Person Page - 3

     Hannah Trenary was born in 1819 in Ohio, (an unknown value.)^4,5,6 She and William Peterson married in 1835. Probably in Houston or Montgomery County.^3,5 Hannah Trenary married Levi Pruitt, son of Jacob Pruitt and (---?---) Pruitt (1st wife of Jacob Pruitt), before February 1838.^7,8,9 Hannah Trenary died between 1889 and 1899 probably in Travis County, Texas.

     After her marriage she was normally known as Hannah Peterson.¹² After her marriage she was normally known as Hannah Pruitt.

     Jacob Pruitt was probably born between 1790 and 1795 in Missouri.^1,2 He and (---?---) Pruitt (1st wife of Jacob Pruitt) probably married circa 1813. The name of his wife is widely reported to be Elizabeth. However, I believe this name comes from the LW Kemp papers and his source has now been called into question. In L.W. Kemp's manuscripts and notes written during his research for the 1932 book "Heroes of San Jacinto", Kemp wrote that Jacob's wife was Elizabeth (---?---). However, Kemp's source for that information was from his interview with Mrs. John T Monroe, formerly Bessie Pruitt. Kemp identified her as a descendant of Jacob Pruitt. In 1986 I spoke with Mrs. Monroe’s daughter in law, Katherine Monroe (Mrs. John H Monroe) and she gave me family history information on Bessie’s family. After researching this info, I discovered that Bessie Pruitt was NOT a descendant of Jacob Pruitt and therefore probably had no valid information on his wife or family. Her lineage traces back to a James Hamilton Pruitt who arrived in Texas from Alabama in about 1881.³ Jacob Pruitt and Mary M. Eaton married circa 1837 in Houston County, Texas.⁴ Jacob died in 1844 in Houston County, Texas.^5,6,7

     
In order to understand the migration to Texas and lives of Jacob, Levi & Martin T Pruitt, John B Trenary and to some degree William H Middleton, it will be helpful to understand a little about the colonization of Texas and the distribution of land in Colonial Texas and The Republic of Texas.

The earliest land grant was made in 1716 by the Spanish crown to establish a mission and presidio (town) in East Texas. In 1731 grants were made to well-heeled Spaniards in San Antonio de Bexar and by the mid-1700s larger, livestock grants were being made along the San Antonio River valley. Most of the other Spanish land grants were issued along the rivers and coast of South Texas. In the Nacogdoches area most families received land through oral agreements with local officials and when the Americans started coming in the 1790s, these families sought to formalize their titles in order to preserve their rights to land they had been living on for years. In an effort to populate the area, the Spanish experimented with a policy to entice settlers from the American frontier with promises of land, religious tolerance and special privileges. In 1820 Spain opened Texas to foreigners who would respect the laws and constitution of the country. In January 1821 the Spanish government promised Moses Austin a contract for land on the Brazos River if he would bring in 300 Catholic families to settle on that land, but Moses died in June of 1821 and his son, Stephen F Austin, took over the contract. Later that year the Mexican War of Independence ended with Mexico becoming an independent natiion. A Catholic monarchy was established and then overthrown in 1823. A federal republic was declared, and the Mexican Constitution of 1824 was ratified. Austin’s contract had been voided after the end of the war but renegotiated under Mexico’s Imperial Colonization Law. This law was annulled when Iturbide (the short-lived Mexican Emperor) abdicated and a federal system similar to that of the US was adopted. Austin’s contract had been honored by special decree after the fall of Iturbide and Austin’s settlers began arriving in Texas in 1823 and by late summer of 1824 nearly all 300 families had arrived. Among the more important empresarios were Stephen F Austin, Green DeWitt, Ben Milam, Sterling C Robertson, Haden Edwards, David G Burnet and Joseph Vehlein. These people signed contracts for large tracts of land in exchange for bringing in suitable settlers. They made their money either by charging the settlers nominal amounts for the land or by receiving land for themselves based on the number of settlers they brought in.

The National Colonization Law was passed in August of 1824. This law and the 1825 State Colonization Law of ‘Coahuila y Texas’ became the basis of all colonization contracts from 1824-1836. Land measurements used were the same as the Imperial Colonization Law: labors (177 acres) and leagues (4,428 acres) measured in varas (33.33 inches). Settlers had to be Christian and of good character. Heads of families were given up to a league of pastureland and a labor of farmland with the provision that they should pay the state a nominal fee in installments at the end of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth years after settlement. For ten years following settlement the colonists were to be tax-free, except for contributions to repel invasion. Single men over the age of 17 could receive ¼ of a league and if he married later, he could apply for an augmentation. Emigration from the United States was ended in 1830 because the government thought they were stirring up unrest. In May of 1834 the anti-emigration laws were repealed, contracts extended & restored and US citizens who had arrived in Texas before 1830 discovered they were now colonists of the empresarios. The long-time squatters wanted titles to the land they had been living on for years. Finally, in late 1834, new Land Commissioners arrived to give deeds to those long-time squatters and also the newcomers. The ‘colonists’ had to be quick, though, in going before Land Commissioners to apply for their Character Certificates and titles, as the Texians were beginning to move toward independence from Mexico. In November of 1835, the revolutionary forces closed the Mexican land offices and all titles issued after the Provisional Government was set up on November 12, 1835 were later declared invalid. Therefore, many Mexican titles were left 'unfinished'.

Texas declared its independence on March 2, 1836. On April 21, 1836 they won their independence at the Battle of San Jacinto and The Republic of Texas was established. The new Republic put in place a system of granting public land. The amount of land granted to settlers depended on marital status, date of arrival in Texas and military service. Certificates were issued by the government entitling the bearer to a certain amount of land. They could sell the certificate or locate available land and obtain the original title (patent) for themselves. Following are the certificates issued relevant to this family history:

HEADRIGHTS
1^st class Headright—must have arrived before March 2, 1836. Married men- one league (4428.5 acres) and one labor of land (177 acres). Single men- 1/3 league (1476.1 acres)

2^nd class Headright—must have arrived between March 2, 1836 and October 1, 1837. Heads of families- 1280 acres. Single men 640 acres

3^rd class Headright—must have arrived between Oct 1, 1837 and January 1, 1840. Heads of families- 640 acres. Single men 320 acres

4^th class Headright—must have arrived between January 1, 1840 and January 1 1842. Same acreage as 3^rd class but must cultivate at least 10 acres

MILITARY GRANTS
Bounty Grants—Soldiers who served in the Texas Revolution and those who enlisted in the army before October 1, 1837. 320 acres for each 3 months of service to a max of 1280 acres.

Donation Grants—issued for participation in specific battles during the Revolution: Siege of Bexar, Battle of San Jacinto, heirs of the fallen at the Alamo and Goliad. Most certificates issued for 640 acres but there was some variation. Later, 1879-1887, donation grants were issued to indigent, surviving veterans of the Texas Revolution and signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Amended in 1881 the donation amount was increased to 1280 acres and the indigence requirement was dropped.

PREEMPTIONS
Preemption Grants—1845-1854, individuals could claim 320 acres from unappropriated public land. Reduced to 160 acres in 1854 and cancelled in 1856. Preemption grants of 160 acres were reinstated in 1866 and continued until 1898. Settlers must live on land for 3 years and make improvements.


**This information has been taken from articles in the ‘Handbook of Texas Online’ published by the Texas State Historical Association and from articles found on the Texas General Land Office website. A short summary of the events that formed the Texas land system and its records is difficult. The history of public land in Texas and its distribution is complex and you are encouraged to read more about the subject at the sites mentioned above. Two other excellent sources are “Nacogdoches—Gateway to Texas” by Carolyn Reeves Ericson published in 1974 by Arrow/Curtis Publishing in Fort Worth and “The Spanish Archives of the General Land Office of Texas” by Virginia H Taylor published in 1955 by The Lone Star Press in Austin.

When reading about early Texas settlers like Jacob, Levi & Martin T Pruitt, John B Trenary and maybe William H. Middleton, it will help to learn about the colonization and land distribution in Spanish Texas, Mexican Texas and the Republic of Texas. Click here to read about the settlement of Texas. It is not known exactly when or where Jacob Pruitt (Prewitt, Pruett, Pruit, Pruet, Prewet, etc) was born, who his parents were or from where he emigrated to Texas. There are a few clues, but to date, nothing has been found to confirm his birth, parentage or life before coming to Texas. We are currently working on establishing DNA evidence of his lineage. He was probably born no later than 1795 (based the assumption that he was at least 20 years old when his oldest son was born in 1815). Until 1880, the first year the US Census recorded where a person’s parents were born, we had no clue about his birthplace. At that time, his only surviving child, Jacob, Jr, reported that his father was born in Missouri. However, Jake was only 5 years old when his father died, so that is certainly not firsthand knowledge. It must have been something he was told, probably by his mother. The birthplaces of Jacob's older two sons, Levi B & Martin T, were both recorded as Illinois in the 1850 US Census—the first census taken after Texas became a state. That indicates that they may have come to Texas from Illinois as the boys were only about 6 & 7 when they arrived in Texas. In 1860 Levi reported he had been born in Mississippi and Martin T reported his birth to have been in Illinois.

There are also a couple of Jacob Pruitt men in that era who DID marry women named Elizabeth. The erroneous assumption is that our Jacob is one of them. The two Jacob Pruitt men (in the approximate time frame) with wives named Elizabeth are:





It is my opinion that Jacob's wife is an unknown and I will not record a wife's name for him or a mother for Levi & Martin until there is more information.^8,9 According to his 1^st Class Headright certificate, Jacob arrived in Mexican Texas in 1822, just one year after Mexico won their independence from Spain. His wife and 2 children accompanied him. He appears to be among the first Anglo settlers in Texas though not part of Stephen F. Austin’s Colony whose settlers arrived between early 1823 and mid 1824, even though permission to form the colony was issued in 1821. Jacob settled on land in the Nacogdoches District, probably under an oral agreement with the land commissioner in Nacogdoches. Later he contracted with Robertson's Colony possibly with the promise of obtaining his title more easily. The land was on the west side of the Neches River lying in what is now part of Davy Crockett National Forest. Technically he was considered a squatter as he had no deed, which was the custom. On December 4, 1834, after repeal of the ban on immigrants from the US, Jacob applied for and obtained his Character Certificate which was necessary to apply for title to the land he had been living on for the past 12 years. Notes written at the bottom of his Character Certificate read: “he does not sign”, “wife and 2 children”, “Burnet” (indicating his land is in Burnet’s colony) and “the place where he now lives” (indicating he was already living on the land for which he is applying for title). On February 17, 1835 he received a Mexican title to 1 league (4428.5 acres) in the Neches District. Luckily, he acted quickly because these land offices were shut down by Revolutionary forces in November of 1835 and titles not issued or received by November 13 were considered unfinished or void. By 1850 after counties were formed from the Mexican departments/districts, the land lay 2/3 in Houston County and 1/3 in Trinity County. If you want to find the land today, drive from Crockett toward Lufkin on State Highway 7 crossing the Neches River. His ‘plantation’ was located on the west bank of the Neches right about where the road crosses the river. In 1840 he sold 2,721 acres. The deed says this land was part of Jacob Pruitt’s 1^st Class Headright, but his headright papers say he only received 1 labor of land (177 Acres). If the deed is correct, where is his 1 league of headright land? No record of a headright league has been found. If the deed is incorrect, as it appears, then he actually sold 2721 acres of his original Mexican title obtained in 1835. As a family man arriving in Texas prior to March 2, 1836 he was entitled to 1 league and 1 labor with a 1^st Class Headright. Why he only received 1 labor is a mystery!

Jacob sold his 1^st Class Headright certificate to John Collins and the labor of land was patented to James K Bracken, assignee, on January 22, 1855. The 4428 acres in his league can be accounted for in this manner:







Jacob Pruitt was listed in Houston County, Texas in the 1830 Republic of Texas tax rolls which were used as a census for the fledgling Republic.¹²

Jacob and Mary "Polly" Eaton Welch married after the deaths their respective spouses. She had been married to John Welch and had two sons, Squire Willson Welch and William Harvey Welch. She was the daughter of Richard and Mary (Robertson) Eaton. The Eaton family along with John & Mary (Eaton) Welch came to Texas in 1833 from Crawford County, Illinois with Rev. Isaac/Daniel Parker who established the first Protestant Church in Texas. They settled for a while very near Jacob Pruitt's plantation. Jacob Pruitt was given a Power of Attorney by the administrator of John Welch's estate in 1839 as guardian of his sons. Land Records and tax rolls support the fact that Mary Eaton (Welch, Pruitt, Thomas, Edens) was married to the same Jacob Pruitt who immigrated to Texas in 1822. Land records also support the relationship between this Jacob Pruitt and sons Levi B. & Martin T. Pruitt. Additionally, land records support the fact that Merandy Jane, Jacob (II), & Mary Kay are also the children of Jacob Pruitt from his marriage to Polly Eaton. After Jacob's death Polly married two more times. First to (---?---) Thomas in about 1846 and in about 1851 to ?Elias? Edens. Correspondence with Billie Jones says that in 1847, church records refer to her as "Sister Polly Thomas" and in the 1850 census she is enumerated as Mary Thomas. By the 1860 census she was widowed again and enumerated as Mary Eaton (Eadons), but with a child named Nancy Edens. Again I've relied on Billie Jones' research for the 1868 date of Polly's death and information about her last two marriages.¹³

On 13 November 1837 Jacob applied for and received reimbursement from the Republic of Texas for two receipts. One, dated March 14th 183?, for supplying a company of Tennessee Volunteers, commanded by Capt. ?Wayne? Haggard, with "corn and bacon amounting to seven dollars, seventy cents." The second receipt, dated June 7, 1836 was from William Blount, Capt of Cavalry, for "a rifle and two shotbags valued at forty dollars."¹⁴ He was listed in the 1840 Republic of Texas tax rolls which were used as a census for the fledgling Republic. He was recorded as owning 3498 acres, 6 horses and 60 cattle. Levi and Martin T Pruitt were also recorded in Houston County.¹⁵

Jacob's death is established by records found in the Texas General Land Office. A power of attorney executed on Jan 7, 1845 by a group of nine people authorizing George G Browning to act as an agent on their behalf to apply for and receive of the Commissioners of the GLO patents for their headright lands and other land due them by certificates and field notes. One of the nine signers was Samuel G Mills, administrator of the "estate of Jacob Pruitt, deceased." Meaning that Jacob was already deceased at that point. For many years, I thought that Jacob died between 1846 and 1850 because there was a J. Pruitt on the 1846 TX Poll List in Houston County and his wife (widow) was enumerated as Polly Thomas on the 1850 census. Once this Powers of Attorney was found and evaluated, I realized that the J Pruitt in the 1846 Poll Lists was not our Jacob Pruitt.⁵

He was listed in Anderson County, Texas on the 1846 Republic of Texas Poll Lists which were used as the official census when the Republic became a state that year; The name J. Prewitt was shown in Anderson County along with Martin T Prewitt. This cannot be our Jacob Pruitt as he was deceased by Jan 7, 1845. But could his estate still be paying taxes on his land? And the land still in his name?¹⁶

     (---?---) Pruitt (1st wife of Jacob Pruitt) was born between 1790 and 1795, probably.³ She and Jacob Pruitt probably married circa 1813. The name of his wife is widely reported to be Elizabeth. However, I believe this name comes from the LW Kemp papers and his source has now been called into question. In L.W. Kemp's manuscripts and notes written during his research for the 1932 book "Heroes of San Jacinto", Kemp wrote that Jacob's wife was Elizabeth (---?---). However, Kemp's source for that information was from his interview with Mrs. John T Monroe, formerly Bessie Pruitt. Kemp identified her as a descendant of Jacob Pruitt. In 1986 I spoke with Mrs. Monroe’s daughter in law, Katherine Monroe (Mrs. John H Monroe) and she gave me family history information on Bessie’s family. After researching this info, I discovered that Bessie Pruitt was NOT a descendant of Jacob Pruitt and therefore probably had no valid information on his wife or family. Her lineage traces back to a James Hamilton Pruitt who arrived in Texas from Alabama in about 1881.⁴ (---?---) died between 1822 and 1838.⁵

     Martin T. Pruitt was born in 1816 in Illinois.^2,3 He and Honor Trenary married after February 1838 in Houston County, Republic of Texas.^4,5 Martin T. Pruitt died between 1867 and 1870possibly in Bosque County as determined by the birth of his last child in 1867 and his failure to be enumerated with the family in the Bosque County 1870 census.⁶

     When reading about early Texas settlers like Jacob, Levi & Martin T Pruitt, John B Trenary and maybe William H. Middleton, it will help to learn about the colonization and land distribution in Spanish Texas, Mexican Texas and the Republic of Texas. Click here to read about the (settlement of Texas) Martin T. Pruitt served with the Texian Army in Hayden Arnold's Nacogdoches Company along with his brother and father in law for three months, doing his duty as a soldier and private and partidipating in the Battle of San Jacinto. He was honourably discharged on July 7, 1836. His term of service commenced 7 March 1836 upon mustering into Capt Hayden Arnold's company. His discharge was signed by Captain Hayden Arnold and approved by Brig Genl Thomas J Rusk. Martin designated Simon Wise of Nacogdoches to act on his behalf to obtain his benefits for this service, including his Bounty Certificate.^10,11 He was listed in the 1840 Republic of Texas tax rolls which were used as a census for the fledgling Republic. Martin is recorded as owning 1178 acres on the rolls. Jacob and Levi were also listed in Houston County.¹² He was listed in Anderson County, Texas on the 1846 Republic of Texas Poll Lists which were used as the official census when the Republic became a state that year.¹³

     John B. Trenary was probably born circa 1790 in Virginia.² He married an unknown person before 1818 . The marriage date is based on the calculated birthdate of his oldest known child, Hannah.

John B. Trenary died before May 1846 probably in Houston County, Texas. The date and place of his death is determined by a statement signed by the Houston County Clerk on June 27, 1859 citing the "Inventory of the Estate of John B Trenary made at the May term in 1846 of the County Court of Houston County pertaining to the estate of the deceased person". Since he must have been alive to be listed on the 1846 Houston County tax rolls, the conclusion is that he died in the early partof 1846.³

On 27 June 1859 the Houston County Clerk certified that he found on the inventory of the John B Trenary estate that "one 320 acre soldier claim" was set aside to the heirs of John B Trenary, deceased, at the May 1846 term of the County Court of Houston County, Texas. The number and date were not given on the inventory nor can a copy of the inventory be found. "The heirs of John B Trenary were Martin T Pruitt and Levi Pruitt & their wives, Oner & Hannah Pruitt, formerly Oner and Hannah Trenary."³

     There is a Thomas G. Tinary listed in the 1850 Navarro County, Texas census [stamped page 108--family #2] along with wife Nancy. Could this be a son of John B. Trenary? Probably not, as land records in the 1880's indicate that Hannah, Honor and their children were the sole heirs of John B. Trenary. When reading about early Texas settlers like Jacob, Levi & Martin T Pruitt, John B Trenary and maybe William H. Middleton, it will help to learn about the colonization and land distribution in Spanish Texas, Mexican Texas and the Republic of Texas. Click here to read about the (settlement of Texas)

John B. Trenary mustered into the Army of the Republic of Texas on 6 March 1836 in Nacogdoches along with his son in law and future son in law and all three fought at the Battle of San Jacinto in Capt. Hayden Arnold's company. His July 7, 1836 discharge papers were signed by Capt Hayden Arnold and Capt Kimbro. His name is engraved on the walls of the San Jacinto monument as a Hero of San Jacinto. He received a Bounty Grant for his participation at the Battle of San Jacinto and a Donation Grant for 3 months service in the Texian Army.^5,6,7 He was listed in the 1840 Republic of Texas tax rolls which were used as a census for the fledgling Republic.^8,1 He was listed on the 1846 Republic of Texas Poll Lists which were used as the official census when the Republic became a state that year; No entry found indicating his death prior to the recording of these tax rolls.⁹

     Honor Trenary was born in 1825 in Ohio.^5,6,7 She and Martin T. Pruitt married after February 1838 in Houston County, Republic of Texas.^4,8 Honor's date of death is unknown. However, she probably died between 1870 and 1880.

     After her marriage she was normally known as Honor Pruitt.

     John S. Pruitt was born circa 1842 probably in Houston or Anderson County, Texas.^2,3 John S. probably died after 1860 since no record of him has been found after the 1860 census.

     Henry Tilman Pruitt was born in 1856 probably in Falls County, Texas.³

Henry Tilman Pruitt married Amanda Melvina Brown on 20 August 1880 in Travis County, Texas.⁴

Henry Tilman died between August 1890 and December 1892. The date of his death is an estimated range based on him participating in land transactions in August of 1890 and his wife being remarried with a child by Dec of 1893.⁵

     James D. Pruitt was born on 16 August 1860 in Hays County, Texas.² He and Nancy Wheeler married on 1 June 1879 in Travis County, Texas.³

James D. Pruitt married Mary Elizabeth Morrow on 26 February 1891 in Travis County, Texas.^4,5,6 James D. died on 20 November 1927 in Austin, Travis County, Texas, at age 67.⁷ and was buried at (Fiskville Cemetery) in Austin. Weed Funeral Home.⁷

     Martin G. Pruitt was born on 17 July 1862 in Hays or Travis County, Texas.¹ He and Mary Ann Tombaugh married on 24 May 1883 in Travis County, Texas.² Martin G. died on 27 May 1956 in Austin, Travis County, Texas, at age 93.^3,1 and was buried at (Fiskville Cemetery) in Austin. Cook Funeral Home conducted the services.^3,1

     Martin G. Pruitt was enumerated on the 1900 census in Travis County, Texas along with his wife Mary.⁶

     James H. Sylvester was born in 1812 in Missouri.¹ He was born circa 1813 in Tennessee or England.² He and Deborah Cox married before 1840 in Fulton Township, Sevier County, Arkansas. . Since they were found in the 1840 census on Sevier County, the assumption is they married there as her parents were there and she was only 18 or 19 at the time.¹ James H. Sylvester died before 1888 (an unknown value) in Travis County, Texas.

     There is a Jas S Sylvester, Sr. and a Jas S Sylvester, Jr. on the 1873 voter's registration rolls. Could this be James H and James I? See Austin Genealogical Society records.⁷

     Deborah Cox was born in April 1821 in Missouri.^2,3,4 She and James H. Sylvester married before 1840 in Fulton Township, Sevier County, Arkansas. . Since they were found in the 1840 census on Sevier County, the assumption is they married there as her parents were there and she was only 18 or 19 at the time.¹ Deborah died on 27 April 1905 in Blanco County, Texas.

     After her marriage before 1840, she was normally known as Deby Sylvester.

     Nancy Francis Pruitt was born in May 1884 in Travis or Caldwell County, Texas.¹ She and (---?---) Cantwell (husband of Nancy F Pruitt) married.

     After her marriage she was normally known as Nancy Cantwell.

     Mary Ann Pruitt was born in 1872 in Travis or Ellis County, Texas.¹ She and William Carroll Cantwell II married in 1887. Mary Ann died circa 1899 in Caldwell County, Texas.² Mary Ann may have been buried in the Lytton Springs Cemetery. There are graves marked with blank stones in the Cale Pruitt Family Plot where her mother, brother and probably her father are buried. It is possible that Mary Ann is buried in one of these graves.

     After her marriage in 1887, she was normally known as Cantwell.

     Alfred DeWitt Alexander was born on 30 January 1840 in Cannon County, Tennessee.^4,5,6 He and Mary Diadama Smith married on 12 February 1867 in Bastrop County, Texas.^7,8,9 Alfred DeWitt died on 11 March 1928 at his residence about 9 miles west of Breckenridge in Stephens County, Texas, at age 88.¹⁰ and was buried at Baker Cemetery, Stephens County.^11,12

     Mary Diadama Smith was born on 28 February 1848 in Bastrop County, Texas.^3,4,5,6 She and Alfred DeWitt Alexander married on 12 February 1867 in Bastrop County, Texas.^7,8,6 Mary Diadama died on 29 February 1932 at her residence, 10 miles west of Breckenridge in Stephens County, Texas, at age 84.^6,9 and was buried at Baker Cemetery, Stephens County.^10,6,11

     After her marriage on 12 February 1867, she was normally known as Mary Alexander.

     Abby married Brad Monk on 18 May 2008 in Austin.

     Carly Ann Feuerbacher and Clayton James Hewett married on 14 February 2014 in Austin, Travis County, Texas.

     Marshall M. Parker was born in 1877 in Mississippi.² He and William Maggie Simpson married on 9 October 1927 in Caldwell County, Texas.^3,4