McHenry Cemetery

John McHenry
 

Gathered to the Fathers

Died at his residence, in Jackson county, on Saturday, October 19th, 1878, after a painful illness of some days, Capt. John McHenry, in the 81st year of his age. The deceased was one of those early pioneers of Texas who came to her sunny lands when the wild Indian held undisputed sway. Born in Ireland March 4, 1798, he at the youthful age of fourteen left his native land for America.

In the year 1817 he first visited Texas, having been captured by the pirate La Fitte, and held for some time a prisoner on Galveston Island. In 1819 Capt. McHenry joined the ill-fated Long expedition, which, after marching across the country and capturing the old town of Goliad, subsequently was compelled to surrender to the Mexicans. Capt. McHenry, with other companions, were forced to march on foot to the city of Mexico, where they suffered a close imprisonment for a number of months. Finally gaining his freedom, he returned to Texas and ever afterward has shared her vicissitudes. In 1828 he became a citizen of Jackson county, settling near Morales on the Lavaca river. When the trials of 36 came on he was early among those who took up arms for Texan liberty. He lived a life of usefulness. Has ever borne the high estimation of all around him and died in ripe old age conscious of having done his duty under all circumstances to his fellowman. He leaves a wife and a large family to love and cherish his memory, for they knew best his kindness and worth.

Victoria Advocate, October 26, 1878
 

John McHenry

John McHenry was born in Antrim County, Ireland in 1798. He went to sea at the age of 13 and in 1812 landed at New Orleans, where he worked on coastwise vessels. A volunteer on an American gunboat he took part in the battle of New Orleans in January, 1815. McHenry joined the crew of Jean Lafitte for a cruise among the West Indies under a commission from Venezuela. Back in New Orleans in 1819, McHenry joined the Long Expedition to Texas, helped capture Goliad, and was himself captured, with James Long, and sent to prison in Mexico. Released after ten months, he was back in New Orleans in December, 1821, in time to join an expedition for the assistance of Simon Bolivar. He was captured at Santo Domingo, escaped after six weeks, returned to New Orleans, and in 1822 bought a vessel for coastwise trade to the Brazos River.

In 1820 he settled on the Lavaca River in DeWitt's Colony. In the fall of 1835 he fought in the battle of Gonzales and in the Grass Fight. McHenry was chief justice of Victoria County in 1836, but his land became a part of Jackson County, when that county was created. A member of the Texas Veterans Association, he died in Jackson County in 1878.
 

John McHenry

John McHenry, Jackson Co., 19 Nov 1870, approved. Age 73. In Oct 1835 he joined the company of Capt. John Alley of Jackson Co. and proceeded to Gonzales. He then went to Goliad and then escorted some provision carts under Capt. Sutherland to San Antonio. He was then furloughed due to sickness and afterwards forced to remove his family during the runaway scrape.

John F. Linn, Victoria Co., affirmed service. D. M. Stapp, Victoria Co., had known the applicant since 1831.

Republic of Texas Pension Application Abstracts, page 220
 

An Older Than An Old Texan
Sketch of Capt John McHenry of Moblie—An Adventurer with Lafitte and Participant in the Texas Revolution

The Victoria Advocate had a visit on last Wednesday from Capt. John McHenry, of Morales, Jackson county, and says that though now past eighty years of age, his memory is still bright and his step as elastic as one a half century younger. As, in his first excavations for the site of ancient Troy, Dr. Schlieman went too deep, so McHenry antedates his average Texas veteran so far as to scarcely come under the name, though he participated in the war of her independence. He walked the prairies of Galveston island, when, in the language of Three-legged Willie, it was “the stamping ground of Lafitte and his pirates.” The old man’s early and middle life was full of incidents that would embellish a tale of romance. Major John Henry Brown, some years ago, wrote a pretty full biography of the old man’s life, which was published in DeBow’s Review, and from which it appears that he was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, in 1798; went to sea in 1811, and arrived at New Orleans in 1812. He was employed in the coasting trade until the British invasion, when he became a soldier under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. After the establishment of peace, he took service under Lafitte, whose previous piracies had been pardoned by the United States in consideration of his services against the British. Lafitte’s ostensible object was to make war against Spain in favor of the South American States. His rendezvous was Galveston island, the site of the present city, where, in 1816-17, he fitted out three cruisers, and sailed for the Mexican coast and captured several Spanish vessels, including a slave ship. Sailing for the coast of Cuba he came in sight of several merchantmen of Spain under convoy of a Spanish frigate. He called his vessels together and held a council as to whether the fleet should be attacked. The answer being in the affirmative, he gave notice that his privateer’s commission from the government of Venezuela had expired, and if captured, his men would  be treated as pirates. Forty-one of the men, including McHenry, thereupon revolted and demanded one of the vessels, that they might return to New Orleans, which they finally succeeded in doing after many dangers and difficulties. McHenry remained about New Orleans until Col. Long organized an expedition for Mexico in 1819, to operate against the power of Spain. The expedition landed at Bolivar Point, on the east side of Galveston Pass. Capt. John Austin, a brother of the late Col. Wm. T. Austin, of Galveston, was a member of this expedition. While Long’s small force of forty men were encamped at Bolivar, the Carancahua Indians were on Galveston island. A French vessel, freighted with wines and other articles, and destined for the Mexicans at Copano, was wrecked on the island. The savages, to the number of two hundred, murdered the crew and plundered the vessel, becoming drunk on the liquors. Thirty Americans under Long crossed over and attacked the savages, but found them better able to fight than they expected. After killing thirty Indians and losing three of his own men, besides having several wounded. Long was fain to return to his boats and Bolivar Point. Afterwards, Long being reinforced and prepared, sailed for Matagorda Bay, and, disembarking his men, marched against the Spanish post at Goliad, which they captured without serious resistance. Afterward they were forced to surrender to a superior Spanish force, sent prisoners to San Antonio, thence to Laredo, and then to Monterey. Long and Austin were allowed to proceed to the City of Mexico, the Republicans having come into power, and then remainder of the men had the option of remaining on parole or returning to the United States. All but two preferred to remain, hoping to be favorably treated by the new government. Long was treacherously murdered in Mexico.

Austin returned to Monterey, and with McHenry and others, concerted measures to avenge the death of Long, but were detected and sent to the Mexican capital, where they were imprisoned nearly a year, and finally released through the intervention of the United States government. Hon. Joel R. Poinsett being then Minister to Mexico. McHenry returned to New Orleans. In 1822, not being yet satisfied with adventure, McHenry joined an expedition in aid of the South American patriot, Simon Bolivar. After many adventures he returned to the United States, landing at Boston. Thence he returned to New Orleans. After Austin’s colony had been established in Texas, McHenry purchased a schooner to ply between New Orleans and the mouth of the river Brazos, and afterwards to Matagorda bay. In 1829, he married and settled on the Lavaca river. In 1835, he joined in the Texas revolution against Mexico. He was at the fight at Gonzales, and the famous “Grass Fight,” where the Texans mistook a foraging party of Mexicans for a specie train, and fought desperately to capture it. Perhaps McHenry is now the only man living in Texas who sailed with the famous free-booter Lafitte.

The Galveston Daily News, Friday, February 8, 1878
 

From Our Pioneer Memories
By Walter Malec

Capt. John McHenry

"A Memory Sweetly Embalmed"

He was one of the first settlers here.

He was one of the signers of the Millican Gin Declaration of 1835.

He fought in the Battle of Gonzales the same fall.

He then was the first Chief Justice of Victoria County.

Historian John H. Brown, who knew him well personally, pays him this tribute:

"The noble patriot in three revolutions -- Mexico in 1820, South America in 1822, and Texas in 1835--proceded by gallant conduct at New Orleans in 1815, when only 16 years old--the honest, brave and ever true son of Erin, Captain John McHenry, died--leaving a memory of sweetly embalmed in many thousand hearts."

This tribute comes from the historian himself to our Capt. John McHenry who settled on the west bank, while his friend and co-patriot. Major James Kerr, settled on the opposite side of the Lavaca. There, in their original land, both of those patriots rest. Only the spot where Capt. McHenry rests, is no credit to his memory, as the picture above picture [picture not included] shows, taken years ago.

We were there twice that year--such strange attraction this pioneer spot presented. On the ridge overlooking the river bottom stand its tombstone, the one of the son especially dominating, nearby was the McHenry family home and family cemetery being not far apart. The foundations were still noticeable though the structure itself is gone evidently long time ago.

Such an outstanding patriot--and yet so forgotten!

So well known during his lifetime, yet so little remembered in his death.

As the historian tells, John McHenry was born in Ireland 1798. At 13 he was already on the sea. A year later he landed on an American gunboat and took part in the battle of New Orleans in January, 1815.

McHenry joined the crew of Jean Lafitte for a cuisse among the West Indies under a commission from Venezuela. Back in New Orleans in 1819, McHenry joined the Long Expedition  to Texas, helped capture Goliad, and was himself captured with James Long and sent to prison in Mexico.

Just the other day we stood at the grave of Jane Long, wife of James Long, called "Mother of Texas," being the first American woman who gave birth to the first American child born on this soil. This was in the Richmond cemetery.

Released after ten months, McHenry was back in New Orleans in December 1821, in time to join an expedition for the assistance of Simon Bolivar. He was captured at Santo Domingo, escaped after six weeks, returned to New Orleans, and in 1822 bought a vessel for coastwise trade to the Brazos River.

In 1829 he settled on the Lavaca River in DeWitt's Colony. The rest we already know. His first wife died in 1830 and he married Rachel Douglas, whose father was massacred by the savages at Clark's Creek in 1836, only to boys escaping. She rests next to his grave. Then a number of their children. The tallest tombstone marks the grave of their son Louis. But without any fence or care, this hallowed spot has been left to cattle and elements.

Ganado Tribune, Ganado, Texas, Thursday, May 5th, 1960
 

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