Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Mary Cornelia 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.
This family history features Mary Cornelia Gazlay and her immediate family.



First Generation
1. Mary Cornelia Gazlay,1 born ca. August 1842 in Rensselaer County, New York, the daughter of Charles M. Gazlay and Martha Ann _____;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 died 3 January 1907 in Dunham Hollow, Rensselaer County, New York.9 Mary married, first, 19 January 1860 in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York, Zial R. Avery12, 13 (born 6 March 1835 in New York, the son of Orrin Avery and Mary B. _____;3, 4, 5, 10, 11 Zial died 13 January 188910). Mary married, second, John H. Flower (born ca. 1843 in New York, parents not determined;6, 14 John died 7 February 1902 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York15, 16). Zial is buried in Reynolds Cemetery, Cross River, Westchester County, New York.10

Mary Cornelia Gazlay was first married, in 1860, to Zial R. Avery. A brief article, appearing several months after Zial’s death, provides a link between to her second husband, John H. Flower, before they were married:17

New Berlin. Aug. 12 -- Mrs. Cornelia Avery, Mrs. Hedges and Mr. John Flower, of New York, are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Kuhn.

Zial’s obituary provides the details of his unfortunate death:18

Obituary Notice.

Mr. Zial R. Avery.

We record this week the sad death of Mr. Zial R. Avery, of New York city, who was killed on the Sixth avenue elevated railroad, last Saturday night. He was the son of the late Mr. Orrin Avery, of Cross River, and was 53 years of age. For the past ten years he has been a conductor on the elevated railroad in the city. Last Saturday night, having completed his work at midnight, he stepped off his train on the east side, between 145th and 155th street stations, and started across the tracks to take a down train home. As he did so he was struck by a locomotive on the centre track and instantly killed, the driving wheel of the engine cutting his body in two. He leaves a widow but no children.

The body was brought up to Katonah on Wednesday and taken to Cross River for burial. The funeral services were held in the Baptist Church at 11 o’clock, Rev. Frank Fletcher officiating.

The following year, his wife provided a fitting honor for Zial:19

Mrs. Cornelia Avery , of N.Y., spent a few days with her sister-in-law, Miss Sophronia Avery. During her stay she had a very pretty bronze monument erected to the memory of her late husband, Zial R. Avery.


  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, New York, Chenango County, Town of New Berlin, page 150, family of Abigail Gazlay, 68 NY; Charles Gazlay, 35, NY, pedlar; David M. Gazlay, 13, NY; Mary C. Gazlay, 8, NY. Relationships are not indicated but Charles is probably the son of Abigail (who is probably the widow of Aaron Gazlay).
  2. New York State Census, 1855, Chenango County, New Berlin, family of Charles M. Gazlay (39, Otsego, Grocer, resided here for 12 years); wife Catherine Gazlay (22, Chenango, resided here for 4 years); child Cornelia Gazlay (14, Rensselaer, resided here for 12 years); child Henry Gazlay (3, Chenango, resided here for 3 years); border Daniel Cornell (17, Chenango, resided here for 1/12 year).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, New York, Westchester County, Pound Ridge, Page No. 10, family of Zial Avery (25, N.Y., farmer); Cornelia Avery (18, N.Y.).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, New York, Westchester County, Town of Ossining, Page No. 104, family of Zial Avery (36, New York, keeper in Sing Sing Prison); Cornelia Avery (28, New York).
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, New York, New York County, New York City, Enumeration District 562, Page No. 42, family of Ziael Avery [sic] (46, New York, elevated R.R.); wife Mary Cornelia Avery (New York).
  6. New York State Census, 1892, Kings County, Brooklyn, First ED, Eleventh Ward, Page 3, family of John H. Flower (49, hatter); Cornelia Flower (50).
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New York, Rensselaer County, Nassau Town, Enumeration District 45, Sheet No. 21B, family of Martha Coons (79, New York, Sept 1820, widow, 4 children, 1 living); daughter Cornelia Flower (57, New York, Aug 1842, married 10 years, no children, button hole collars home).
  8. New York State Census, 1905, Rensselaer County, Nassau, Second Election District, Page 4, three related families: head Willie C. Clifford (47, farmer); wife Aurulia [sic] Clifford (51); mother Lavantia Hollis (77); servant Francelia Carrier (56); head Leander Coon (37, farmer); wife Maggie L. Coon (29); head Martha A. Coon (84); daughter Flower C. Coon [sic, Cornelia Flower; her surname was not Coon] (62).
  9. New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956, available at familysearch.org. 1907, Cornelia Flower, died: 3 January 1907 in Dunham Hollow, Rensselaer County, New York.
  10. Find a Grave (website). Reynolds Cemetery, Cross River, Westchester County, New York, Zial R. Avery: Zial R. Avery / March 6, 1835 / January 13, 1889 [from monument].
  11. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, New York, Westchester County, Pound Ridge, Page 294, family of Orren Avery (49, N. York, farmer); Mary B. Avery (44, N. York); Emily Avery (19, N. York); Sophronia Avery (9, N. York); Zial R. Avery (15, N. York, farmer); Josephine Avery (13, N. York); Sarah A. Avery (11, N. York); Georgianna Avery (7, N. York).
  12. Chenango Marriages, listed in the Chenango Telegraph, March 1959 - March 1862, available at Rootsweb; 8 February 1860, marriage of Zial A. Avery [sic, middle initial is actually R] to Mary C. Gazlay on 19 January 1860 in New Berlin, New York.
  13. Marriage, Daily Alta California, San Francisco, California, 24 January 1860, Married. at New Berlin, Chenango County, N.Y., Jan. 1st, Miss Mary Cornelia, only daughter of Charles M. Gazlay, Esq., to Mr. Ziel Avery, of Westchester County, N.Y. [The date shown in this article differs from the Chenango County marriage record, which is believed to be the more accurate.]
  14. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, New York, Kings County, Brooklyn, Enumeration District 17, Page No. 31, family of John H. Flower (37, New York, hatter); mother Margaret A. Flower (67, New York, widow); sister Sarah Sascier (47, New York, boarding); sister Fidelia Vicker (45, New York, boarding); brother-in-law Joseph Gascier (49, New York, hatter); brother-in-law Tunis Vicker (49, New York, hatter).
  15. Italian Genealogical Group, New York Death Index, Flower, John H., died 7 February 1902 in Kings County, N.Y.
  16. Deaths, Brooklyn Daily Eagle (available at fultonhistory.com); 9 February 1902, Flower - Suddenly, at his residence, 398 State st., John H. Flower, in the 57th year of his age. Interment at Albany, N.Y.
  17. Brookfield Courier, New York. Available at www.fultonhistory.com. 1889-1890 (exact date not shown, but probably on or shortly before 12 August 1889), visit to New Berlin by Mrs. Cornelia Avery and two others.
  18. Obituary, The Recorder, Mount Kisco, Westchester County, New York. Available at www.fultonhistory.com. week of 20 January 1889, Mr. Zial R. Avery, died 13 January 1889. The article provides a brief account of his death.
  19. The Recorder, Mount Kisco, Westchester County, New York. Available at www.fultonhistory.com, 30 May 1890, Mrs. Cornelia Avery has a bronze monument erected to the memory of her late husband, Zial R. Avery.