He was born in 1810 in Ohio. He came to Waterloo on the Colorado River in The Republic of Texas in the late 1830īs. William received a Fannin 3 land grant for 320 acres issued May 14,1839.
He was the original owner of several town lots in Austin.
He owned at least one building on two of his town lots on the west side of Congress Avenue between what is now 7th and 8th St. (Hickory and Bois DīArc) (Block 83, Lots 3 & 4. Congress Ave).
According to the Texas Sentinel; Volume 2; October 7, 1841 Texas.)
"The Centinel Office has been removed to Mr. Custards building, on the west side of Congress Ave., next door below the State Department." . (Found on microfilm at The Barker Center, Austin, Texas).
1840 Map of Austin (Plan of the City by H. H. Farley) showing the original
owners of lots. Each Block was divided into about 8 - 12 lots. The following
are from that map:
William Custard's lots:
1. Block 83, Lots 3 & 4. Congress Ave.
2. Block 112, Lot 1. SW corner of Brazos and Ash.
3. Block 145, Lots 5 & 6. "Geo. W. Glasscock Assn Wm Custard 830"
4. Block 146, Lot 2. "Robt Creuzbaur, Wm Custard 561 ptd
5. Block 146, Lots 5 & 6. Mary A. Custard assn Francis Dietrich 562 ptd."
6. Block 146, Lot 7. "Robt Creuzbaur assn Wm Custard 561? ptd" East side of
Capitol, NE and SE corner.
7. Block 146, Lot 11 & 12. "Wm Custard assn Francis Dietrich 562[?] ptd."
Also found town lots for Caroline Townsend, Thomas G. Cornelius, William
Bell.
1839-1840
Country: Republic of Texas
State: Texas
County: Texas
Town: Travis
Source: Democratic Statesman, newspaper, Austin, Texas
August 15, 1875, page 3, column 2
This is an addendum to a previous article in the paper. Several people's
names had been left out of a list of early Texas settlers that had lived,
during 1839 - 40, in the Cook Hotel in Austin. In this article the names
listed, include William Custard's name. The article stated that these people
were "... more or less interested in the affair of the Land Office archives
war."
1839, Oct 14. Country: Republic of Texas Town: Austin Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. The following is a list of jobs that William either did on Oct. 14 or billed the Republic of Texas for on Oct. 14. William putting up a desk and seal for the Navy Department of the Republic of Texas and is paid $8.00. He does work for the War Department and is paid $4. He puts up a desk for the Pay Department and is paid $9. For the Post Office Department, he makes a table for the office for $10. and puts up a desk for $11. See Custard Appendix 22.
1840, Jan. Country: Republic of Texas Town: Austin Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. David G. Burnet signs an approval for William to receive $31.88 for 10 days rent for the executive office in Austin, Texas. See Custard Appendice.
1840, Jan 31. Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Town: Austin Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. William is paid $25.00 for making a frame and pigeon holes, ordered by President David Burnet, for the executive office in Austin, Texas, ordered by President David Burnet. See Custard Appendice.
1840 Feb. Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Town: Austin Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. David G. Burnet signs an approval for William to be paid $126. rent (for 1 month and 26 days) on his property being used as the Burnet's office , in Austin, Texas. of $126. See Custard Appendix 22.
1840 Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Town: Austin Source: Republic of Texas Census, Travis County. William owned 1 town lot in Austin.
1841, Feb. 9. Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Town: Austin Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. William Custard files a claim/bill with the Republic of Texas to be paid $150. for rent of the executive office in Austin, Texas. See Custard Appendix 22.
1841, Mar. 4, 5. Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Town: Austin Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. David G. Burnet signs an approval for William to receive $38. for repairs and funiture for the President's house. On March 5, William files to be paid $228. for furniture and repairs done on the President's house.See Custard Appendice.
1841, April 15 to June 4, 1841. Country: Republic of Texas Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. William Custard volunteered and served as a private in Captain Thomas Green's Company, under Major Mark B. Lewis, during this time in a campaign against the "hostile Indians." He was paid $41.66 for his service. He was not paid for his service until 1857. See Custard Appendix 23.
1841, July - September 1. Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Source: Republic of Texas Claims, microfilm, Reel 156, Frame 494, 495 found in the Texas State Library and Arhives, Austin, Texas. William served in the army of the Republic of Texas in Capt. Chandler's Company, as a substitute for a Mr. Rayford,during an expedition against the Indians. Philip Golden was a fellow soldier. Custard Appendix 24.
1841 October 7 Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Source: Newspaper: Texas Sentinel; Volume 2; October 7, 1841. Found on microfilm at The Barker Center, Austin, Texas. "The Centinel Office has been removed to Mr. Custards building, on the west side of Congress Ave., next door below the State Department."
1842 Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Source: Williams Papers; Austin History Center; Austin, Texas States that William was a soldier in Vasquez Campaign, 1842.
1842 Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Source: Index to Military Rolls of the Republic of Texas; For dates of enrollment, service, and remarks see "Attack and Counterattack: The Texas Mexican Frontier, 1842, by Joseph Milton Nance, UT Press, Austin, 1964 Thomas Green/Washington D. Miller Company. Enlisted for the protection of Austin, Mar 11, 1842.
1844 Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Town: Austin Source: Texas Tax List Index, 1840-1849
1845 County: Texas County: Travis Source: Texas General Land Office William's conditional certificate, issued May 14, 1839, for 320 acres in Milam County (now Travis county) became permanent. He received a "class 3" certificate, which meant he came to Texas between October 1, 1837 and January 1, 1840. Single men received 320 acres.
1846 Country: Republic of Texas County: Travis Source: Republic of Texas Poll Lists Listed as a tax payer.
1850
State: TX
County: Travis
Source: 1850 US Census; Dw 228/ Family 228; page 148
Custard, William; 39 years old, born Ohio, Carpenter, owns 800 acres
............., Mary; 28 years, born Indiana
............., William; male, 2 years, born Texas
............., Mary; female, 1 year, born Texas
1851, December. State: TX County: Travis Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. See Custard Appendix 21. A friend, Francis Arthur, living in San Francisco, California is giving power of attorney to William. Francis was a prisoner and member of the Mier Expedition against Mexico, and is asking William to collect the pay due him.
1853 March 5 State: Texas County: Travis Source: Newspaper: Texas State Gazette. March 5, 1853. Page 8, Column 2. Found on microfilm in the Barker Center, Austin, Texas. See Custard Appendix 17. "Farm for Rent. The undersigned wishes to rent his farm on Walnut Creek for the remaining season of 1853 situated at the crossing of the Cameron road 7 miles northeast of Austin with one hundred and ten acres under cultivation. There is an excellent cedar fence and comfortable buildings. The same would be sold on reasonable terms for cash including four hundred and forty acres. Oct. 2, 1852. Wm. Custard."
1853 November 1 State: Texas County: Travis Source: Newspaper: Texas State Gazette. November 1, 1853. Page 8, Column 2. Found on microfilm in the Barker Center, Austin, Texas. See Custard Appendix 17. A repeat of the ad placed on March 5, 1853. However, inquiries are directed to William at a building next to the old State Department, across from Swenson's. (See entry for October 7, 1841)
1855 May 22 State: Texas County: Travis Source: Travis County, Texas Courthouse. Marriage License 253. See Custard Appendix 18. William marries Clarinda Stanfield.
1857 State: TX County: Travis Source: Source: Republic of Texas Claims found on microfilm in Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. Verification is entered into the Republic of Texas Claims verifying that William had received payment for military service performed 1841 with a Public Debt certificate.
1858, March 3. State: TX County: Travis Source: Republic of Texas Claims, microfilm, Reel 156, Frame 494, 495, found in Tthe Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. William vouches for the identity of a soldier, Philip Golden, who served with him in Capt. Chandler's Company in 1851.
1860
State: TX
County: Travis
Town / Area: Merriltown P.O.
Source: 1860 US Census
1860 Merriltown PO, Travis County, Texas.
W. Custard..............50 male Ohio
C (Clarinda)..............................22 female Tenn
W............................13 male Texas
M.............................11 male Texas
W..............................9 male Texas
S (Susan)..............................4 female Texas
C (Catherine)..............................2 female Texas
C (Cornelia)...............................1 female Texas
Suppostion: the first 3 children were Mary Ann Bell's. The 22 year old
female is his new wife Clarinda.
1867 State: TX County: Travis Source: 1867 Voters' Registration of Texas; microfilm in the Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas. This registration was taken during the Reconstruction after the Civil War. I The record states that William Custard had been in Texas for 26 years (which is not accurate, since we have other military records showing he was in Texas in 1839) and that he was born in Ohio.
1870 State: TX County: Travis Source: 1870 US Census Travis County, Texas Census Page 246, Dwelling 611 Custard, William....59 Ohio...farmer...father foreign born...mother foreign born Clarinda.................31 Texas (wrong state?)...keeping house Susan....................14 Texas...at home Catherine...............13 Texas Cornelia................12 Texas Betty......................9 Texas Daniel....................8 Texas Seth.......................7 Texas Charles.................6 Texas Hiram....................4 Texas Clark......................2 Texas
1873 State: TX County: Travis Source: Listed in "1833- 1878 Early Texas Birth Records," Travis Co., William and Clara Custard, born Ellen, Oct. 6, 1873.
1878 State: Texas County: Travis Source: The Democratic Statesman, newspaper, Austin, Texas January 20, 1878, page 4, column 3 Fecundity is what they call it. It attaches to the community in Big Walnut, near the iron bridge. Everybody in that neighborhood knows exactly the meaning of fecundity. John Dillingham and A. B. Townsend and William Custard and Tom Bacon and Mr. Careley all know something about it whether the good ladies of their families do or not. They have respectively eleven, thirteen, thirteen, twelve, and twelve children, sixty-one in all, and no probability yet of a cessation in increase. John Dillingham, whom we sometime ago recorded as the laziest farmer in Travis County, naturally enough falls behind in populating the county, but John in this matter may turn out slow and sure, and the rest will have to look to their laurels. Sixty-one children in five families in the same neighborhood is good, and we challenge any other community to beat it. It is said that all the other families in the same neighborhood are following in the footsteps of these five good fathers, and we just now wot of a lady in Austin, in her third married year, who will at once be after taking her husband and becoming a resident of the Dillingham neighborhood. Babies are in its very atmosphere.
1880 State: TX County: Travis Source: 1880 US Census Travis County, Texas Census Page 16, Dwelling 55 Custard, William......69 farmer Ohio Clarinda...................40 keeps house Texas Daniel......................18 Texas Seth.........................16 Texas Charles...................14 Texas Hyram.....................13 Texas Clark.......................11 Texas Lula..........................9 Texas Ellen.........................6 Texas Samuel.....................5 Texas
1882 July 25 State: Texas County: Williamson (deed drawn up in Bastrop County, where sellers, H. and Nancy A. Childress, live) Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds, Volume 29, Page 200. See Custard Appendix 10 William buys a lot in Georgetown on the San Gabriel River for $125.
1882 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds See Custard Appendix 13 Two pieces of property and two deeds: This 1886 instrument verified that William bought a town lot on the north San Gabriel in Georgetown from George Glasscock in 1882.
1882 December 12 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds, Volume 40, Page 448 See Custard Appendix 15 William sells a town lot in Georgetown on the San Gabriel River to John and Johannie Turner.
1883 April 11 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds, Volume 40, Page 448 See Custard Appendix 15 For $400. William buys back from John and Johannie Turner a town lot in Georgetown on the San Gabriel River he sold to them in December 1882.
1885 February 19 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds, Volume 40, Page 490 See Custard Appendix 15 For $1000., William buys 358 acres of land "six miles above Georgetown and situated on the North San Gabriel" from G. J. Whiteley and wife Malinda Whiteley.
1886 December 24 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds See Custard Appendix 13 Two pieces of property and two deeds: This instrument verified that William bought a town lot on the north San Gabriel in Georgetown from George Glasscock in 1882. 1885 December 9. State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds, Volume 40, Page 543 See Custard Appendix 11 William deeds a town lot in Georgetown to his 13 year old daughter, Ellen.
1886 December 24 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds See Custard Appendix 13 Two pieces of property and two deeds: This instrument verified that William bought a town lot on the north San Gabriel in Georgetown from George Glasscock in 1882.
1886 December 24 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds, Volume 40, Page 542 See Custard Appendix 12 William and Clarinda deed to their 11 year old son, Samuel, a lot in Georgetown on the San Gabriel River.
1886 December 24 State: Texas County: Williamson Town: Georgetown Source: Williamson County, Texas, Courthouse; Deeds, Volume 40 See Custard Appendix 12 William deeds a town lot in Georgetown on the San Gabriel River to his daughter Susan Custard Little in 1883. The deed dated December 24, 1886 confirms that the deed dated 1883 is valid. 1895 Sep 12 State: Texas County: Travis Town: Austin Source: Oakwood Cemetery Ledger housed in the Austin History Center, Austin, Texas. See Custard Appendix 33. William died in Hutto, Texas and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas. Jan 15, 2006, Mom and I went to the Austin History Center. We found on microfiche cemetery records for the Custards buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas. The location of the cemetery is between Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and 14th Street, east of Interstate Hwy. 35. Listed on the microfiche record, but not in the ledgers (the ledgers begin in 1866) are Dan Custard, died May 7, 1846; Infant daughter Custard, died Aug 15, 1857; Infant son Custard, died Oct 25, 1854, and Ma[r]y Ann Custard, died October 1, 1851 [Note: this is the wrong date, she died in 1854, as reported by an Oct 1854 Austin newspaper]. Also in the [Info from 2005: Source: Sharon Wilson, daughter of William H. Custard b. 1927. She now lives in Seattle, Washington (2005). 2005 Feb 9 I spoke with Sharon Custard Wilson. I mentioned to her that Grandma Suzy (Suzy Townsend Martin) told me that she was the 2nd cousin of General George Armstrong Custer. Sharon said that it is their oral family history that the Custards are related to him. The Custards changed their name to "Custard" to distinguish their Custer name from other relatives because their mail was getting mixed up.