| Notes |
- ** See marriage notes for list of children **
- ** See Maria Sarah Polly Henson's notes **
- son of John Wagley and Sally ???
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Found at findagrave.com on 8/30/2025
Abraham C. Wagley VVeteran
Birth: 2 Feb 1767 Burke County, North Carolina, USA
Death: 29 Nov 1843 (aged 76) Clarksville, Red River County, Texas, USA
Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Hubbard, Hill County, Texas, USA
Memorial #: 24713155
Bio:
Father: John Wagley b: 10 APR 1743 in Tulpehocken, Berks, Pennsylvania
Mother: Sally or Sarah D. b: 1745 in Tulpehocken, Berks, Pennsylvania
Married Maria Sarah (Polly) Henson b: 30 NOV 1768 in Burke County, North Carolina
Married: 1796 in Burke County, North Carolina
Children:
Elizabeth Wagley b: 12 JAN 1797 in Burke County, North Carolina
John Allen Sr. Wagley b: 22 FEB 1800 in Morgantown, Burke, North Carolina
Benjamin Philip Sr. Wagley b: 14 MAY 1800 in Burke County, North Carolina
Bartlett Franklin Sr. Wagley b: 25 APR 1802 in Burke County, North Carolina
Joseph A. Wagley b: 25 MAR 1802 in Burke County, North Carolina
Matilda Melissa Wagley b: 17 DEC 1806 in Burke County, North Carolina Matilda Melissa WagleyDeath: 17 DEC 1806 in Burke County, North Carolina
Eliza Catherine Wagley b: 14 JUL 1811 in Jefferson County, Illinois
Freeland Henson Wagley b: 5 FEB 1814 in Jefferson County, Illinois
Jacob Simeon Wagley b: 9 JUL 1817 in Jefferson County, Illinois
Abraham Wagley and his sons arrived in Red River Co, Texas in the late 1830's to claim land grants given to them for service in the Texas Revolution. (source- Red River Recollections)
Father: Peter John WAGLEY b: 10 APR 1743 in Tulpehockon, Berks Co, Pennsylvania
Mother: Sarah D. b: ABT 1745
Marriage 1 Maria Sarah 'Polly' HENSON b: 30 NOV 1768 in Burke Co, North CarolinaMarried: 1796 in Burke Co, North Carolina
In separate deeds, Abraham left each child land but also had a will written 4 May 1839 and probated 14 August 1843 in Red River County Texas and named Philip, Jacob, Bartlett, Henson, Joseph, John, daughter Eliza and wife Maria.
Abraham served in Lt. Col. Whiteside's Detachment, Illinois militia in the War of 1812, also shows Capt. Amos Squire's Company. He commenced service in October 6,1812 and was discharged 14 November 1812. He received $6.66 cents per month
From Ruby Wagley Eason's 43 year research of the Wagley family, she says"The Wagley's were English, originating from Wales. Only one known Wagley came to America, and that is Abraham.
As a young man he worked for Spain as a sea Captain and was paid in land. He then lived on an island south of Cuba. When his slaves took the Bubonic Plague he sold the rest and left the island and came to Louisiana. He spent some time working through Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, NorthCarolina and Illinois before coming to Texas.
He married Maria Henson in North Carolina, and most of their children were born there.
Some of his family, when they came to Texas, settled in Nacogdoches, Texas, but Abraham and two sons John and Joseph chose Red River County, Texas. All 3 have large land grants, at least a league or more, shown on Red River County Texas land map from the General Land Office in Austin,Texas.
A Wagley researcher I had contact with says Abraham IS NOT the first Wagley to come to America. He had at least 2 or more earlier generations, some of them in Burke County, NC.
Will of Abraham Wagley(Supplied by Phyllis Campbell)
Abraham Wagley Deed Book D Red River County Texas page 428-429
I Abraham Wagley considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this last will and testament in the following manner. I give to my sons, John, Philip, Bartlet, Joseph, Henson, Jacob and my daughter Elisa, my league and labor of land donated to me by the government of Texas and it is my will that it shall be divided in equal parts in such a manner as given in the following pace and it shall be decided by lots which tract of land should belong to each of the children but the improvements or the rent of the improvements on said tract of land shall be reserved to the benefit and support of my beloved wife, Maria, during her life or widowhood. I give to my wife, Maria, on condition that she not marry again, all my furniture and house utensils, etc. all money notes or money due to me and shall have the right to dispose of it so far needed of support does require it. I give one of my horses to my wife and she shall have the right to chose which one she wants. The rest of horses shall be divided equally amongst my above named children. I give to my son Henson two sheep also I give to my son, Jacob two sheep. I give to my wife, Maria, half of the flock of sheep the other half shall be divided equally amongst all my before named children except Joseph who shall be the only heir of my wife Maria's estate. In case my wife should marry again half the property give to my wife named herein has to be given to my son, Joseph Wagley. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this the 4th day of May 1839. x F. Siedikirm Abraham Wagley's Mark E. T. Tomson
In War of 1812 as a Pvt. in Capt. Amos Squire's Company of Inf.Mil. of Illinois Territory. Served one month nine days and received $8.65 for service. Jefferson County, Illinois.
Went to Jefferson County, Illinois then to Ark.-LA and last to Texas.
Source: WorldConnectKristi Taylor [email protected]
He fought in the War of 1812 as a part of Lieut. Col. Whiteside's detachment of Illinois Militia. By 1820 he moved from Illinois to Missouri, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In 1833 he moved to Red River County, Texas. He lived among the Kick(a)poo, near Shawnee Rose Creek and White Oak Creek.
Father: John Wagley b: 10 APR 1743 in Lancaster, PAMother: Sally
Marriage 1 Maria Sarah Henson b: 30 NOV 1768 in Burke Co., NCMarried: ABT 1796 in Burke Co., NCChildrenElizabeth Wagley b: 12 JAN 1797 in Burke Co. North CarolinaJohn Allen Wagley b: 20 FEB 1798 in Burke Co. North CarolinaBenjamin Phillip Wagley b: 14 MAY 1800 in Burke Co. North CarolinaBartlett Franklin Wagley b: 25 APR 1802 in Burke Co. North CarolinaJoseph A. Wagley b: 25 MAR 1804 in Buncombe Co., North CarolinaMatilda Wagley b: 17 FEB 1806 in Burke Co. North CarolinaEliza Catherine Wagley b: 14 JUL 1811 in Jefferson Co., ILLFreeland Henson Wagley b: 5 FEB 1814 in Jefferson Co., IllinoisJacob Simon Wagley b: 9 JUL 1817 in Jefferson Co. Illinois
I have proven that this tying of Abraham to 'John Wagley'1743 Pennsylvania as research conclusion that John Wagley was the same person as Johanne Peter Weckerly born 1743 is INCORRECT (Waekerly, Weckerle, etc.): - Rather, the actual person was WAECKERLY, Johannes, s. Abraham WAECKERLY and -; b. April 10, 1743; bap. April 25, 1743; sp. Johannes SCHNEIDER and Christina TANNER. See Pg 102- Germantown Reformed Church Records- Rev. J. G. Alsentz-Catechumens- Good Friday- March 20, 1761 Peter Weckerle, 19 years.
JOHN PETER WECKERLY (ABRAHAM,RUDOLF,RUDOLF,MATHIAS, MATHIAS)born April 10, 1743 in Lehigh Co., PA, and died 1827 in Center Co., PA. He married CATHERINE MARGARETHA KERBACH March 17, 1763 in Philadelphia, PA, daughter of JOHN KERBACH and CHRISTINE?.
We can indeed get our JOHN WALGEY as an early settler in North Carolina, and show his son Abraham Wagley as being born in NC, but we cannot make the leap to 1743 Pennsylvania. The citation most commonly used to support the PA claim is "A Memorial and Biographical History of Johnson and Hill Counties" (Chicago: Lewis, 1892). I have obtained a copy of said history, it mentions Abrham Wagley coming from NC, but nothing about John Wagley and PA. Some early NC records do reference John Wagley.
Contributor: Scotty Dean∼Aberham Wagley was the son of John & Sally D. Wagley
He was the husband of Mana Wagley, they had 9 children
He was the husband of Maria Henson, m. 1796, Burke Co, N.C.They had 7 children.
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Abraham Wagley (1767-1843) and Maria 'Polly' Henson (died after 4 May 1839), married about 1796, and their children
According to Daughters of the Republic of Texas, v 1 p 281: Abraham Wagley was born Feb. 2, 1767. His father was John Wagley of Burke County, NC. Abraham married Maria Henson ca. 1796, the daughter of Bartlett Henson Sr. They had seven children born in Burke County, NC. In 1802 Abraham moved to Jefferson County, IL, where two more children were born. He served in the War of 1812 in the Infantry Militia of Illinois Territory. In 1818 he left Illinois and wandered down through Arkansas and Louisiana. On Oct. 1, 1834, Abraham Wagley and his sons John and Joseph settled in Red River County, TX. They each received a First Class Headrights land grant. Abraham's land was in Shawnee Village Creek. He died Oct. 30, 1843. His children were Elizabeth Wagley, b. 1797; John Wagley (1798-1868); Philip Wagley, b. 1800; Bartlett Wagley (1802-ca. 1857); Joseph Wagley (1804-1878); Matilda Wagley, b. 1806; Eliza Wagley (1812-1888); Freeland Henson Wagley (1814-1888); Jacob Wagley, b. 1817. Joseph Wagley settled on a hill about two miles south of Annona, TX, overlooking the Kickapoo Valley. His home, built ca. 1840, was a stagecoach inn for about 20 years on the route between Jefferson, the river port city, and Fort Worth, TX. John settled on the next hill south. John left Red River County and went to Arkansas. After the Civil War Joseph moved to Callahan County where he and his son, Abram Henson Wagley, owned 17 sections of land. Joseph died March 6, 1878. His grave is in a pasture northeast of Putnam, TX.18502
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As above, the DRT has Abraham's father as John Wagley. John Wagley is listed as a head of family in Third Company, Morgan District, Burke County, North Carolina, in 1790. The household includes two males 16 or older including head of family and four females. Burke was formed from Rowan County in 1777. The Last of the Mohicans was filmed in Burke County. Morgan District was established in 1782 and the town of Morganton, known first as Morgansborough and then as Morgantown, was established in 1784. Morganton is the county seat of Burke County. John Wagley had land in Burke County along the Linville River (North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960). A Burke County administrative bond dated 25 October 1814 mentions 'Sarah Waggely widow of John Wagely' (North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998).
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Polly's father, Bartlet Henson Sr, had land in Burke County in the Upper Creek area. (See North Carolina, U.S., Land and Grant Files) Bartlet Hanson is listed as a head of family in Third Company, Morgan District, Burke County, in 1790. The household includes three males 16 or older including head of family, four males 0-15, three females and six slaves. The 1810 census places him in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina. ~
The following probate document in which Bartlet Henson's Will is contested names his children and gives the year of his death:
State of North Carolina Burke CountyCourt of Pleas and Quarter Sessions October Term 1825
The petition of John Hall [&] his wife Susannah[,] James Simpson & his wife Nancy[,] [Abraham] Wagley & his wife Polly[,] Reuben Odel & his wife Elizabeth & Philip Henson[,] Jacob Henson[,] John Henson and Abner Henson one of the Heirs & [illegible] of Bartlett Henson the younger vs. Freeland Henson[,] Micajah Sisk & his wife Sally Defendants. Your [petitioners?] humbly state [illegible] that they are lawful children & heirs at law of the late Bartlett Henson Senior now deceased That sometime in the year one thousand eight hundred & twenty three the said Bartlet Senior departed this life having been at the time of his death resident in the said County of Burke [illegible] of a large real and personal Estate therein That at a term of this Court shortly after the death of the said Bartlet Henson Senior the said Freeland Henson with the knowledge & consent of the said Micajah Sisk & his wife Sally brought into court a paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of the said Bartlet Senior [illegible] the same to be received by the court & admitted to probate and recorded as the will of the said Bartlet[.] Your petitioners charge that they nor any of them had notice of the said probate [illegible] upon by the said Court. Your petitioners are informed & do believe that the said will was obtained when the supposed testator was not of [illegible] mind and memory & by the Defendants using an improper influence over him when in a state of mental imbecility[.] Your petitioners pray that the said Defendant[s] have [illegible] Court that they be served also with a copy of this petition & that the aforesaid probate be [illegible] that the [illegible] of said will [illegible] according to law [illegible] copy of the said [illegible] writing [illegible] of the Court [illegible] [illegible] PetitionersSeptember 26th, 1825
John Hall makes oath that the several matters of fact that are set forth in the foregoing petition as of his own knowledge are true those not of his knowledge he believes to be true [signed] John Hall
Sworn before me [illegible]27th September 1825 [illegible signature]
(See North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records.)
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According to a A Memorial and Biographical History of Johnson and Hill Counties, Texas (1892) p 656: Captain W. H. Wagley, a farmer and stock-raiser of Hill county, was born in Nacogdoches parish, in 1834, a son of F. H. Wagley, who was born in Jefferson County, Illinois, in 1814. The latter's father, Abraham Wagley, was a native of North Carolina, but subsequently emigrated to Illinois, thence to Missouri, next to Arkansas, and finally, in 1824, to Louisiana. In 1833 he came to Texas, locating at Clarksville, where he lies buried.
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According to North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files (Grant No 2374, Book 100, p 212), Abraham Wagley was issued 50 acres on the south side of the Linville River in Burke County 21 Dec 1798.
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According to U.S. War of 1812 Service Records, Abraham Wagley was a private in Lt Col Whiteside's Detachment, Illinois Militia.
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Abraham Wagley received a first class land grant in Red River Co TX. See Texas General Land Office file # 000046 for Abram Wagley. Certificate No 437, included in the file, records that Abraham Wagly arrived in Red River Co TX 1 October 1834 and is entitled to a league and labor of land. The survey places Abraham's land on Shawnee Village Creek 12 miles SE of Clarksville. John Harmon certified at Clarksville 9 March 1839 that the field notes were correct and that the survey was made according to law. Note that when Abraham and Polly arrived present Texas was still a part of Mexico. The Republic of Texas was established 2 March 1836 and Texas was admitted to the Union and became the 28th state 29 December 1845.
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Abraham Wagley (born 2 Feb 1767 in Burke Co NC; home in Texas - Clarksville, Red River County, Texas; spouse Mariah Henson) is on the DRT approved ancestor list as are his sons John and Joseph.
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Following is a transcription of Abraham's Will as found under sources for Abraham Wagley's profile (K1N6-N6D) on Family Search with the citation Deed Book D, p 428-9: I Abraham Wagley considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this last will and testament in the following manner. I give to my sons, John, Philip, Bartlet, Joseph, Henson, Jacob and my daughter Elisa, my league and labor of land donated to me by the government of Texas and it is my will that it shall be divided in equal parts in such a manner as given in the following pace and it shall be decided by lots which tract of land should belong to each of the children but the improvements or the rent of the improvements on said tract of land shall be reserved to the benefit and support of my beloved wife, Maria, during her life or widowhood. I give to my wife, Maria, on condition that she not marry again, all my furniture and house utensils, etc. all money notes or money due to me and shall have the right to dispose of it so far needed of support does require it. I give one of my horses to my wife and she shall have the right to chose which one she wants. The rest of horses shall be divided equally amongst my above named children. I give to my son Henson two sheep also I give to my son, Jacob two sheep. I give to my wife, Maria, half of the flock of sheep the other half shall be divided equally amongst all my before named children except Joseph who shall be the only heir of my wife Maria's estate. In case my wife should marry again half the property give to my wife named herein has to be given to my son, Joseph Wagley. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this the 4th day of May 1839. x F. Siedikirm Abraham Wagley's Mark E. T. Tomson
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CHILDREN
Elizabeth Wagley, born in 1797, was Abraham and Polly's eldest child. She appears to have predeceased her parents as no young females are included in the family of Abraham Wagley in the 1800 census and as she is not mentioned in her father's Will.
John Wagley was living in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, in 1830 with his wife Mary Alexander and their three young sons. A document included in Texas General Land Office file # 000047, headed Republic of Texas/County of Red River, records that married man John Wagley, having resided in Texas since Nov 1833, is entitled to a league and labor of land. The survey places John's land 'about 9 miles East of Clarksville.' John and Mary are mentioned in A History of Texas Baptists (p 74-5) as a family of pioneers that were Baptists when they came to Texas and settled in Red River County. The 1850 census for Red River County, enumerated Dec 1850, records that John is a 54 year old farmer who cannot read and write and who is living with his wife Mary and their children. John married Eliza Vanbebber in August of 1850 in Claiborne County, Tennessee, apparently while he was still married to Mary (Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002). Eliza is also known as Louisa. Mary continued in Red River County in 1860. An unattributed typewritten document entitled Wagley Family tells the story of the courtship of John and Louisa: 'John Wagley was born in Morgantown, Burke County, North Carolina in 1798. In 1850 he and another man started from North Carolina on horse back to hunt a new location. As they were riding through Georgia they came to a farm with a well near the road where there was a young woman drawing water to carry to the house. They asked her if they could water their horses and get a drink and rest for a little while. She stayed and talked with them. This girl was Louisa Vanbebber, a thirty year old school teacher. Sometime before she had been at the well and came to the house and told the family that she had looked into the well and had seen the face of the man she was going to marry. The family treated the story lightly, thinking Louisa had a wonderful imagination. She talked a lot about this as the days went by. When she came to the house after the two men had gone on their way she told the family that one of the men was the man whose reflection she had seen in the well. Again the family paid little attention accusing her of being romantic. After a day or two John said to his companion, "I'm going back", of course the other man asked, "Where and why?" and John told him he was going back to see the girl they saw at the well, said he had fallen in love with her. When he arrived at the Vanbebber farm Louisa was delighted, but he received a cold reception from her parents. When he told them he wanted to marry Louisa they were distressed but Louisa acceptedat once. He stayed a few days, in spite of not being welcome, finally Louisa's parents told them that they could not marry. She didn't know him and he was twenty years older. But when Louisa told them she was going to marry him in spite of their objections they relented and helped them get a wagon and team, a little furniture and a few house keeping things. So John and Louisa were married August 22, 1850 and started out for Arkansas.' The 1860 census found John, Louisa and their children in Carroll County, post office Crooked Creek. John Wagley of Carroll County bought 160 acres in 1860 (U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015). John's Will, written 27 February 1857 in Carroll County Arkansas, names his wife Eliza and his children begotten by Eliza. The Will was recorded 2 December 1870 in Carroll County. (Arkansas, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1818-1998)
Philip Wagley Sr's first wife was Rowena Scallorn, who was born in Louisiana and is perhaps the sister of Melinda Scallorn who married Philip's brother Bartlett. Variant spellings include Scallien and Schalion. Philip Wagley and Miss Nancy Gilcrease wed in Natchitoches Parish LA in June of 1841. Philip was a farmer living in Natchitoches Parish when the 1850 census was enumerated 7 October. Household members include Philip 50 and Nancy 34 as well as Louisiana born children Philip 16, Martha 18, Mary 14, Evaline 12, Rose 10, Parthena 8, Nancy 5, John 4, Matilda 3, Henson 1 and Minerva 0. Philip was the enslaver of five people in 1850. He was a landowner (see Louisiana, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 and U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015). Philip died after 1854 as his son Benjamin Franklin Wagley (1855-1947) was born 15 March 1855.
Bartlett Wagley was born 25 April 1802 in Burke County, North Carolina, and he died in 1857 in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. He married 1) Melinda Scallorn and 2) Mary Jane Lovell, widow of William W Plunkett. Bartler Wagley and Mary Jane Pluckett married 6 Mar 1847 in Harrison Co TX (Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965). Bartlett was a farmer in Natchitoches Parish in Nov 1850 with real estate valued at $3,500. His household includes Mary (27, born in Alabama) and children Lucinda (15, LA), Franklin (11, LA), Nancy (10, LA), Mary (4, LA) and Adaline (infant born in LA). Mary J Waggle (40, insane) was living in Panola County, Texas, (PO Pulaski) in 1860 in the household of Benoni Lovel (69, farmer) with Mary Lovel (60, insane), Queen Ann Hughs (30, keeping house), Levina Waggle (11), Adeline Waggle (9), Benoni Waggle (7) and Eugene Waggle (5). The Wagley children are all recorded as having been born in Louisiana.
Joseph Wagley, who is on the DRT approved ancestor list, is the subject of a biographical entry in Daughters of the Republic of Texas (v 2, p 130): 'Joseph Wagley, son of Abraham and Maria Henson Wagley, was born March 25, 1804, in Burke County, N.C. His family moved to Illinois, then to Missouri, and finally in 1824, to Louisiana. In 1829 he married Martha Elizabeth Starks, a native of Louisiana (born 1809). She was of German descent. 'By Oct. 1, 1834, Joseph was living in Red River County, TX. He lived on a hill about two miles south of Annona overlooking the Kickapoo Valley. His brother, John, settled on the next hill south. John deeded the land for the Wagley Cemetery, later named the Garland Cemetery. Joseph's home was a stagecoach inn for about 20 years on the route between Jefferson, the riverport city, and Fort Worth, TX. 'Joseph and Martha had 11 children. The first three were born in Louisiana and the others were born in Red River County, TX. . . Joseph's wife, Martha, died in 1957 from childbirth complications. She was buried in the Garland Cemetery. Joseph and Nancy Ann Coffee were married July 11, 1858. Nancy Ann was born in 1829 in Alabama. She and Joseph had two daughters. . . 'Joseph's second wife, Nancy Ann, died in 1872 in Red River County and was buried in Garland Cemetery. 'In 1867 Joseph Wagley sold his land in Red River County and moved to Callahan County, TX, where he and a son, Abram Henson, bought 17 sections of land. 'Joseph died April 6, 1878, and was buried in a pasture northeast of Putnam, TX.Emabel Baker Fielder, (GGGD), #225158' Joseph Wagley received a 1st class Red River County land grant. See Texas GLO file # 000150. He arrived in Texas 1 October 1834. His land was 9 miles east of Clarksville and adjoined his brother John's at the NE corner according to the survey dated 7 January 1848. Also available online from the Texas General Land Office is file # 000384 Red River first class grant for Joseph Wagley, patent 21 June 1848. A survey made under the Republic of Texas in 1840 places the land near Shawnee Village. An article entitled 1842 House Occupied, appeared in the Marshall (TX) Messenger Sun 30 Apr 1967: 'Annona, Tex. (AP) - A large East Texas house built by slaves in 1842 is still being lived in today. 'Now owned by Roy Garland, the two-story structure was built by Joseph Wagley as a stagecoach inn. 'Situated on a hill overlooking the Kickapoo Valley about 40 miles west of Texarkana, it has become an area landmark. . . . 'Wagley first built a small, one-room cabin atop the hill. His family lived there while the slaves cut and sawed huge logs to fashion the home proper, which was put together with wooden pegs and a few square nails. 'It took about two years to build the home, and it immediately became a stagecoach inn. 'Drivers stopped there to harness fresh horses, and passengers had their meals, rested a spell and sometimes spent the night. 'There were a lot of Indians around but the great majority were the friendly kickapoos. 'Wagley sold the home and half the headright in 1867 to Jack Garland and his son, Joseph Garland.' The Wagley family burial ground was included as part of the land sold to the Garlands and it came to be known as the Garland Cemetery. According to an historical marker placed at the cemetery in 2005: 'In 1866, Joseph Wagley sold 2,300 acres of land, including this family burying ground to John C. and J.D. Garland, and moved to Callahan County. Several Wagley family members are known to be buried here, although only two of the graves are marked. The earliest date on a tombstone, that of Ella McCallum, is 1874. 'The Cemetery became the Garland Cemetery over the years, and family members deeded five acres to the Methodist Church in 1914 for continued use as a graveyard. Today, Annona Methodist Church and members of the community maintain the historic site, which serves as a tie to generations of area settlers.' The Abilene Reporter-News published 'Family honors confederate soldier' by Terry Minami on Sat 1 Dec 1990: 'Putnam - In the late 1800s, Joseph Wagley was an adventurer, businessman, and confederate soldier. 'Now 112 years after his death, more than 25 relatives came to honor Joseph Wagley during a ceremony Friday afternoon. They dedicated a new tombstone honoring his service to the Confederacy in a field near Putnam. 'The tombstone reads, "Pvt. Joseph Wagley, Company B 43 Miss. Infantry, CSA."'
Matilda Wagley, born 1806 in Burke Co NC, was not mentioned in her father's 1839 Will, apparently having predeceased him.
Eliza Wagley, born 14 July 1812 in Burke Co NC, died 6 April 1888 in McLennan Co TX. She married Jacob 'Jake' Masters Jr about 1829. Jake was born in North Carolina in 1807 and immigrated to what is now Houston Co TX with his birth family in 1829. Jacob's petition for a league of land, which began at the NW corner of his father's, was granted in a document signed 14 February 1835 at Nacogdoches. A Jacob Masters, likely our subject, requested compensation from the quartermaster in 1839 for a gun deposited with the public arms. This weapon was provided at the time of the Cherokee War of East Texas when the Cherokee were driven from their territory north of the San Antonio Road between the Trinity and Sabine rivers. Jacob and Eliza were in Houston County at the time of the 1850 census. They were in McLennan County when the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses were taken and Jacob's occupation was listed as farmer. He also kept a stage stand where the horses were changed and dinner was served to passengers on the stagecoach that ran from Belton to Waco (see the Texas Slave Narrative of Lou Austin). According to A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas (1893), Jacob participated in the Battle of San Jacinto and moved to McLennan County in 1856. Jacob Masters Jr is also mentioned as having fought in the Battle of San Jacinto in an article that appeared in Uncle Cox's 'Peregrinations' column in the Waco Times-Herald 7 March 1920. Eliza died 6 April 1888 and Jake died a week later on the 13th. They are buried with other family members at the Bruceville-Moore Cemetery in Bruceville (formerly Mastersville) TX.
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Masters Family History (Maxine Powell, 1994), p 27:
Jacob Masters (JR) 1807-1888
'Jacob Masters (Jr), the fourth of 8 children of Jacob (Sr) and Elizabeth Shaw Masters, was born October 28, 1807 in Lincoln County North Carolina. His father was named Jacob and he also had a son named Jacob. To complicate matters each one of his sons and uncles also had a Jacob. About 1829 he married Eliza Catherine Wagley. She was born in Burke County NC, July 14, 1811. Census records say Illinois. They lived in NC a short time where their first child, Mary Ann, was born and then moved on to Texas in 1830 where they settled near Crockett, TX in what is now Houston County. It was here that nine more children were born; Henry F, Abraham Andrew, Jacob (III), Elizabeth (Bettie), Matilda Caroline, Cordelia, Eliza Catherine, Andrew Jackson and Louise Jane.
'He and his brother Henry both received Spanish land grants of leagues and labors of land from the Mexican government signed at Nacogdoches, then the capital of the Republic of Texas, dated November 4th, 1834. Jacob participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.
'Jacob (Jr) signed a petition to the congress of the Republic of Texas in Sept. 1837 to lower taxes. The document was signed also by his father Jacob (Sr).
'In the 1840 census of Houston County in the Republic of TX Jacob is listed as having 4228 acres under a title that was patent with the General Land Office. At that time he had one town lot, 1 stud work horse, 1 wood clock and 60 head of cattle. The 1850 census lists the family of Jacob and Eliza still in Houston County near Crockett with 8 children. Not listed was Mary Ann, the oldest who had probably already married and the youngest, Louise Jane, who was born later that year. Jacob was listed as not being able to read or write.
'In the year 1856 the family moved on to McLennan County near Waco, TX. At the time the county population was but a few hundred people. They settled in a small farming community just south of Waco. One of the favorite stories of the children when growing up was when they had to keep watch for Indians on their place on the Brazos River in McLennan Co. The children would take turns keeping watch. One day when Fannie, (Jacob's niece, daughter of Lemuel and "Polly" Masters Rice), about 7 years of age, her older sister and one younger brother were home alone they spotted a couple of men approaching the house. The children quickly removed a few boards from the floor which their father had left loose for such an emergency. They quickly crawled under the floor and put the boards back in place before the Indians entered the house. When the Indians came into the house, Fannie could see them walking around through the cracks in the floor, but the Indians could not see them. The children were scared to death that the Indians might hear or see them, but after a little while the Indians took some food and left the children unharmed.
'As other settlers came, the community was named Mastersville in honor of Jacob. The name was later changed to Bruceville in honor of the man who gave the land. By 1860 the county had grown, with 800 people living in Waco, the only real town in the county and the county seat. The 1860 census shows Jacob & Eliza with $12,262 worth of real estate and $5,024 of personal property. There were 7 children still living in the home including Abe and his 5 months son John Andrew. There was also a hired white man living with them by the name of Robert Whatley, 21 years of age.
'The census of 1870 gave Waco as the residence for Jacob and Eliza. Waco was beginning to be a distributing city for the county when the rail road was built in the 1870's. The census of 1870 gave him $5,000 worth of real estate and $1,500 of personal property and only two children still at home, Henry and Louise. A hired man by the name of Charles Leland, age 25, born in Ireland, was also listed. The 1880 census gave Jacob's residence as District 109 in McLennan County, and occupation as a farmer at age of 72 years. Henry was still living at home at age 46 and single. It stated that Jacob and Eliza could not read or write. Here Eliza died April 6, 1888 at age of 76 years and 8 months. Jacob died a few days later on April 13, 1888, at the age of 80 years and 5 months. Both are buried at the Moore Cemetery, (next to IH 35 on the east side) Bruceville, TX in McLennan County.'
Freeland Henson Wagley was born in Jefferson Co IL in 1814 and he died in 1888 according to to the DRT. His stone at the Tehuacana Cemetery in Limestone Co TX is inscribed Sacred to the memory of F. H. Wagley / Born Feb. 5 1814 / Died July 7 1886. Freeland married Louisiana born Mary A Lum. Her stone at the Fairview Cemetery in Hubbard, Hill, Texas has her dates as 27 Mar 1815-14 Sep 1900. The 1850 census found F Henson Wagley, a 36 year old planter born in IL with real estate valued at 2500, with his wife Mary and their Louisiana born children in Desoto Parish, Louisiana. Desoto was formed from Natchitoches Parish in 1843. F H Wagley enslaved 7 people in 1850 and 15 people in 1860 (U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules). FH Wagley (66, born in IL, parents born in NC) was a farmer living with Mary A Wagley (65, housekeeper) in Limestone Co TX in 1880. Mary, widowed, was living in Hill Co Tx in 1900.
Simeon Jacob Wagley Census: 1840 Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, Jacob Wagley head, one male under 5, one male 20-29, one female 15-19.1860 Red River Co TX (PO Clarksville), Jacob Wagley head, laborer, cannot read or write, Elizabeth Wagley 26 KY, Joseph Wagley 10 AK, Victory 1/12 TX.1870 Prairie, Carroll, Arkansas (PO Berryville), Simeon Wagley head, 55, 1815 IL, jobber, Elizabeth 36 1834 KY, keeping house can't read/write, Victory 10 TX can't read/write, Adelia 6 1864 TX, Joda D/Iodie 2 1868 MO.1880 Pct 5, Dallas Co TX, SJ Wagley 63 farmer and Elizabeth 46 KY KY KY are living with their daughter Victorie Holland and her husband WC Holland.Texas, U.S., County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910:SJ Wagley 1879 Dallas County, Precinct No. 2Dallas TX City Directory:1894 Wagley, Elizabeth (widow Jacob), h. B. T. Maddox1905 Wagley Myzilla E. (widow Simeon J.), h. 527 Worth1906 Wagley Myzilla E. (widow Simeon J), h. 527 Worth.
lili li née Loretta McKay Masters4th great granddaughter of Abraham Wagley and Maria 'Polly' Henson16 February 2024
Family Members
Spouse
Maria Sarah "Polly" Henson Wagley 1768-1848
Children
Joseph Wagley 1804-1878
Eliza Wagley Masters 1811-1888
Freeland Henson Wagley 1814-1886
Maintained by: Miss BeeHaven (48748561)
Originally Created by: Bobby and Carol Babin Estes (46900498)
Added: 2008-02-18T05:24:18.000Z
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24713155/abraham-c-wagley
Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24713155/abraham_c-wagley: accessed August 30, 2025), memorial page for Abraham C. Wagley (2 Feb 1767-29 Nov 1843), Find a Grave Memorial ID 24713155, citing Fairview Cemetery, Hubbard, Hill County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Miss BeeHaven (contributor 48748561).
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Steve Butler and Suzanne Hibbs Family History
1767 - 1843
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