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Typed copy submitted September 5, 2006 by Katrina M. Piper Photos of original (copyright) scanned biography submitted by Lucy (Watson) Trant and other family history can be found at https://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~watsonancestors/ This autobiographical sketch is found in Vol. II of “Byrns/Jackson, a Record of Their Probationary State,” by Phillip A. Gowan, pub. 1982, Nashville, Tenn. The original documents belong to descendants of James Byrns. A Biographical Sketch of My Life My father, John Byrns, was born in Charleston, South Carolina on the 17th day of March 1789. His father, John Byrns, having married the Widow Goins (sic), nee Elizabeth Baxter. My father having served an apprentice under his half-brother, Amos Goins, who died at Natchitoches, La. in 1820. My father established in the year 1816-17 a Boot and Shoe Store in the town of Cairo, Tenn. and after building a brick dwelling married my mother, Mary Pruitt, daughter of Reuben Pruitt, a Revolutionary Soldier, on the 24th of December, 1817. In 1839, Nov. 9th, my father, on account of my mother's affliction - - cancer of the left breast and asthma, started to Texas for her health. Arriving at Riley's and Middleton's residences in Leon Prairie, Texas on the 27th day of Dec. 1839. Bought 320 acres of land of Stephen Rogers in Robinson's Colony on Boggy Creek and moved out on to it on the 1st day of Jan. 1840. The first Settlement ever made off or North of the San Antonio Road, between Trinity and Navasota rivers. On the 10th of Jan. 1840 an emigration of several families bought and settled two miles lower down Boggy - - - four families of Erwins, one Jones, three Capps, one Bloodworth and several young men - - Philpott, Easton, Howell, Hinton. On the evening of the 5th of Feb. 1840 twelve Indians made a raid near my Father's residence, up the creek Boggy and killed my sister's husband, C. C. Staley, who was out hunting. Who now lies buried on the North Banks of Boggy under a walnut tree and afterwards known as the George W. Chatham residence. After this murder of Staley on the 5th and burial on the 6th of Feb. 1840 we determined to build a Fort or Block House for protection and safety down the creek at the Erwin's Settlement and calling the Fort Erwin or Boggy and clearing land of Erwin's to cultivate that year and organizing a military company, by the authority of the President of the Republic of Texas, with Thomas W. Greer as Captain, Tom Middleton and Elisha Whitten as 1st & 2nd Lieutenants, with my Father, John Byrns, as Ensign. See the records at Austin. With 25 of us young, single and married men as Volunteers or Soldiers and regular Rangers. All the families - - white and black, forted and living inside, of Picketed Square of 75 yds. around two Block Houses or Forts, with eleven shantys or dwellings inside and 77 living souls inside, all the year of 1840 gives only a very faint description of our surroundings and troubles. To individualize my trials, my Father was taken sick in July and died on 27th day of Aug. 1840. My Mother, at the same time miscarried or aborted a son. My Sister Staley (note: this is Louisa that married C. C. Staley) and her child John, both down sick and both Thomas, myself and 6 negroes, all at the same time sick. I will assert the truth in saying out of the 77 living souls in the Fort I have seen 76 of them down at the same time not able to render assistance to others, the exception or able person was Miss Isabella Middleton afterward married to Martin D. Taylor. As my Father did not sell his possessions in Tennessee, we determined in Sept. to prepare to return to Tenn. with what of us were living and at a great sacrifice and loss. We left the Fort on Nov. 9th, 1840 by team for Memphis, Tenn. with all the Erwins from Miss. with us. With doubts and fears of getting our slaves back - - - - - in the States. Which we did. - - - - after passing into Arkansas my Sister's son John Staley, about 18 months. old died, having been sick and puny for months. Buried near Little Rock, Ark. on Dec. 11, 1840. Arrived at Memphis, sold wagon, horses, hired out negro cook at Tavern. All of us took steam boat at Memphis and arrived at our home in Cairo, Tenn. on Dec 29th, 1840 - - by losing 4 of our family, over $1200.00 actual loss in cash and property. Besides $800.00 that was shipped around to Galveston in all kinds of clothing, tools, furniture, buggy, beds, etc. all of which was an entire loss with the exception of a box or library of books which afterward 2 years obtained at Galveston. I in 1842 administered on the Estate of my Father. My grandfather, Reuben Pruitt, kept our residence secure until our return and died with us in March 1842. My Sister Staley in 1842 married the second time, to John Mays. She dying in Cairo, August 1849. My Mother having died in 1845. All in our original dwelling. Myself during these 7 years having to administer on both Estates and the appointed guardian of my Brother Wm. Thos. Byrns and property. And as I had for the past 9 years groceried and owned (10) ware houses at Cairo & Gallatin and with all my family, except my 1 brother and my sister Louisa's 3 children & their father John Mays, dead I then began to think of my situation and condition and determined to hunt for a companion to share with me through this troublesome and unfriendly world all the joys, pleasures, love and blessings with the sorrows, distress, complainings, afflictions and losses to both. I found in my native county of Sumner that, I then thought, would fully fill all the requirements necessary to constitute an affectionate companion, a loving devoted wife and mother, a model of economy, industry, neatness--persevering and untiring endurance, kindness, goodness and every other virtuous requisite necessary - - in the person of one Elizabeth Malvina Watson. On the 6th day of Sept. 1849 when she publicly and lawfully pledged her name and affection to her, now afflicted and aged, affianced, which she has sacredly fulfilled in every particular to this subscriber who is proud to call her his Beloved Wife. James Byrns Written at home, all alone - - this my three score and tenth anniversary in the year of our Lord 1890 - - April 11th written. James Byrns 70th year of my birth on Nov. 29th, next. |