CRAWFORD-L Archives

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Subject: [CRAWFORD] Lemuel Crawford
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 22:52:02 EST

Lemuel Crawford was born in SC in 1814. At some point, no one seems to know
just when, he came to what is now Texas. Whether he came alone, or with his
family is not known. Eventually he settled in the area of Texas that is now
Lee
County and lived in the area known as Rabbs Creek. He married a young lady
named Jane Gotcher. He and Jane had one child, Margaret Elizabeth who was
born in 1834.

In early October 1835 Lemuel enlisted in the Army of the Republic of Texas.
He left the Army on December 26, 1835. He probably took part in the siege of
Bexar. Lemuel reenlisted on February 11, 1836, and served in the Alamo
garrison. He was an artilleryman and served under Capt. William Carey. He
died on March 6, 1836, when the Alamo fell. On the memorial in front of the
Alamo, Lemuel's name is next above that of Davey Crockett. In fact, it is
said
that Davey Crockett and the Volunteers stopped at Lemuel's home on the way to
the Alamo, and they traveled on together.

In November of 1836, the Indians raided the Rabbs Creek area and murdered a
number of people, including Jane's parents. Jane and her daughter, Margaret
were taken prisoner. It is not known how many people were captured. Jane
and her daughter lived with the Indians for several years. She and her
daughter were rescued by a Charles Spaulding whom she later married. It is
said Jane did not know of Lemuel's death until after she and Mr. Spaulding
were married.

Jane went on to become a fairly large land owner in what is now the Taylor, TX
area. Texas State Archives shows that she was awarded land grants of 1920
acres on July 13, 1840, 1280 and 640 acres on Aug. 11, 1858 as a result of
being Lemuel's widow.

It is not clear what Lemuel's livelihood was prior to serving in the Army.
The
American Historical Association carries a communique from Col. Anthony Butler
to Stephen F. Austin to pay Lemuel Crawford on order $14.45 for work in
building a brick chimney burning lime, etc. Dated Nov. 14, 1832.

Little is known of Lemuel's life in SC or of his parents. The Daughters of
the Republic f Texas archives contain nothing of his life prior to Texas, nor
are there any military records showing any information as to next of kin,
etc.

Lemuel Crawford is one of the few heroes of so little mention. I have scoured
many, many publications dealing with Alamo history, the fighters, etc. In
each
of them, there are no more than 5-6 lines on Lemuel. Lemuel deserves more
recognition than that.

Dale W. Crawford
Houston, TX

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