The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 238
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
with the fall of the Alamo, while others are of later dates. From
all these lists I compiled a work list which contained every name
mentioned on any previously made roll, or from any other source.
Such a compilation yielded nearly 400 names, although contem-
porary authority is practically agreed that the number of Alamo
victims was less than 200, most writers giving from 182 to 188.
I set myself the task, however, to verify every name on this
work list, or to determine definitely that it should be discarded.
Of course, it was obvious from the beginning that I would have
to eliminate about 200 names from this inclusive work list.
The work of verification and elimination was begun at the
General Land Office, because according to various ordinances and
decrees of the Provisional Government, decrees that were later
converted into law by the Republic of Texas, the heirs of each
soldier who died in the service, had the right, according to the
lowest calculation, to about 4,000 acres of land.2 The first task
was to check the work list with the Bounty and Donation Regis-
ter. This Bounty Register, in the Land Office, is a large ledger
which is supposed to contain the name of every individual to
whom Texas has ever issued land as a bounty or as a donation
for service of any kind. It lists the name of the person who
rendered the service, the number of the certificate issued, the
in passing that I believe that the errors in this roll arose from the fact
that certain men were missing; they had participated in the storming of
Bexar, December, 1835, so the supposition was that they had died at the
Alamo. In a number of cases the guess was wrong. (2) The second list
in chronological order is one presented by Chester Newell, Revolution in
Texas, appendix, page 211; (3) the third is to be found in William F.
Gray, From Virginia to Texas, 138. Gray's list is a helpful one, for
Gray was a very intelligent man, interested especially in newspaper work
and other literary productions. He was deeply impressed by the massacre
at the Alamo and made an effort to record all information that was avail-
able concerning the event. His list contains only 143 names, about one-
third of which are last names only. My list verifies all of Gray's list
except fourteen names, and four of these I include on my "possible roll."
In chronological order the other lists that I check are: (4) in the Texas
Almanac for 1860, also for 1862; (5) in D. G. Wooten, A Comprehensive
History of Texas, I, 707-710; (6) in John Ford, Origin and Fall of the
Alamo, 37-38; (7) a list by E. M. Pease, in Austin City Gazette, July 14,
1876; (8) in J. J. Linn, Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Texas, 145-147;
(9) in O. B. Colquitt, Message to the Thirty-third Legislature, 121; (10)
in Frank Templeton, Margaret Ballentine, or the Fall of the Alamo,
Appendix; (11) Muster Roll Books, General Land Office; (12) on Alamo
Monument, capitol grounds; (13) in Catherine Elliott's Card Files, State
Library; (14) and numerous less worthy lists to be found in San Antonio
guide books.
'Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 894, 895, 926, 983, 991, 1414, 1450, 1451.238
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Texas State Historical Association & Barker, Eugene C. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934, periodical, 1934; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101094/m1/263/?rotate=270: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.