Davy Crockett Letter
Davy Crockett wrote this letter to his children from St. Augustine, Texas on January 9, 1836. In it, he says that he has been enthusiastically welcomed to Texas, which he believes has the richest country in the world. He goes on to describe the location where he intends to settle and mentions some recent political activities in the area. This item is a photocopy of the original letter, which is said to be the last letter that Crockett wrote before his death.
Dates
- 1836 January 9
Conditions Governing Access
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Conditions Governing Use
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Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Davy Crockett wrote this letter to his children from St. Augustine, Texas on January 9, 1836. In it, he says that he has been enthusiastically welcomed to Texas, which he believes has the richest country in the world. He goes on to describe the location where he intends to settle and mentions some recent political activities in the area. This item is a photocopy of the original letter, which is said to be the last letter that Crockett wrote before his death.
Biographical/Historical Note
Davy Crockett was born to John and Rebecca (Hawkins) Crockett in Limestown, Tennessee on August 17, 1786. He was married twice, first to Polly Finlay (1788-1815) and second to Elizabeth Patton (1788-1860). He had six children with his two wives: John Wesley (1807-1852), William Finley (1809-1849), Margaret Finley (Crockett) Flowers (1812-), Robert Patton Crockett (1816-1889), Rebecca E. (Crockett) Halford (1818-1897), and Matilda (Crockett) Fields (1821-1890). Crockett served under Andrew Jackson in the Creek War (1813-1814) and operated as a frontiersman in Western Tennessee before serving in the Tennessee Legislature (1821-1823) and representing Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives (1827-1831, 1833-1835). He later moved to Texas, where he served in the Texas Army during the Texas War of Independence. He may also have written several of the books published under his name, including A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett (1834), An Account of Col. Crockett’s Tour to the North and Down East (1834), and Col. Crockett’s Exploits and Adventures in Texas (1836). Davy Crockett was killed at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Stanley J. Folmsbee donated this photocopy to Special Collections on November 13, 1958. The last known citation for the letter is The autobiography of David Crockett: An Annotated Edition. by James Atkins Shackford. The letter was cited courtesy of Emma Inman Williams. Original owed by Mr. J.D. Pate of Martin, Tennessee.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository