William A. Mathews

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William A. Mathews (1800–1856) was a 19th-century Texas colonist, soldier, courier and quartermaster in the Texas Revolution.

Texas Revolution military conflict

The Texas Revolution was a rebellion of colonists from the United States and Tejanos in putting up armed resistance to the centralist government of Mexico. While the uprising was part of a larger one that included other provinces opposed to the regime of President Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Mexican government believed the United States had instigated the Texas insurrection with the goal of annexation. The Mexican Congress passed the Tornel Decree, declaring that any foreigners fighting against Mexican troops "will be deemed pirates and dealt with as such, being citizens of no nation presently at war with the Republic and fighting under no recognized flag." Only the province of Texas succeeded in breaking with Mexico, establishing the Republic of Texas, and eventually being annexed by the United States.

Contents

Early life and family

Mathews sometimes spelled Matthews, was born in Vermont in 1800. At the age of seventeen, he would join with Green DeWitt at Missouri. In 1824, he would assist DeWitt when traveling to Texas, bringing in families and settling near Gonzales, Texas. Mathews married Naomi Dewitt, a daughter of Green DeWitt and they had one son. Mathews became a prominent citizen of Gonzales, rendering aid to all settlers of the colony. [1] His wife died early and in 1838 he married Nancy King, a daughter of John G. King. They had two children. [2]

Green DeWitt was an empresario in Mexican Texas. He founded the DeWitt Colony.

Career in Texas

Mathews would aid in the colonization of the DeWitt Colony. He would contract with DeWitt, who was encountering difficulties filling his obligations with the Mexican government in bringing 400 families to Texas. Mathews was contracted to bring 20 families into the DeWitt Colony from Tennessee. Mathews would guide the group to Texas, seeing to procure their supplies and other needs. [3] Once entering Texas he would assure that they would receive their land grants. He acquired much land for himself, thus becoming a farmer and cattle rancher of the region. [4]

The DeWitt Colony was a settlement in Mexican Texas founded by Green DeWitt. From lands belonging to that colony, the present Texas counties of DeWitt, Guadalupe and Lavaca were created. The hub of the colony was primarily located, however, in what is now Gonzales County. The first battle of the Texas Revolution occurred in the DeWitt Colony.

Tennessee State of the United States of America

Tennessee is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th largest and the 16th most populous of the 50 United States. Tennessee is bordered by Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, Arkansas to the west, and Missouri to the northwest. The Appalachian Mountains dominate the eastern part of the state, and the Mississippi River forms the state's western border. Nashville is the state's capital and largest city, with a 2017 population of 667,560 and a 2017 metro population of 1,903,045. Tennessee's second largest city is Memphis, which had a population of 652,236 in 2017.

Texas Revolution

On February 4, 1836, William A. Mathews was named along with Mathew Caldwell and Byrd Lockhart as commissioners to raise a group of volunteers in Gonzales for a ranging company. [5] On February 23, a 23 member Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers were mustered into service. [6] During the Texas Revolution, he would participate as a volunteer soldier, courier and quartermaster.

Mathew Caldwell Texan settler

Matthew Caldwell,, also spelled Mathew Caldwell was a 19th-century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales – Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Because of his recruitment ride ahead of the Battle of Gonzales, some have called him the Paul Revere of Texas.

Byrd Lockhart (1782–1839), was a 19th-century American surveyor, Alamo defender, courier, and Texian officer during the Texas Revolution.

In 1837-1838, he would serve with Byrd Lockhart's company, as a scout for the Republic. [7]

William A. Matthews died in 1856 and was buried on the east side of the Masonic cemetery in Gonzales. [8]

Legacy

In 1962, a historical grave marker was placed in the Gonzales Masonic Cemetery, honoring his service to Texas. [9]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Johnson (1916), p. 1284.
  2. ↑ TAMU, Sons of DeWitt
  3. ↑ TAMU, Tennessee-Texas Land Company
  4. ↑ Johnson (1916), p. 1285.
  5. ↑ Lindley (2003), p. 96.
  6. ↑ Bill Groneman, "LOCKHART, BYRD," Handbook of Texas Online , accessed June 25, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
  7. ↑ Military Rolls A3; T1 p70-71
  8. ↑ Gonzales Historical Markers
  9. ↑ Texas Stoppingpoints

Sources

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