PETTUS HISTORY

Early Texas History
William Albert Pettus (my great-great-great grandfather), often called Colonel Pettus, Captain Pettus, or "Uncle Buck" was born in Mechklenburg, Virginia about 1781 and died in Washington on the Brazos, Texas in 1844. His parents were Samuel Overton and Jane Freeman Pettus. This couple had another son, Freeman, and perhaps two other children. The mother, Jane Freeman died soon after William was born. The records show that the father Samuel Overton then married the second wife, Hannah Minor in 1783 and from this second marriage there were several children.

Some of the immigrants to Texas came overland by wagon; but most of them came by boat and landed along the Texas coast. William and Freeman were among this last group. The arrival of the Pettus Brothers is recorded in several Texas history books.

John Henry Brown, a noted Texas historian says: "Eighty colonists arrived in Galveston Bay on the Schooner Revenge with Captain Shires in April, 1822. Of the number, Moses L. Choate and William Pettus located on the San Jacinto, the first settlement established on that stream."

In a letter from Samuel Shears to Stephen F. Austin dated March, 1822, he states that William Pettus and his brother Freeman and the family of Mr. Bailey in a group of about 25 persons contracted with him in New Orleans to bring them to Texas for $475.00

In a History of Harris County written by Adele B. Looscan, another account of early settlement made by the group coming on the Revenge is given: "The year 1822 seems to have been the earliest period claimed for any settlement. A few may have come overland from Louisiana but those of whom record is here made arrived on shipboard and were in some instances tossed ashore when their frail boats were wrecked by storms and reefs and bars of bay. Numbered among those were Moses L. Choate and Colonel Pettus, on board the Revenge which was wrecked on Red Fish Bar in April 1822. Their schooner commanded by Captain Shires ran aground and the passengers left the vessel and went up San Jacinto River where they made homes, probably the first settlement on the river or in Harris County. Only the names of the two mentioned here have been preserved."

William Pettus told a little about the life in this early settlement on the San Jacinto. The supplies that they had brought were diminishing so their first jobs were to plant corn and send the young men out hunting for game. They were soon visited by a band of armed Indians who accused the settlers of encroaching on their hunting ground. The settlers explained that they had been aiming for the Colorado but the leaky vessel had forced them to land on the San Jacinto. They told the Indians that they planned to spend only one season and then proceed to the Colorado. This seemed to satisfy the Indians and they became friendly. They sold horses and cattle to the settlers. According to Pettus, the last part of 1822 was very bad for the people. Many became dissatisfied with this location and roamed about looking for better soil. Many became sick and died due to poor living conditions and proper food. William Pettus was among those who became ill.

William left this settlement and moved on to land on the Brazos River. By June of 1823 Stephen F. Austin returned from Mexico and was able to tell the colonists that permission to colonize had been confirmed by the Mexican government. This gave them more confidence in his project. In July of 1823, William returned to Alabama to get his family. He returned in October with his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Patrick and two sons, John Freeman (my great-great grandfather) and Edward. This family was listed in the "First Census of Texas 1829-1836". Much is known of John Freeman, however, there is little known of Edward. The family story has always been that he either died or was killed in Mexico.

ORIGINAL ALTA VISTA HOMESTEAD

Soon after William returned to Texas with his family, Stephen F. Austin was able to give the first group of colonists titles to the Texas land. Three hundred families received these first titles and this group has since been referred to as "The Old Three Hundred" and "The Original Three Hundred" of Texas. William and his brother, Freeman, were among them. These grants were used as a reward for civil or military service.

By the time the Pettus family reached Texas, the spot on the Brazos known as San Felipe de Austin had been established as a town. Stephen F. Austin had his office here and it was the center for all of the business in his colony. The Pettus family lived here for about nine years. It was reported that William built a "villa" and opened a "House of Entertainment".

About 1832 the Pettus Family moved to the Mill Creek area, where the present town of Industry is now located.

When hostilities between Texas and Mexico broke out in 1835, William and his son, John Freeman were actively engaged in this combat. After the successful San Antonio Campaign, many of the volunteers went home to attend to their own businesses. William probably did this as his military record shows that he later entered the service of Texas on March 1, 1836. His discharge by Captain Moseley Baker was signed on May 30, 1836.

Until his death in 1844, William (Uncle Buck) was active in the early affairs of Texas.

William and Elizabeth left only one son to carry on the name, but there are many still living that are proud to be descendants of one of the "Old Three Hundred" families.

John Freeman Pettus (my great-great grandfather) and Sara York began their married life in Austin's colony on Mill Creek. Their oldest son, William A. (my great grandfather) was born there in 1838.

In 1845 John Freeman received a grant of land in what was then Victoria County. The grant was for one league and one labor situated between the Guadalupe River and Coleto Creek about 18 miles northwest of the town of Victoria. This grant was from the Republic of Texas.

About 1857 John Freeman bought land in what is now Bee County and moved his family to this location. This area was then a part of Goliad County. He engaged in raising cattle and established a comfortable home that was known from the San Antonio River to the Rio Grande. Sarah York Pettus is credited with organizing the first school in Bee County.

John Freeman, his son, William A. and his son-in-law, John Hodges, went to the Civil War. John Freeman was permitted to return home on May 13, 1865. After his service with the Confederate Army, the town of Dry Medio was changed to Pettus.

On February 4, 1865, William A. (Uncle Buck) married Myra Amanda Lott (Aunt Clip), my great grandfather and great grandmother. They built a home on the Alta Vista Ranch which was her inheritance. The pictures above show the brands "U" which belonged to "Aunt Clip" and the "P" that belonged to "Uncle Buck". They are buried on the Alta Vista Ranch in the Lott-Pettus Cemetery.

The home that "Uncle Buck and "Aunt Clip" built burned down and James Milam and
Sallie Pettus (my grandfather and grandmother) built a home on the same location in 1917.
This home burned in 1987.

ALTA VISTA BRAHMANS
Jim Milam Pettus, II
Goliad, TX 77963
Home: 361-645-1447 • Cell: 361-935-1447 • Fax: 361-645-2890
Email: info@altavistabrahmans.com

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