FAMILY‒Margaret Gay’s Siblings

Margaret Gay, wife of John Nelson Hays, was born on May 19, 1833, in Kershaw County, South Carolina. Margaret’s father Thomas Nathanial Knox "TN" Gay was born in North Carolina about 1800. “TN” married Bethany Bass (1806‒1881) about 1825; she was born in Kershaw, South Carolina, the daughter of Nathan Bass and Martha Elias Harper.

The 1850 Kershaw, Kershaw County, South Carolina Census recorded: Margaret Gay 18, in a household with her mother "Thenia" 43, and siblings George W. 21, Martha 22, Isaac 16, Jesse 15, and 12-year-old twins Nathaniel and William Thomas Gay. 

Margaret Gay's known siblings:

• John M. Gay 1826‒1901 (John was noted on censuses as "insane.") On the 1880 Buford, Union County, NC Census, John 60, was noted with his mother 75-year-old mother Bethany Bass Gay.

• Martha Jane Gay 1828‒1895 married farmer Joel Broom on December 26, 1853, in Union County. Joel Broom (1830‒1906) was born in Richardson Creek, Mecklenburg County. 

During the Civil War, Joel was a member of the 10th Battalion, North Carolina Heavy Artillery. Martha Jane and Joel were parents of eight children. They both died in Lost Creek, White County, Tennessee.

Broom cousins

• George W. Gay 1829‒1900 was born April 24, 1829.
 

POTTERY

• Isaac E. Gay 1835‒1904 was born January 19, 1835 in Kershaw, SC. On May 10, 1852, Isaac married Mary McCray; they were parents of five children. On Union County, on June 5, 1861, Isaac enlisted in the Confederate Army; private in Company B, NC 26th Infantry Regiment,also known as "Waxhaw Jackson Guards" and mustered out December 1, 1864. He was wounded on July 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill, Virginia, during the Seven Days Battles; he returned to duty prior to October 1862. The unit went on to surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. The 1870 Buford, Union County Census recorded Isaac's occupation as "potter;" real estate $221, personal estate $170. Isaac's wife Mary died in 1871 at age 35. The 1880 census found potter Isaac and children were recorded in Buffalo Township, Kershaw County, SC; 25-acre farm with some live stock, total value $500. In 1895, 60-year-old Isaac married M. "Axie" Mangum in Union County. On the 1900 Buford, Union County Census, farmer Isaac and wife were at home with 2-year-old Anna Gay. Isaac killed himself on April 30, 1904 in Alton, Union County, NC. The following May 4, 1904 obituary is upsetting! Do not click the link to read without a strong stomach. Obituary of Isaac Gay in The Monroe Journal

Civil War Profile
Monroe Enquirer-Journal- February 4, 1982

• Nathaniel Gay, twin of William Thomas Gay, was born in Kershaw, SC, on June 3, 1838, and died March 23, 1902. Nathaniel enlisted as Confederate soldier on February 18, 1862; Co. C, 10th Battalion, NC Heavy Artillery. Mustered in as Corporal and appointed Sergeant on January 16, 1863. He was reduced in rank October 18, 1864 by reason of neglect of duty; paroled at Charlotte, NC. (Comment by relative: he left to go home to take care of his mother.) Nathaniel married Elizabeth Jane Sims about 1870. Home in 1880: Gills Creek, Lancaster, SC, farmer Nathaniel with wife Elizabeth 30, six children, and mother-in-law Sarah Sims 55. Nathaniel died in Alton, Union County and buried in the Gay Cemetery.

• William Thomas Gay, twin of Nathaniel, was born June 3, 1838, and died November 1, 1909. William married Mary N. Broom in 1857 in Union County. William enlisted as Confederate soldier, March 24, 1862 in Union County: Co. C, 10th Battalion Heavy Artillery. He was paroled May 3, 1865 in Charlotte. William’s wife Mary Broom, born in NC, had eight children in 17 years; she died February 21, 1907 in Buford, Union County. The 1880 Buford, Union County Census found them farming in Buford, with seven children, ages 19 to 3 years. 

William Thomas Gay and Mary Broom Gay