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Davy Crockett became one of America's
first heroes of the wild west,
frontiersman.
After the American colonies had won
their independence from Britain in 1782,
they were then free to move west, taking
over new lands in North America.
The first American colonies had
originally only settled along the east
coast, this forcing the native Indians
from these regions 'Delaware' 'Shanne'
and 'Mavgo' to move west of the
Appalachia mountain range and settle in
the regions of Ohio and Kentucky.
The first colonial Americans to move
west, traveled across the Appalachia
mountains via the Limestone Road, or the
more dangerous Wilderness Road, moving
into Ohio and the Blue Grass region of
Kentucky.
That became a dangerous time for these
settlers, as the native Indians were
reluctant to relocate for a second time.
Also, at that time, the Spanish, in
control of the region of Central America
as far north as Texas, were also against
the colonies moving west.
A new type of American hero emerged
during those times, that traded with the
Indians, and led the would be settlers
across the mountains into the rich lands
of middle America.
David Crockett was born the fifth of
nine children of John Crockett and
Rebecca Hawkins-Crockett, August 17th
1786, near Big Lime River in Greene
County/ Tennessee.
His parents were from North Carolina,
of Scotch-Irish descent. His fathers
family had been attacked by Indians in
North Carolina with his parents killed,
one of his brothers wounded in the arm,
and another brother, James, who was deaf,
carried off and adopted by the Indians,
James was rescued 18 years later.
As a youngster, Crockett lived and
worked at a tavern opened by his father
for settlers and wagon trains. He went on
to make a living, and name for himself,
as a frontiersman and hunter. Crockett
was 18 before he learned how to read and
write. Two years later, he married Mary
Finley, of Irish decent, in 1806.
After the Creek Indians attacked Fort
Mimms, August 30th 1812, Crockett joined
the Militia where he served with General
Andrew Jackson in the war against the
Creek Indians.
In 1815, his wife fell ill and died
leaving him with their three children,
Polly, John and Wesley.
By 1815, Crockett had married
Elizabeth Patton, a widow with two sons,
David and James. They had three children,
Robert P. born in Franklin County in
1816, and Rebecca Elvira and Matilda born
in Lawrence County in 1818 and 1821.
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After leaving the malitia,
Crockett ran a water-powered grist
mill, powder mill and distillery in
the area of the county that is now
the David Crockett State Park.
He entered politics at that
time, serving as a member of the
Tennessee state legislature from
1821 to 1825. He was elected to the
U.S. Congress in 1827, served a
term, was defeated in 1831,
reelected in 1833, then defeated
again in 1831.
After the later defeat, Crockett
told the citizens of Jackson and
Tennessee, you can go to hell, but
I am going to Texas.
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Texas had been under Spanish/Mexican
rule for centuries. After Mexico gained
independence from Spain 16th September
1810, they began luring settlers to the
region with offers of large land
grants.
In the 1820s, Moses Austin from
Missouri, gained permission to establish
the first anglo colony in Texas. His son,
Stephen F. Austin, led 300 families on a
successful mission to settle in the new
land. By 1825, another 900 American
families had arrived, and by 1831, 800
Mexican and European families had
followed.
Crockett moved to Texas at a time when
colonists were seeking independence from
Mexico. He had seen the chance to further
his reputation in war, and become a top
politician in the new Republic.
The Texas Revolution began with a
single cannon blast in the town of
Gonzales, October 2nd 1835.
March 2nd 1836,the Texas Declaration
of Independence was signed by members of
the Convention of 1836. An interim
government was formed for the newly
created Republic of Texas.
With the Mexican's still hoping to
hold on to Texas, Mexico's dictator,
General Antonio Lopez Santa Anna, led
troops into San Antonio in February
1836.
Some 145 Texans in that area,
including Crockett, took refuge in the
fortified grounds of an old mission known
as the Alamo,
under the joint command of William B.
Travis, for the regular army, and Jim
Bowie, for the volunteers.
Over the following two weeks, the
Mexican forces continually strengthened
to over 2000 troops. During the same
period, a few American's managed to
penetrate enemy lines to enter the Alamo
grounds, bringing the total strength of
the defenders to about 189 men.
After periodic bombardment, the siege
ended on the morning of March 6th 1836,
when the Mexican's stormed the Alamo
fortress. During the battle, all of the
Texan defenders were killed. Losses in
the battle were thought to be 189 Texans
and about 1600 Mexicans. The remains of
the defenders were thought to have been
piled on two piers and burned at the
scene.
March 10th 1836, Sam Houston abandoned
Gonzales in a general retreat eastward to
avoid the invading Mexican army.
March 27th 1836, James Fannin, and
nearly 400 Texans, were executed by the
Mexicans at the Goliad Massacre, under
order of Santa Anna.
April 21st 1836, Texans under Sam
Houston routed the Mexican forces of
Santa Anna at the Battle of San
Jacinto. Thus, independence was won
in one of the most decisive battles in
history.
November 1839, The Texas Congress
first met in Austin, the frontier site
selected for the capital of the
Republic.
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All who had fought for
independence were granted 640 acres
by the new government. In 1853,
Elizabeth Patton Crockett, arrived
in Texas to claim her grant
accompanied by her children.
After the cost of the survey,
the land grant had shrunk to 320
acres. Their grant was located
about four miles north of a trading
post, now called Acton in Hood
County.
Elizabeth Crockett was sixty
five years old by then. After dying
at the age of seventy two, her
remains were buried in Acton
Cemetery.
The town of Acton, and cemetery,
are now part of the Acton State
Park, the smallest state park in
Texas.
There is a monument in the park
showing Elizabeth Patton Crockett
looking to the west, eyes
shaded.
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