Mary Ivy Hay Williams Burleson

BURLESON, MARY IVY HAY WILLIAMS (1842 ~ 1932). Mary Ivy Hay Williams Burleson, wife of Texas Ranger and Confederate veteran Jacob Burleson, Jr., was born October 20, 1842, in Rapides Parish, Louisiana to William Hay and Louisa Barton, both of Louisiana. At age 13, Mary moved to Texas and later married Dan Williams, with whom she had three children.

After William's death, Mary married Jacob Burleson on July 16, 1868, in Pleasanton, where they worked as ranchers and started their family. They had five children, two of who died at an early age. The family later moved to Carrizo Springs and had another child and raised three of Mary's children from her first marriage. In all the Burlesons raised twelve children: Nancy, Edward, Annie, Maggie, John, Aaron Jacob, Haddie, Belle, and Texas Grey, along with Mary's children from her first marriage, Mollie, Leroy, and Terah.

On April 7, 1905, Jacob moved to the Confederate Men's Home in Austin and Mary went to live with their daughter, Belle, in Sprinkle, Texas, where Jacob died while on furlough on February 26, 1917.

After Jacob's death, Mary continued to live in Travis County and on May 16, 1917, applied for Jacob's pension from the State of Texas, but was rejected. She eventually moved to Austin and died on July 19, 1932, and was buried next to Jacob in the Texas State Cemetery the next day.

Information taken from: "Jacob Burleson, Jr." Daughters of the Republic of Texas: Patriot Ancestor Album; Widow's Application for a Pension, "Colorful Indian Fighter's Wife Is Taken By Death" unidentified Austin newspaper, July 16, 1932; Death Certificate # 32262; and further information provided by descendant Helen Burleson Kelso.