Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Jessie Freer


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 Jessie Freer and 20 of her descendants down to the fifth generation.


First Generation
1. Jessie Freer,1 born 13 May 1887 in Accord, Town of Rochester, Ulster County, New York, the daughter of Simon Freer and Celia C. Markle;1, 2, 3 died 1 April 1972 in Genesee County, Michigan.1, 4 Jessie married, 10 November 1909 in Accord, Town of Rochester, Ulster County, New York, Henry Johnston ‘Harry’ Gazlay13 (born 13 June 1888 in Cortland, Cortland County, New York, the son of Henry Willis Gazlay and Alice Carrie Johnston;3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Harry died 10 May 1967 in Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan6, 7, 10, 12). Jessie and Harry are buried in Flushing City Cemetery, Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan.1, 6

Children of Jessie Freer and Henry Johnston ‘Harry’ Gazlay:

+2i. Alice C. Gazlay, born 21 April 1912; died 18 January 1990 in Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan. Married Kenneth B. Dyball.
+3ii. Francis Pershing ‘Fran’ Gazlay, born 10 December 1918 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan; died 21 May 2012 in Redford, Wayne County, Michigan. Married Elizabeth Anne ‘Biz’ Pettitt.

  1. Find a Grave (website). Flushing City Cemetery, Flushing, Genessee County, Michigan, Jessie Gazlay, born: (unknown); died: 1 April 1972 [from record, which indicates her age at death was 78 years].
  2. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), Social Security Applications, Jessie Freer Gazlay, born: 13 May 1887 in Accord, Ulster County, New York; father: Simon Freer; mother: Celia Markle.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, Ulster County, Town of Rochester, E.D. 158, Sheet No. 9A, Celia C. Freer, 49, New York, widow, 4 children, 3 living; son-in-law Claude Gillespie, 28, New York, book keeper, stationery; daughter and wife of 4 years Nevah Gillespie, 25, New York, no children; son-in-law Henry J. Gazlay, 21, New York, farmer, general farm; daughter and wife of 0 years [i.e., less than 1 year] Jessie Gazlay, 22, New York, no children.
  4. Michigan, Genesee County Clerk/Register Records (www.co.genesee.mi.us). Instrument: 197204010000035, Jessie Gazlay, died on 1 April 1972.
  5. Draft Registration Card, World War I, Card No. 81, Henry J. Gazlay [indexed as Jazlay], born: 13 June 1888 in Cortland, N.Y.; married; living in Detriot, Mich.; foreman, Paige Detroit Motor Co.; has wife and child.
  6. Find a Grave (website). Flushing City Cemetery, Flushing, Genessee County, Michigan, Henry Gazlay, born: 13 June 1888; died 10 May 1967 [from record].
  7. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Henry Gazlay, no. 372-03-3397
  8. New York State Census, 1892, Cortland County, Cortlandville, 6th ED, Page 10, family of H. Willis Gazlay (38, tin smith); Alice C. Gazlay (35); Pearl A. Gazlay (9); Percy Gazlay (6); Harry J. Gazlay (4); Herman Gazlay (2).
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New York, Cortland County, Cortland, Enumeration District 90, Sheet 5, H. Willis Gazlay, 45, New York, Nov 1854, mfg. milk cooler; wife of 17 years Alice C. Gazlay, 42, Illinois, June 1857, 6 children, 6 living; daughter Pearl A. Gazlay, 16, Illinois, Oct 1884; son Percy W. Gazlay, 13, Kansas, July 1886; son Henry J. Gazlay, 11, New York, June 1888; Herman C. Gazlay, 9, New York, July 1890; son Leo C. Gazlay, 7, New York, Oct 1892; son Carl M. Gazlay, 5, [birthplace unreadable], Feb 1895; border Elnor G. Johnston, 76, [birthplace unreadable], July 1823, 10 children, 9 living [? hard to read].
  10. Obituary, The Kingston Daily Freeman, Kingston, New York. Available at www.fultonhistory.com. 11 May 1967, Henry (Harry) J. Gazlay, died 10 May 1967 in Flushing, Michigan, aged 78. The article provides biographical and vital details, and the names of his parents, wife, daughter, son, and three brothers.
  11. Genealogy, The Champion Genealogy: A History of the Descendants of Henry Champion, by Francis Bacon Trowbridge, New Haven, 1891. Library of Congress Local History and Genealogy Reading Room.
  12. Michigan, Genesee County Clerk/Register Records (www.co.genesee.mi.us). Instrument: 196705100000004, Henry J. Gazlay, died on 10 May 1967.
  13. Marriage Announcement, New York Times, New York, New York, 14 November 1909; Access Newspaper Archive (website).
Second Generation
2. Alice C. Gazlay2 (Jessie1), born 21 April 1912;1 died 18 January 1990 in Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan.1 Alice married, 14 February 1942 in Genesee County, Michigan, Kenneth B. Dyball3, 4 (born 20 November 1909, parents not determined;2 Kenneth died 18 February 1996 in Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan2).

Child of Alice C. Gazlay and Kenneth B. Dyball:

+4i. Lois K. Dyball, born 18 November 1944. Married Gordon P. Baker.

3. Francis Pershing ‘Fran’ Gazlay2 (Jessie1), born 10 December 1918 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan;5 died 21 May 2012 in Redford, Wayne County, Michigan.5 Fran married, 1942, Elizabeth Anne ‘Biz’ Pettitt4, 5 (born 12 September 1919 in Benzonia, Benzie County, Michigan, the daughter of Jay S. Pettitt and Florence Newman;6, 7 Biz died 20 November 2012 in Redford, Wayne County, Michigan6). Biz is buried in Benzonia Township Cemetery, Benzonia, Benzie County, Michigan.6

Fran grew up in Detroit and was a 1942 graduate of Olivet College. He married Elizabeth Pettitt in 1942. Fran served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II as a flight instructor. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Wayne State University. Fran was a high school teacher of Economics and Social Studies. He served in several Commissions and Boards in Northville, Michigan, where he lived starting in 1950. Fran was a charter member of the Northville Historical Society, serving as its president ten times. He helped in the initial creation and restoration of the Mill Race Historical Village in 1972, and was active in its preservation over the intervening years. He wrote numerous articles and columns about the Village and Northville History. His body was donated to Wayne State University.5


Children of Francis Pershing ‘Fran’ Gazlay and Elizabeth Anne ‘Biz’ Pettitt:

+5i. Julia C. Gazlay, born 1 June 1944. Married Paul Charles Lundstedt.
+6ii. John Christopher Gazlay, born 25 July 1945. Married Cheryl Ann Babbitt.
+7iii. Mark Emerson Gazlay, born 28 July 1951. Married (1) Tina Forward Married (2) Sherrie Anne Eade.
+8iv. Martha E. Gazlay, born 1 July 1953. Married Michael Kenneth Conley.

  1. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Alice Dyball, no. 373-10-2920
  2. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Kenneth B. Dyball, no. 370-07-6590
  3. Michigan, Genesee County Clerk/Register Records (www.co.genesee.mi.us); Instrument: 200704180013997, Alice Gazlay and Kenneth B. Dyball, married on 14 February 1942.
  4. Gazlay Family Tree, Henry Willis Gazlay 1854-1934 Ancestors & Descendants, by Francis P. Gazlay, Northville, Mich., 1978
  5. Obituary, Death Notices at Michigan.com, 3 June 2012, Gazlay, Francis Pershing; died 21 May 2012 in Redford, Michigan; born 10 December 1918 in Detroit, Michigan. The notice provides biographical details and the names of his parents, wife and children.
  6. Obituary, The Benzonia County Record Patriot (website: recordpatriot.com), 4 December 2012, Elizabeth (Pettitt) Gazlay, died 20 November 2012 in Redford, Michigan; born: 12 September 1919 in Benzonia, Michigan. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of her parents, husband, and four children.
  7. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
Third Generation
4. Lois K. Dyball3 (Alice,2 Jessie1), born 18 November 1944.1 Lois married Gordon P. Baker2 (born 5 September 1944, parents not determined1).

Children of Lois K. Dyball and Gordon P. Baker:

 9i. Gary Baker, born 1967.2
 10ii. Alan E. Baker, born 24 July 1972.1

5. Julia C. Gazlay3 (Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 1 June 1944.1 Julia married Paul Charles Lundstedt2 (born 23 August 1943, parents not determined1).

Children of Julia C. Gazlay and Paul Charles Lundstedt:

 11i. Melissa Anne Lundstedt, born 4 October 1970.1
 12ii. Emily Anne Lundstedt, born 28 December 1972.1

6. John Christopher Gazlay3 (Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 25 July 1945.1 John married Cheryl Ann Babbitt2 (born 10 October 1946, parents not determined1).

Children of John Christopher Gazlay and Cheryl Ann Babbitt:

+13i. Cristen Elizabeth Gazlay, born 6 October 1972. Married Jeffrey Peter Loeb.
+14ii. Courtney Brooke Gazlay, born 30 July 1975. Married Jason Aldrich.

7. Mark Emerson Gazlay3 (Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 28 July 1951.1 Mark married, first, Tina Forward2 (born 16 December 1953, parents not determined1). Mark married, second, 6 January 1989 in Oakland County, Michigan, Sherrie Anne Eade (born 1 July 1948, parents not determined1).

Children of Mark Emerson Gazlay and Tina Forward:

+15i. Jay Emerson Gazlay, born 15 July 1978. Married Kristine Lynn Brandt.
+16ii. Whitney Sara Gazlay, born 20 May 1981. Married Matthew Connor Todaro.

8. Martha E. Gazlay3 (Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 1 July 1953.1 Martha married Michael Kenneth Conley2 (born 15 June 1950, parents not determined1).

Children of Martha E. Gazlay and Michael Kenneth Conley:

 17i. Molly Martha Conley, born 15 June 1980.1
 18ii. Patrick Michael Conley, born 15 June 1981.1
 19iii. Alan Francis Conley, born 1983.1

  1. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  2. Gazlay Family Tree, Henry Willis Gazlay 1854-1934 Ancestors & Descendants, by Francis P. Gazlay, Northville, Mich., 1978
Fourth and Fifth Generations
13. Cristen Elizabeth Gazlay4 (John,3 Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 6 October 1972.1 Cristen married, 13 November 1999 in Clark County, Nevada, Jeffrey Peter Loeb2 (born January 1972, parents not determined2).

14. Courtney Brooke Gazlay4 (John,3 Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 30 July 1975.1 Courtney married, 30 September 2006, Jason Aldrich1 (born 13 June 1970, parents not determined1).

Children of Courtney Brooke Gazlay and Jason Aldrich:

 20i. Troy Christopher Aldrich, born xxxx.
 21ii. Paige MacMillan Aldrich, born xxxx.

15. Jay Emerson Gazlay4 (Mark,3 Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 15 July 1978.1 Jay married Kristine Lynn Brandt (born October 1978, parents not determined1).

16. Whitney Sara Gazlay4 (Mark,3 Francis ‘Fran’,2 Jessie1), born 20 May 1981.1 Whitney married Matthew Connor Todaro (born 6 May 1980, parents not determined1).

  1. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  2. Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005, available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Jeffrey Peter Loeb and Cristen Elizabeth Gazlay, 13 November 1999 in Clark [County], Nevada.