Robert McAlpin Williamson

Robert McAlpin Williamson

Robert McAlpin Williamson, 1804-1859
Courtesy of the Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas

• Father: Peter Ballentine Williamson b. 25 February 1772, d. 3 June 1849
• Mother: Rebecca Ann McAlpin b. circa 1775, d. circa 1804

• Robert McAlpin Williamson was born on 9 September 1804 in Clarke County, Georgia.
• He was known as "Three-Legged Willie".
• He married Mary Jane Edwards, daughter of Gustavus E. Edwards, on 21 April 1837.
• The following appeared on 9 May 1837 in the Houston Telegraph & Texas Register: [Married] On the 21st of April last, by the Hon. Thomas Barnet, His Honor R. M. WILLIAMSON, judge of the third judicial district, to Miss MARY JANE, daughter of Col. Gustavus E. Edwards, of the county of Austin.
• Williamson County, Texas, established in 1848, was named in his honor.
• Robert McAlpin Williamson and Mary Jane Edwards appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Washington County, Texas. Other members of the household included Peter Gustavus Williamson, Julia Rebecca Williamson, Jack Hemphill Williamson, Willie Annexus Williamson and C. M. Williamson.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1850 census.
• On Saturday, 19 June 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Judge Henry Elmore came this morning, Judge Robert Williamson & Mr Smith came this evening.
• Robert McAlpin Williamson became a widower at the 17 November 1856 death of his wife Mary Jane Edwards.
• On Tuesday, 6 September 1859, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr. Powell started to Wharton County" [likely to visit his mother's widowed brother Robert McAlpin Williamson].
• Robert McAlpin Williamson died on 22 December 1859 at age 55 in Wharton, Texas.
• He was interred at Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Travis County, Texas, in the Republic Hill Section.
• The following appeared on 22 December 1859 in The Dallas Weekly Herald: Hon R. M. Williamson, better known as "Three-legged Willie," departed this life on the 22d ult., in the town of Wharton, Texas. In recording the death of this distinguished citizen of our State, we regret we are not in possession of the requisite material to present to our readers a full sketch of his eventful career, since his immigration to Texas in 1826. Suffice it at present to say that as a soldier in the wars of Texas, he was brave, loyal and true to her cause, as one of her judges in "the times that tried men's souls," he was bold, honest and incorruptible; as a legislator in her councils, he was able, sagacious and patriotic, and as a private citizen, he was frank, manly and generous in his bearing and intercourse with his fellow-citizens. His faults, if any he had, were the outgrowth of the times and of his own genial nature, in regard to which now that the grave has closed upon his mortal form, the voice of his countrymen we trust will be tacemus de his. He was emphatically one of the fast men of a fast age, and we hope that some one competent to the task and familiar with the details of his history, will collect and embody in the authentic form of biography the incidents of his personal career, illustravife of those peculiarities of character which made him a perfedt sui generis--an e pluribus unum among men. Such a work, if properly gotten up, would be racy, amusing and instructive, and we know of no one better qualified for the task than Hon. B. E. Tarver of Washington county. A word to the wise is sufficient.--Item.
• For additional biographical information, see The Texas Handbook Online.
• Research Note: A list of the Williamson children has survived to the present day, preserved by Powell family descendants.

• Last Edited: 22 Oct 2015