William Gaslin (abt. 1793 - abt. 1883)

Born about 6 Mar 1793 in Vassalboro, Kennebec, Maine, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Jerusha (Nason) Gaslin — married 26 Jan 1820 in Vassalboro, Kennebec, Maine, United States

Died about 6 Jun 1883 at about age 90 in Augusta, Kenn

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Biography

William Gaslin was born about 1793 in Vassalboro, Kennebec, Maine to parents John Gaslin and Mary (Webber) Gaslin.

William Gaslin married Jerusha Nason on 26 Jan 1820 in Vassalboro, Kennebec, Maine.^[1]

William was seen in the 1830 census^[2] with wife and three children, all of ages consistent with what we know from other sources. There were two males under the age of five, one female under the age of five, one male in the 30-40 range (William would have been about 37), and one female between 20 and 30 (Jerusha would have been just 30, or possibly still 29). The census enumeration date was 1 Jun 1830. Children reported at his FindAGrave Memorial^[3] included:

1. William Gaslin, 1827-1910
2. Betsey Ann (Gaslin) Davis, 1828-1910
3. [[gaslin-28|Lorenzo Dow Gaslin, 1830-1858]
4. John Nason Gaslin, 1844-1912

Given the 14-year break between Lorenzo and John, we may expect to find additional children.

In fact, in the 1850 census,^[4] we do see one additional child, Mary E. Gaslin, who was nine years old at the time. William, Jr., 23, was still at home and was a student. Lorenzo, too, was still at home, aged 20, and working as a farmer. The youngest child listed in his father's FindAGrave memorial was John, six years old, consistent with the dates on the memorial. The family lived in Augusta.

The 1860 census,^[5] still finds parts of our family living in Augusta, but in a slightly different configuration, and with a possible addition. William's household:

• William, head of household, 67, farmer
• Jerusha, wife, 60
• John M., son, 16, in school
• William, Jr., son, 30, lawyer

Next door, we find:

• Thomas Davis, head of household, 31, box maker
• Betsy A. Davis, wife, 28 (presumably, the former Miss Gaslin; see dad's FindAGrave Memorial)
• Alice Davis, daughter, 10, in school
• Mary E. Gaslin, presumably Betsy's sister, 18, school teacher
• Eliza Gaslin, another sister?, 24, no occupation noted

In 1870^[6] and 1880,^[7] the couple are still living in Augusta, and John is still living with them. By 1880, John has become a stone cutter, and 88-year-old William is still a farmer. A 13-year-old adopted daughter lives with them, but it is not clear whether William and Jerusha adopted her, or John did. Her name is Ettie Brann or Braun. There is no indication as to her education. John is described as being divorced.

William died of pneumonia on 6 Jun 1883 in Augusta, Kennebec, Maine.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907", database, FamilySearch ( : 14 January 2020), William Gaslin, 1820.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch ( : 20 February 2021), William Gaslin, Augusta, Kennebec, Maine, United States; citing 89, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 48; FHL microfilm 497,944.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (: accessed 07 March 2023), memorial page for William Gaslin (6 Mar 1793–6 Jun 1883), Find A Grave: Memorial #63727689, citing Forest Grove Cemetery, Augusta, Kennebec County, Maine, USA; Maintained by MsMarylb (contributor 47036690).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch ( : 22 December 2020), William Gaslin, Augusta, Kennebec, Maine, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch ( : 18 February 2021), William Gaslin, 1860.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch ( : 29 May 2021), William Gaslin, 1870.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch ( : 14 January 2022), Wm. Gaslin, Augusta, Kennebec, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
8. ↑ "Maine Deaths and Burials, 1841-1910", database, FamilySearch ( : 16 January 2020), William Gaslin, 1883.