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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDescendants of Revolutionaries Proud of Their Families' HeritageTexas and was signed on Marcn 2, 1836. The delegates wanted independ- ence from Mexico, which ruled Texas as a territory. The historic document was written Descendants of revolutionaries proud of their families' heritage By BRETT NAUMAN Eagle Staff Writer B ryan resident Anna Kellett always has taken more than just a little pride in the fact her family helped settle and eventually win Texas' inde- pendence from Mexico. The 69- year -old Bryan woman's great- great - grand- father migrated to Texas from his home in Ten- nessee with the famous land mogul Sterling C. Robertson in 1823. the declaration was signed. The fragile six -page, hand - written, double -sided document will be on dis- play inside the Star of the Republic Museum at Washington -on- the - Brazos Many pioneers who fought and died during the revolution were from the more than 600 families Robertson persuaded to move to Texas during the years leading up to the con- flict with Mexico, she said. Robertson, who is the namesake of Robertson County, was one of the 59 delegates who in 1836 signed Texas' Declaration of Independence from Mex- ico inside a tiny wooden • See HERITAGE, Page A5 nephew of Austin. VV (JUJU 11rtVe l:llctllgeu ule 1)1U111 VS country. "It likely would not have happened del op] Sn W� wh pry No do nit re: wl See DECLARE, Page A4 Eagle photo /Patric Schneider Travis Bryan (left) and son Tim hold a powder horn once owned by Stephen F. Austin. Travis Bryan is the great - great - great- `I think it's extremely important ... because it's there in writing why Texas became independent: — BEN HARDEMAN, whose great - great- uncle, attorney Bailey Hardeman, helped draft the declaration riedr [ tnar - ne 'waS uul Ig ule right thing while calling for a ltaJ muraer case m wmcn me dirt u V el sdw d 4)1a riinnon punishment phase was retried budget. He also worked for a Heritage CELEBRATING TEXAS INDEPENDENCE Visitors to the Star of the Republic Museum will have a rare opportunity starting Thursday through March 2 to view the original handwritten Texas Declaration of Inde- pendence, on loan from the Texas State Archives and sponsored by First National Bank of Bryan. Celebrate the 168th anniversary of its signing during a two -clay free event. From A 1 house located in what's now called Washington-on- the -Bra- zos between Navasota and Brenham. That's a family relation that Kellett, a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, can't help but boast about to those who know little of the Alamo, Goliad and San Jacinto. "They always say Texans like to brag," said Kellett, whose maiden name is Anna Robertson. "Well, we have something to brag about. It's not really bragging — it's just stating facts." The original hand - written - Texas Declaration of Indepen- dence, which was considered then to be a death Warrant for all who placed their signa- tures on it, will be on display beginning Thursday near the site where it was drafted. On loan from the Texas State Archives, the viewing will highlight next weekend's Texas Independence Day cele- bration at the historical site. Just how many relatives of the signers will be on hand is unknown, according to offi- cials at the Star of the Repub- lic Museum. The museum has no database tracing where the descendants of the 59 dele- gates moved on to, but offi- cials are hoping they'll hear about it. It's going to be a must -see for Bryan City Councilman Ben Hardeman. He said his family also played an integral role in the events that took place during the revolution. Hardeman's great- great- uncle, Bailey Hardeman, was one of several attorneys who helped draft the wording of the declaration and was elect- ed Secretary of the Treasury for Texas. Meanwhile, William P. Hardeman, Bailey Harde- man's nephew, tried unsuc- cessfully along with a contin- gency of soldiers to sneak through Mexican army lines surrounding the Spanish-mis- sion known as the Alamo. "Of course, had William P. succeeded, we wouldn't be talking now," Ben Hardeman said of what would have been his great- grandfather's cer- tain demise. Hardeman's great -great SATURDAY, FEB. 28 Time 10 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. William Ba 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 2:30 p.rn. 3 p.m. Texas Heroes William Barret Travis & Suzanna Dickinson 3:30 p.m. Texas Heroes Jim Bowie 4 p.m. KR Woods SUNDAY, FEB. 29 Time 10:30 a.m. 11 a.m. 12 p.m. 12 p.m. 12:40 p.m. 1:10 p.m. 1:40 p.m. 2 p.m. 2:45p. m. 3 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.rn. Performance KR Woods Convention of 1836 Texas Heroes et Travis & Suzanna Dickinson Art Contest KR Woods Convention of 1836 KR Woods Performance No Foolin' Stfing Band Convention of 1836 Texas Heroes Holley and Austin Gone to Texas No Foolin' String Band Blinn College Band Texas A &M Century Singers Texas Independence Day Ceremony Cutting of the Birthday Cake Convention of 1836 Gone to Texas No Foolin' String Band fearsome group of Texans who a month later exacted revenge for the 183 men who died at the Alamo and the 352 prisoners of war executed by Mexico at Goliad, the council- man said, recalling from his own family history books how some 910 pioneers, including Hardeman, attacked as Mexi- can President and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's army napped under- neath an afternoon sun at San Jacinto. The battle, which lasted 18 minutes, is recognized by his- torians as one of the most decisive military victories in history, Hardeman said. Six Texans were killed, while the Mexican army of more than 1,500 strong was killed or cap- tured during the attack. Even Santa Anna was cap- tured hiding -in the battle- field's nearby forests dressed in peasant clothing, said Hardeman, who, like many related to key political fig- ures, was born a history buff. Proudly, he said Bailey Hardeman was present as Santa Anna signed the Treaty of Velasco, which recognized Texas' independence from Mexico, according to Harde- Location Amphitheater Independence Hall Museum Theater Museum Theater Independence Hall Independence Hall Amphitheater Museum Theater Independence Hall Amphitheater Location Amphitheater Independence Hall Independence Hall Museum Theater Amphitheater Overlook Theater Amphitheater Amphitheater Independence Hall Independence Hall Museum Theater Amphitheater Washington- on-the- Brazos State Historic Site is located halfway between Brenham and Navasota on Texas 105. about 25 miles south of College Station. Directions and more information are available online at www.BirthplaceofTexas.com or by calling 936- 878 -2214 ext. 237 or ext. 224. snatch such a convincing mil- itary victory in the face of what seemed like certain defeat justifies all the state pride exhibited by Texans. A few years after the war, Sterling C. Robertson fell ill after he crossed the Brazos River on horseback, Kellett said. Robertson died of pneu- monia at Kellett's great - great- grandfather's Robert- son County home and was buried in a cemetery in Old Nashville near Hearne. He was exhumed in 1936 and now rests with all the other Texas heroes at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, she said. Kellett, who has lived in Bryan for the past 34 years, ' left Texas for a time and lived for several years in California and in Germany. It was only when she lived overseas, she said, that she realized the true importance of being born a Texan and an American. "I'm real proud of my Texas ancestors," Kellett said. "I'm sixth generation Texan, and I'm proud that I was born here. I wouldn't want to be born anywhere else." cerned that Phelps is too much John Bryan resident Anna Kellett indirectly is r Sterling C. Robertson, one of the signee Wells Fargo Bank, Charitable Ti 2004 New 1 Seated, L -R: LaRoyia Chamber Kenneth Loke (Vice President & Joshua Barksdale, Samuel Cont DEPENDENCE aye a rare opportunity starting 'tt en Texas Declaration of Inde- d sponsored by First National s signing during a two -day free ne aiso worxect fora cerned that Phelps is too much John Quinn are going to say, he said. Worm. you uo, peOple iuie he thought he might get lucky," Location Amphitheater Independence Hall Museum Theater Museum Theater Independence Hall Independence Hall Amphitheater Museum Theater Independence Hall Amphitheater Location Amphitheater Independence Hat Independence Hall Museum Theater Amphitheater Overlook Theater Amphitheater Amphitheater Independence Hall Independence Hall Museum Theater Amphitheater halfway between Brenham lege Station. Directions and exas.com or by calling 936- ch a convincing mil - �ry in the face of ed like certain tifies all the state ibited by Texans. ears after the war, Robertson fell ill rossed the Brazos horseback, Kellett rtson died of pneu- Kellett's great - dfather's Robert- home and was a cemetery in Old near Hearne. He ed in 1936 and with all the other yes at Texas State in Austin, she ho has lived in the past 34 years, or a time and lived years in California any. y when she lived e said, that she true importance n a Texan and an proud of my Texas Kellett said. "I'm ation Texan, and at I was born dn't want to be ere else." an's e-mail address Bryan resident Anna Kellett indirectly is related to Texas Declaration of Independence. She is holding Sterling C. Robertson, one of the signees of the a painting depicting the drafting of the declaration. WELLS FARGO The Next Stage Wells Fargo Bank, NA and the Nina Heard Astin Charitable Trust Proudly Salutes the 2004 New Horizon Astin Scholars Astin Scholars Seated, L -R: LaRoyia Chambers, Rosa Hernandez, Katie Bewley; Standing, L -R: Kenneth Loke (Vice President & Sr. Trust Officer), Fredrick Crawford, Mario Gamez, Joshua Barksdale, Samuel Contreras.