Nicholas Gassaway facts for kids

Colonel Nicholas Gassaway (born in 1634 – died in 1691) was an important leader in early Maryland. He was a military officer, a politician, and a judge. Many people in the United States today with the last name Gassaway are related to him.

The Gassaway Family Name

Nicholas Gassaway helped make "Gassaway" the main family name. Before him, his father's family used "Gaswaie." Over time, different spellings like Gasaway, Gasway, and Gazaway also appeared. Even Nicholas's own baptism record used "Gasway." His brothers and sisters had various spellings in their records, showing how the name changed over the years.

Nicholas Gassaway's Life and Work

Nicholas Gaswaie was born in London, England, in 1634. His family were merchants from Wales. Around 1650, he moved to the Maryland colony in America. He started as a professional manager for large farms called plantations.

Life in Maryland

Within ten years, Nicholas owned a big tobacco plantation near what is now Annapolis, Maryland. He shipped tobacco back to his family in England from his own dock. He became one of the largest landowners in the Maryland colony.

Military and Political Roles

Nicholas Gassaway was also a military officer. He quickly became a Major and later a Colonel in 1672. He helped protect the colony during small fights with local Native American groups.

He was also active in politics and law. He became a "Gentleman Justice of the Quorum," which was a type of judge. In 1683, he was named a Commissioner of Londontowne, a local leader. He also became a Commissioner of the Peace in 1686, helping to keep order. From 1689 to 1691, he was part of the "Committee of Twenty." This group governed the Maryland Colony until a new Royal Governor arrived from England. In his final years, he also served as a Justice of the Provincial Court.

Family Legacy in Leadership

Nicholas's son, Captain Thomas Gassaway, continued the family tradition. He was a military and civilian leader, serving as Lord High Sheriff for Anne Arundel County from 1711 to 1714. Thomas also provided land for important places like the South River Club and All Hallows Church. His grandson, Captain John Gassaway, later became High Sheriff of Annapolis.

Nicholas Gassaway's Family

Colonel Nicholas Gassaway was baptized in London, England, in 1634. His parents were Thomas Gaswaie and Ann Collingwood. He moved to North America around 1650.

Nicholas married Anne Besson, the daughter of Captain Thomas Besson. They had seven children: Captain Nicholas, Ann, Hester, John, Jane, Margaret, and Captain Thomas. Many of his children and grandchildren also became officers in the Maryland Provincial Forces, following in his footsteps.

Notable Descendants

Several of Nicholas Gassaway's great-grandchildren served as officers in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. These included Lieutenant Henry Gassaway, Lieutenant Nicholas Gassaway, and Captain John Gassaway. His great-great-grandson, Colonel Gassaway Watkins, also fought in the revolution and later led the Maryland chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati.

One very famous descendant of Colonel Nicholas Gassaway was Henry G. Davis. He was a successful railroad owner from West Virginia. He served as a Senator for West Virginia from 1871 to 1883. In 1904, he even ran for Vice President of the United States. The town of Gassaway, West Virginia is named after him. Another notable descendant was the sculptor Rudulph Evans.

This chart shows how many people with the Gassaway name lived in the U.S. in 2000.

According to the Census of 2000, there were 5,599 people in the United States named Gassaway, Gasaway, Gasway, or Gazaway. About 79% of them were identified as white, and 16% as African-American.

The Mystery of His Burial Place

Colonel Nicholas Gassaway owned large areas of land near Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. His land was next to the Selby family's land. After his death, his son Captain Nicholas inherited his home, the Love's Neck plantation.

A strange discovery was made many years later. In the 1960s, it was found that a stone used as a step at a nearby house, called Gresham house, was actually the gravestone of Colonel Nicholas Gassaway! His son Captain Nicholas's gravestone was also found there earlier and moved to St. Anne's Church in Annapolis.

It remains a mystery how Colonel Nicholas's and his son's gravestones ended up at Gresham house, and exactly where their bodies are buried.