Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Catherine E. Cornell


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 Catherine E. Cornell and seven of her descendants down to the fourth generation.


First Generation
1. Catherine E. Cornell,1 born ca. 1833 in Chenango County, New York (parents not determined);1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died 12 July 1905 in Newburgh, Orange County, New York.6 Catherine married Charles M. Gazlay1 (born ca. 1815 in Otsego County, New York, the son of Aaron Gazlay and Abigail Sutton;1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 Charles died before 1880).

Catherine apparently moved with her youngest daughter Georgiana to Old Saybrook, Connecticut, after her husband Charles died, as shown in the 1880 census. Newburgh, New York, city directories for 1891-1895, 1897-1898 and 1900-1903 list a Mrs. C. M. Gazlay, widow, or a Catherine Gazlay, widow, indicating that she relocated there. This aligns with the death record for a Catherine Gazley in 1905.

Charles M. Gazlay’s early life is sketchy. He is found in the 1850 census living in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York, with his mother, Abigail Gazlay, and two minors, David M. Gazlay and Mary C. Gazlay, who are presumed to be his children. Several records provide circumstantial evidence that their mother, and presumably Charles’ first wife, was named Martha Anna (maiden name unknown). Charles and Martha apparently lived in Rensselaer County, New York, where at least Mary Cornelia Gazlay was born, as indicated in the 1855 New York census. Various records link Charles, Martha, David and Mary individually to events and locations in Rensselaer County. Indeed, one record suggests that Charles was in Rensselaer County in 1845. A Troy, New York, newspaper article indicates that a Charles M. Gazley [sic] was indicted for passing counterfeit money, “five several times,” in a Grand Jury in Troy, in December 1845. He did not make an appearance, but apparently his bail was paid in the amount of one hundred dollars for each of the five offenses.9

Perhaps this prompted him to relocate to New Berlin, where he is found from 1850 to at least 1865 based on census records. One supposes that Charles and Martha divorced some time prior to 1850; Martha subsequently remarried at least once and possibly twice. Shortly after 1850, Charles married a woman named Catherine, with whom he had three more children: Henry M., Charlie M., and Georgina. An 1859 New York business directory lists Charles M. Gazlay as a retail grocer in New Berlin. By 1869 he, his wife, and youngest three children had relocated to Brooklyn, New York, when a Brooklyn directory lists Charles M. Gazlay as a carpenter. The 1870 census also lists him as a carpenter and living in Brooklyn with his family.

An advertisement for the grand opening of Gazlay’s Wine House in Philadelphia in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 22 June 1871 lists Charles M. Gazlay and Company, Proprietors. He is likely the Charles M. Gazlay who is found in Philadelphia city directories in 1871, working at a publishing company, and in 1872, working in a restaurant. The latter directory also lists David M. Gazlay, presumably Charles’ eldest child, working and living at a different address from Charles. David lived in Philadelphia with his family for several years before and after 1870, according to various records. There’s no indication whether Charles’ family was with him in Philadelphia during this time. Trow’s New York City directory of 1879 lists Chas. M. Gazlay in that city working in a liquor store, and again David M. Gazlay is listed in the same directory but at a different address and workplace.

Charles apparently died before 1880, as his wife Catherine is listed as a widow in the 1880 census, living in Old Saybrook, Connecticut with their daughter Georgiana, and no other records have been found after this time that mention Charles M. Gazlay.


Children of Catherine E. Cornell and Charles M. Gazlay:

+2i. Henry M. Gazlay, born ca. 1852 in Chenango County, New York; died 18 August 1900 in Bronx County, New York. Married Sarah _____.
 3ii. Charlie M. Gazlay, born ca. 1857 in New York.2, 3, 4
+4iii. Georgiana Eveline Gazlay, born ca. 1861 in New York; died 5 June 1933. Married (1) William E. Gleason Married (2) John Henry Koehler.

  1. 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).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, New York, Chenango County, New Berlin, Page 83, family of Charles Gazley (43, New York, grocer); Catharine Gazley (26, New York); Henry Gazley (8, New York); Charlie Gazley (3, New York).
  3. New York State Census, 1865, Chenango County, New Berlin, Page 687, family of Charles M. Gazlay (51, Westchester, house maker married 2 times); wife Catharine E. Gazlay (31, Chenango, married once; parent of 3 children); child Henry M. Gazlay (13, Chenango); child Charlie M. Gazlay (8, Chenango); child Georgiana Gazlay (4, Chenango).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, New York, King County, Brooklyn, page no. 33, family of Charles Gassley [sic] (54, N.Y., carpenter); Catherine Gassley (35, N.Y.); Henry Gassley (18, N.Y., works in theater); Charles Gassley (13, N.Y.); Georgiana Gassley (10, N.Y.); Jacob Cooney (25, Ireland, bartender).
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Connecticut, Middlesex County, Old Saybrook, Enumeration District 83, Page No. 9A, family of Cathrine Gazlay (44, New York, widow, dress maker); daughter Georgina Gazlay (18, New York).
  6. New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956, available at familysearch.org. 1905, Catherine Gazley, died 12 July 1905 in Newburgh, Orange County, New York.
  7. Last Will and Testament, David M. Gazlay, will written September 8, 1876. Summary of will provided by Adine Wakefield in a posting at genforum.genealogy.com. The will names the following individuals: widow Angeline E. Gazlay; brother Henry M. Gazlay, Putnam CT; A. M. Gazlay, Louisville, KY; sister Sally Warner, Woodstock, NY; brother Charles M. Gazlay, Jefferson County, KY; brother Albert S. Gazlay; deceased brother Oroville Gazlay; Renu (sp?) C. Gazlay, daughter of Oroville Gazlay; Ellen A. Palmer (formerly Ellen A. Gazlay), daughter of Oroville Gazlay, lived in Ruttum (?) Vermont; Abbie (Abby) A. Miller (formerly Abbie A. Gazlay), daughter of Oroville Gazlay, lived in State of Florida, San Mateso. [Note: the family members in this Will match nearly exactly the composition of children of Aaron and Abigail Gazlay named in at least one other record, so this David M. Gazlay is strongly believed to be their eldest son.]
  8. 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).
  9. Troy Daily Whig, Troy, New York. Available at www.fultonhistory.com. 19 December 1845, article about Charles M. Gazley being indicted by a Grand Jury for passing counterfeit money.
Second Generation
2. Henry M. Gazlay2 (Catherine1), born ca. 1852 in Chenango County, New York;1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died 18 August 1900 in Bronx County, New York.6 Henry married Sarah _____5 (born ca. 1849 in England, parents not determined). Henry is buried in St.Michaels Cemetery, East Elmhurst, Queens County, New York.6

Henry is listed in Hartford, Connecticut, directories (1876, 1877, and 1879) as a brakeman, which matches his occupation shown in the 1880 census as brakeman on a railroad.


4. Georgiana Eveline Gazlay2 (Catherine1), born ca. 1861 in New York;3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 died 5 June 1933.11 Georgiana married, first, ca. 1881, William E. Gleason (born ____, parents not determined). Georgiana married, second, 3 September 1919 in Kings County, New York, John Henry Koehler13 (born ca. 1854 in Germany, the son of Adam H. Koehler and Barbara E. Arnold;9, 10, 12, 13 John died 9 March 193412, 14). John is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.12

Children of Georgiana Eveline Gazlay and William E. Gleason:

+5i. William Merton Gleason, born 31 August 1889 in Kingston, Ulster County, New York. Married Vera E. Zelie.
+6ii. Mabel Gleason, born ca. 1890 in New York. Married (unidentified).

  1. 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).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, New York, Chenango County, New Berlin, Page 83, family of Charles Gazley (43, New York, grocer); Catharine Gazley (26, New York); Henry Gazley (8, New York); Charlie Gazley (3, New York).
  3. New York State Census, 1865, Chenango County, New Berlin, Page 687, family of Charles M. Gazlay (51, Westchester, house maker married 2 times); wife Catharine E. Gazlay (31, Chenango, married once; parent of 3 children); child Henry M. Gazlay (13, Chenango); child Charlie M. Gazlay (8, Chenango); child Georgiana Gazlay (4, Chenango).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, New York, King County, Brooklyn, page no. 33, family of Charles Gassley [sic] (54, N.Y., carpenter); Catherine Gassley (35, N.Y.); Henry Gassley (18, N.Y., works in theater); Charles Gassley (13, N.Y.); Georgiana Gassley (10, N.Y.); Jacob Cooney (25, Ireland, bartender).
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Connecticut, Hartford County, Hartford, Enumeration District 4, Page No. 15, family of Henry M. Gazlay (28, New York, brakeman on railroad); wife Sarah Gazlay (31, England).
  6. New York City, Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (website: a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov), Certificate and Record of Death, Certificate No.: 2927, Henry Gazley, died: 18 August 1900 in Bronx, New York, age: 47 years; married; occupation: brakeman; place of burial: St. Michaels.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Connecticut, Middlesex County, Old Saybrook, Enumeration District 83, Page No. 9A, family of Cathrine Gazlay (44, New York, widow, dress maker); daughter Georgina Gazlay (18, New York).
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, Orange County, Newburgh City, E.D. 54, Sheet No. 2A, Georgina Gleason, 42, New York, widow, laundress, laundry; son William Gleason, 21, New York, salesman, clothing.
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, Kings County, Brooklyn, E.D. 53, Sheet No. 4B, John H. Koehler, 66, Germany, retired, business; wife Evelyn Koehler, 53, New York.
  10. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, New York, Kings County, Brooklyn, E.D. 24-940, Sheet No. 6A, John Koehler, 76, Germany, 29 at first marriage, retired butcher; wife Georgiana Koehler, 65, New York, 20 at first marriage; daughter Mabel Gleason, 40, New York, widow, 20 at first marriage, sales lady, dry goods; granddaughter Ruth Gleason, 10, New York.
  11. Deaths, Brooklyn Daily Eagle (available at fultonhistory.com); 6 June 1933, Evelyn Koehler, died: 5 June 1933, in her 67th year, wife of John H. Koehler. Funeral on 8 June 1933.
  12. Find a Grave (website). Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; John Henry Koehler, born; 1854 in Germany; died: 11 March 1934 [sic, his death notice indicates he died on the 9th] (from record, which provides the names and links for his [first] wife and son).
  13. New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940, John Henry Koehler, age 65; father: Adam H. Koehler; mother: Barbara E. Arnold; Georgie Eveline Gazley Gleason, age 53; father: Charles Gazley; mother: Catherine Cornell; married on 3 September 1919 in Kings County, New York.
  14. Deaths, Brooklyn Daily Eagle (available at fultonhistory.com); 10 March 1934, John Henry Koehler, died: 9 March 1934. Services on 11 March at Green-Wood Cemetery.
Third and Fourth Generations
5. William Merton Gleason3 (Georgiana,2 Catherine1), born 31 August 1889 in Kingston, Ulster County, New York.1, 2 William married, 5 September 1916 in Kingston, Ulster County, New York, Vera E. Zelie3 (born 1896 in Kingston, Ulster County, New York, the daughter of Frank B. Zelie and Emma Ploss;3, 4 Vera died 30 June 19644). Their marriage ended in divorce in ca. 1918.5 Vera is buried in Wiltwick Cemetery, Kingston, Ulster County, New York.4

Child of William Merton Gleason and Vera E. Zelie:

 7i. William Weldon Gleason, born 18 August 1916;5, 6 died 28 March 1918 in Manhattan, New York City, New York.6

6. Mabel Gleason3 (Georgiana,2 Catherine1), born ca. 1890 in New York.7 Mabel married (unidentified) (born ____, parents not determined).

Child of Mabel Gleason and (unidentified):

 8i. Ruth Gleason, born ca. 1920 in New York.7

  1. Draft Registration Card, World War I, William Merton Gleason, No. 84, age 28, born: 31 August 1889 in Kingston, NY; salesman; dependant: mother; married; mother and child.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, Orange County, Newburgh City, E.D. 54, Sheet No. 2A, Georgina Gleason, 42, New York, widow, laundress, laundry; son William Gleason, 21, New York, salesman, clothing.
  3. New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848, 1908-1936, available at familysearch.org, William M. Gleason, age 28, born in Kingston, 1st marriage, father: William E. Gleason; mother: Georgianna Gazley; Vera E. Zelie, age 20, born in Kingston, 1st marriage; father: Frank B. Zelie; mother: Emma Ploss; married on 5 September 1916 in Kingston.
  4. Find a Grave (website). Wiltwick Cemetery, Kingston, Ulster County, New York, Vera E. Zelie Gleason, born: 1896; died: 30 June 1964 in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York (from record, which includes a copy of her obituary giving vital and biographical details; and provides the names and links for her parents and siblings).
  5. Divorce Filing, Poughkeepsie Eagle-News, 25 August 1917, William and Vera Gleason filed for divorce from each other. The article describes each of the parties, provides the grounds for divorce from both parties, and indicates their son, W. Weldon Gleason, is now living with Mr. Gleason’s mother.
  6. New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949, William Weldom Glason [sic], born: 18 August 1916; died: 28 March 1918 in Manhattan, New York City, New York; father: William M. Glason [sic]; mother: Vera Zelie; cemetery: St. Michael’s.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, New York, Kings County, Brooklyn, E.D. 24-940, Sheet No. 6A, John Koehler, 76, Germany, 29 at first marriage, retired butcher; wife Georgiana Koehler, 65, New York, 20 at first marriage; daughter Mabel Gleason, 40, New York, widow, 20 at first marriage, sales lady, dry goods; granddaughter Ruth Gleason, 10, New York.