VIRGINIA They sailed from Larne to settle in Pennyslyannia around 1735. After John's death in 1754 the remaining Houstons moved on to settle at Timber Ridge in Virginia among the many Ulster Scots For three generations this was their home.Sam Houston was born on 2nd March 1793 and named after his father. |
TENNESSEE In the spring of 1808 following the death of her husband Elizabeth Houston set out in a packed wagon which held all the family possessions. Holding the reins of the five horse team fifteen year old Sam turned westwards. In the wagon were his brother and three sisters. It eventually came to rest at Baker's Creek in Tennessee near some Houston relatives. Sam spent little time in school and once disappeared to be found living with the Cherokee Indians who adopted him into their nation as "Raven" ARMY AND POLITICS By twenty Sam was a teacher developing his way with words when the War of 1812 began. He proved to be a leader of men and soon General Andrew Jackson, whose own roots were only ten miles from Ballynure, promoted and encouraged him. After the war he went into politics and became a congressman. When Jackson was president Sam Houston was given an important role where he used his relationship with the Cherohkee in land negotiations. His career had many ups and downs but he was to be Governor of Tenessee. Like all the Houstons before him he continued the move west and went to Texas. Still part of Mexico the Texans declared that they were a sovereign state. |
THE ALAMO AND SAN JACINTO Santa Anna moved north with a vast army. In his way was the old mission of the Alamo in San Antonio. Just 189 men including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett, both with Ulster roots, held out for twelve days. It gave Sam Houston time to gather an army. They met the Mexicans at San Jacinto and defeated them. Sam Houston became a national hero and Governor of the resulting state of Texas. A small town was named after him which grew in importance in the years to follow.
|
