 1828.3
It is supposed that Abraham and Mary had a son Joseph, who was left motherless at age two. Abraham may have raised Joseph until 1837 when Abraham apparently left for Texas, according to the following public notice:5
“If Joseph Gazlay, who lived in New York City about the year 1837, or any descendant of Abraham Gazlay, who left New York City for Texas some time about the year 1837, will call on or address, by letter, J. Anderson, No. 9 Nassau street, New York, they will hear of property in which they are interested.”
Abraham was a printer. He owned a town lot in Houston and a certificate for his head right of land, 1,280 acres, at the time of his death.1, 4
The 1840 tax rolls for Houston list Abraham (subsequent to his death), indicating George as the administrator of Abraham’s estate.6
Child of Abraham Gazlay and Mary McCully:
| 2 | i. | Joseph M. Gazlay, born 23 June 1829 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey;7, 8, 9 died 6 October 1854 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey.7, 8 Joseph is buried in Mercer Cemetery, Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey.7 |
- Obituary, Houston Morning Star, Houston, Texas, Abraham Gazley, 2 October 1839, died 1 October 1839 in Houston. The article indicates he was 45, a printer, and was formerly from New York. Another article on 3 October 1839 gives notice that members of the Texas Topographical Association should wear the usual badge of mourning for 30 days for their deceased associate A. Gazley.
- Find a Grave (website). First Baptist Church Cemetery, Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, Mary McCully Gazlay, died 10 March 1831, age 34 years, wife of Abraham Gazlay (from record; headstone is apparently in the east wall of the Sunday School).
- New Jersey Marriages, 1868-1985, Abraham Gazlay and Mary McCully, 24 February 1828.
- The Morning Star, Houston, Texas, 8 July 1840, Ctrator’s [sic, Curator’s] Sale, directed by the Probate Court, for all property of the Abraham Gazley, deceased, consisting of one town lot in the City of Houston, and a certificate for 1280 acres of land, his head right, held by Thomas J. Gazley. The Curator is listed as Geo. Gazley. Although not stated here, it is believed that Abraham, Thomas, and George are brothers.
- New York Herald, New York City, New York, 19 July 1856, available at fultonhistory.com; personal notice seeking Joseph Gazlay or descendants of Abraham Gazlay regarding property left at 9 Nassau St., New York.
- Stireps, Texas State Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 4, Number 1, March 1964: Texas Tax Rolls of 1840, by Gifford White. Listed are: Gazley, George; Gazley, Abraham--Geo. G. Admr [Administrator]; Gazley, Mary; Gazley, Thos. J., D.W. C. Harris, Agt.
- Find a Grave (website). Mercer Cemetery, Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, Joseph M. Gazlay, born: 23 June 1829; died: 6 October 1851 [from record; the death year differs from New Jersey death records that say 1854].
- New Jersey, Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971, Gazlay, Joseph M., born about 1828, Trenton, New Jersey; died October 1854, Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey; age 26; occupation: telegraph operator; single; father: Abraham; mother: Mary.
- U.S. Federal Census, 1850, New Jersey, Mercer County, Trenton, Page 181, Joseph Gazley (21, New Jersey), apparently a border in a household headed by landlords Joshua and Mary English that includes several other people.