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Elijah Decrow, my 2nd great
granduncle, was born 21 February 1799 in Lincolnville, Waldo, Maine
the sixth of ten known children of Daniel D and Azubah Gay Decrow.
He immigrated to Matagorda County in 1832 and received land grant
#13 for 1/3 of a league. His 1/3 league was located on Matagorda
peninsula encompassing the area known as Decrow’s Point then and
Decros Point now.
Thomas Decrow’s ¾ league and labor was located
eleven miles north of Gonzales, Texas. He chose to settle on the
peninsula and build his house there. Elijah never married and
apparently lived with Thomas. He is in Thomas’ household in the
1850, 1860, and 1870 US Federal Censuses for Matagorda County. In
1850, he is listed as a Stock Farmer with his real estate valued at
$6,000. There is no occupation listed in 1860; in 1870; Elijah is
listed as Retired Farmer.
Thomas wrote a letter to his father, Daniel back in Maine dated June
1838 describing life on Elijah’s land. A copy of the original is on
file in The Center for American History at The University of Texas
at Austin and was transcribed on Pages 195-196 in Volume 1 of
Historic Matagorda County. I obtained my own copy from The
Center for American History and the following is transcribed from
this copy:
“…we are here at Ps Cavallo on Elijahs third of a league of land for
which he has been offered Twelve Thousand Dollars & a small
proportion reserved to himself & refused, this place is wanted to
build a town on. I am liveing here in our own house & for this
country it is a good one it has 4 rooms beside Piazzas on both
sides* we have between 90 & 100 Cattle, about 45 of which are cows
we milk 8 or 10 which is sufficient for our use they are all
perfectly gentle we have a small garden, chickens & pigs & they are
very little trouble to raise, yet they cost each one as much as a
cow we live near the water, I will get up & step to the waters edge
___ I find it 56 strides, on approaching the water I saw a small
“tortoise” & rushed in to my hips & caught him, he will make us a
fine dinner & we have a Negro woman to cook it. I can stand in my
door & talk with men on the vessels decks & they laying in 5 fathoms
water I catch fish with a hook or net by going to the waters edge &
“’oisters by going 2 miles they are plenty and so common they are no
rarity I get Codfish & “Mackeril” and sometimes hollabote [halibut]
from vessels & your country potatoes we give from 4 to 5 Dollars pr
Bhl [bushel] for, I was looking with my glass to see the cattle off
in the “Priare”, I counted 16 deer feeding near them this is however
an every Day sight when we go a little from the house”.
*This is not the same house that was destroyed in
the hurricane, which must have been built later as the family
continued to grow.
Elijah died 16 October 1871 according to Elijah’s Williamson County
probate file. Probate in Matagorda County was filed 14 February
1873. Thomas Decrow requested that his son-in-law, Henry N Peaslee,
my 2nd great grandfather, be appointed administrator.
Elijah’s probate file and the county deed books contain a wealth of
information for the Decrow family researcher. He died intestate.
Book O of the Deed Records for Matagorda County, pages 2-9 mention
his sister, Olivia Doane, numerous nieces and nephews and great
nieces and nephews. Olivia Smith, the daughter of Olivia Doane and
Olivia herself each had a 1/5th interest in Elijah’s
estate, which they sold back to Thomas Decrow for $200 each on pages
2-6. Pages 6 – 8 list the nieces and nephews who are the children
of Elijah’s brother Bateman. The are Azubah Ann Decrow Shute, Mary
Webb Decrow Stephenson, Francis or Fannie W Decrow Hunter, Harriet
Clements Decrow Keene, Eliza Decrow Bean, Olive Jane Decrow Emery,
Thomas Howard Decrow, and William Bateman Decrow. They also sold
their share back to their Uncle Thomas. On page 8 and 9, the great
nieces and nephews are mentioned; they are Ann A Gonin, Volney
Thompson, Dolly C Dudley, Sarah J. Thompson, Selwin Thompson, Ida H
Thompson, and George C. Thompson. The great nieces and nephews are
the grandchildren of Elijah’s sister Anna who married Jeremiah
Clements. Their daughter Dorcas Decrow Clements married I. B. or J.
B. Thompson. Dorcas died 11 Dec 1865. The great nieces and nephews
also sold their part of the estate to Thomas for $200.
The entire probate did not go as smoothly. Elijah’s probate file
housed at the Matagorda County Museum Archives in Bay City contains
documents relating to a suit filed against the administrator, Henry
Peaslee. Another of Elijah’s nieces Susan/Susannah M Decrow,
daughter of his brother Howard, married Robert C Hasbrook 22 April
1869 in Matagorda County. Robert residing at this time in Rockport,
Aransas County, filed suit against Henry, on 24 May 1875. His suit
alleges that the inventory of the estate “does not contain a true
and correct statement and list of all the property belonging to the
said estate.” He further alleged that Elijah had an undivided half
interest with brother Thomas owning the other half of a “certain
stock of neat cattle ranging in the County of Refugio … numbering
two thousand head more or less and worth at least four dollars in
coin per head”. He alleged that their was a large amount of “ready
money” amounting to at least $2000 and a “certain large dwelling
house”* with improvements inhabited for years by Thomas and his
family located on the headright of the deceased at Decrow’s Point
valued at $5000, and “a great amount of other property real and
personal.”
*This sounds more like the house destroyed in the
hurricane.
Henry’s response to the suit alleged that it does not appear that
Susan Hasbrook is joining in or interested in the suit or that the
suit was brought on her behalf against the estate. He also stated
that the cattle ranging in Refugio County are the sole property of
Thomas Decrow as is the dwelling house and improvements. He further
stated that he knew nothing of the money mentioned in Robert’s suit.
Henry asked that the suit be dismissed and that Robert pay the costs
of the suit. The last set of documents in the probate file are dated
February 1876. These documents ask for the final account and
settlement of the estate. $225 came from the sale of Elijah’s
Spanish horse and 50 head of neat cattle on 15 December 1874 less
various costs relating to settling of the estate totaling $107.85.
This included the costs of contesting the Hasbrook suit. The
document mentions the suit filed against Henry and goes on to say
that “since that time [the suit] was compromised and settled by the
late Captain Thos Decrow”, Thomas having died in the hurricane of
September, 1875. In the Deed Records Book P, Page 92 Susan Hasbrook
joined by her husband Robert A Hasbrook received $370 in American
silver coins to bargain, sell, and release their interest in
Elijah’s estate. The estate was finally closed 2 May 1877. The
probate of Elijah’s estate ending with $107.85 to be divided between
the three surviving children of Thomas hardly seems worth all that
time and effort. The Hasbrooks seemed to have benefited the most.
The family reopened the probate of Elijah after they relocated to
Williamson County on 8 May 1886. Henry Peaslee asked that he be
appointed administrator to recover a claim against the civil
government that was not included in the original probate since it
was not thought possible to collect it. The claim amounted to
$1222.63. The probate states that Thomas Decrow, now deceased, was
the brother of Elijah and that “he became the sole owner of Elijah’s
estate by purchase from all the other heirs” and that Thomas
Decrow’s heirs now reside in Williamson County.
Howard Decrow, my second great granduncle was born 20 October, 1806
in Lincolnville, Waldo, Maine the youngest son of Daniel D and
Azubah Gay Decrow. He immigrated to Matagorda County in 1831. Thomas
sent a letter home to brother Robert dated 1 June 1831 stating that
Howard was expected any day. He received land grant 61 filed in
Matagorda County for one league and a labor. His land grant was
surveyed in two different parts of South Texas. The three quarters
of a league and a labor was located 5/6 in Harris County and 1/6 in
Montgomery County on Spring Creek located 1 ½ mile from Cypress
Bayou and 20 miles from Houston. The unallocated ¼ league was
located in Jefferson County situated on the waters of Big Hill and
Taylor Bayous about 10 miles S 10ْ
E from Beaumont. I have not found any indication that he ever
lived on either of the pieces of land.
Howard married Mary Kuykendall in Matagorda County 18 October, 1837.
They were married by H. L. Cook. Mary was the daughter of Robert H
Kuykendall and Sarah Gilliland. Mary was born about 1818 in
Arkansas. Mary’s parents moved to Matagorda in 1830. Howard and Mary
had four known children all born in Texas, most likely Matagorda
County; Elijah born about 1838, Thomas Edwin about 1839, Sarah Emma
about 1842, and Susanna M 29 July, 1844. The approximate dates of
birth are based on census data.
Howard owned the Lighter Polly Hopkins which carried goods and saw
service during the Republic of Texas. I found a digitized document
online at the State of Texas Archives website in the Republic Claims
section relating to this service, transcribed as follows:
“This is to certify that Lter Polly Hopkins,
Howard Deckow Master has been imployed in the Service of the
Republic of Texas from the eighteenth of January up to the twelfth
of February for which the government of Texas is Bound at the Amts
of twelve dollars Each day.” The document is approved by William
Fisher, Secretary of the Texas Navy.
I have not found an exact date or cause of death for Howard. There
is some evidence that Howard died before the 1850 census since he is
not listed in the household. The census was conducted 2 October,
1850. The household consists of Mary, age 32, Elijah, age 13, Thos
E, age 8, S E, age 6, and E S , age 6. Digital documents exist in
the Texas State Archives in the Republic Claims section showing that
Mary was living in Goliad County in 1853. An affidavit filed in
Matagorda County 14 December, 1853, signed by James Stanley and D E
E Braman attests that they personally “knew Howard Decrow (now
deceased) and that they know Mary Decrow, formerly the wife and now
the widow of said Howard Decrow, decd and that they have
known the said Mary Decrow, wife as aforesaid for many years past as
a resident of the County of Matagorda but that her present residence
is Goliad County…”. Another document in the collection dated 20
March 1856 filed in Goliad County states “…I A. M. Boatwright of the
county and …aforesaid Guardian of the persons and property of the
minors, Elijah, Thos Edwin Decrow, and Sarah E & Susannah M Decrow
children and heirs of the late Howard Decrow”.
On 27 October 1856, documents were filed in Matagorda County Probate
Court on behalf of Thomas E Decrow and Sarah Emma Decrow, both
minors over the age of fourteen year announcing their intentions to
choose a guardian of their person and estate since both parents are
deceased. The petition asks that their maternal uncle John Moore be
appointed their guardian. The court approved the petition on 27
October, 1856. John Moore married Mary Kuykendall Decrow’s half
sister Sarah Ann Kinsie. By 1860, Sarah and Susan are living in the
household of their uncle Thomas Decrow on Decrow’s Point.
Howard’s daughter Susan married Robert A Hasbrook 22 April 1869 in
Matagorda County. William H Burhkart married them. Robert was born
in New York State about 1834. Robert appears on the June 11 1860
census in Deming’s Bridge, Matagorda County. His occupation is
listed as Stock Raiser, his real estate is valued at $1000 and his
personal estate is valued at 10,000. His dwelling is 2 dwellings
down from Thomas Kuykendall, Susan’s maternal uncle. This probably
explains how they met. I have not located them in the 1870 census.
According to the suit against Elijah’s estate, by 1875 they were
living in Rockport, Aransas County. In the 1880 census the
Hasbrook’s are living in the town of Refugio, Refugio County.
The date of the census is 1 June, 1880. The
Hasbrooks are listed in Dwelling 41, Household 42 Page 335 A Lines
48-50 as follows:
Hasbrook, R A W M 44
Married Occupation is Clerk in Store
Susan W
F 30 Wife Keeps House
Courtland A W M 9
Son At School
The household continues on Page 335B Lines 1-4
Hasbrook, Anna T W F 7
Daughter At School
Robert D W M
5 Son
Henry H? W M
3 Son
Margaret E W F
11/12 Daughter
Susan Decrow Hasbrook died 8 May 1883. Robert Decrow Hasbrook shows
up the the 1900, 1920, and 1930 censuses in Victoria, Victoria,
Texas. He married Beatrice Koontz daughter of Henry Clay Koontz born
in Matagorda, Matagorda County 12 April, 1847. Robert’s sister
Margaret E in 1900 is in the household of an uncle in the borough of
Manhattan, New York, New York. This would indicate that R. A.
Hasbrook was deceased by this time.
Elijah Decrow, son of Howard and Mary, married Mary Dooley 29, June
1863 in Calhoun County. The marriage record appears on “The Register
of Marriage Licenses issued and celebrated during the war, when the
book of records was sent to Sweethome for safekeeping.” They were
married by H. B. Cleaveland.
Elijah appears on the 1870 census in Refugio County with wife Mary.
Also listed in the household is Edward, who may be Elijah’s brother
Thomas Edwin; the age would match. The date of the census is 26
July, 1870. They are listed in dwelling and household 231 Page 151
Lines 17-19 as follows:
Deckrow, Elijah 32 M W
Farmer
Mary 20
F W Keeping House
Edward 28
M W Stock Herder
Elijah’s real estate is valued at $1000 and his
personal estate at $2000.
I have found no further records of Howard’s
children or grandchildren.
While applying for membership in the Mayflower Society and the DAR,
I did discover lineage papers that were accepted under a marriage of
Elijah Decrow, Thomas and Howard’s brother. The marriage is to Helen
Nelly Givens and supposedly occurred in Indianola. The line comes
down through their daughter Sarah Emma who was born about 1870. This
would have made the elder Elijah 71 years old at the time of Sarah’s
birth. There is no mention anywhere in Elijah’s probate of a wife
and daughter. “Nelly” Deckrow does appear in the 1880 census for
Aransas County where she is appears with daughter Emma, age 10 and
son Rowell age 8. More research needs to be done to solve this
dilemma.
Within six months of the hurricane that devastated Decrow’s Point,
the descendants had fled. There are still descendants of the
brothers residing in Texas. Descendants have scattered to Idaho,
Michigan, and California, as well.
Family Group Sheet
Subject Howard Decrow (846)
Birth 20 Oct 1806
Lincolnville, Waldo, Maine.
Marriage 18 Oct 1837 Matagorda
County, Texas.
Death before 14 Dec 1853
Matagorda County, Texas.
Father Daniel D Decrow (775)
(b. 17 Nov 1758, )
Mother Azubah Gay (773) (b. 19
Oct 1765, )
Spouse Mary Kuykendall (1421)
Birth __ ___ 1818 Arkansas.
Death __ ___ 1856 Matagorda
County, Texas.
Father Robert H, Sr KUYKENDALL
(194) (b. 1788, d. 1831)
Mother Sarah GILLILAND (195)
(b. 4 Dec 1787, d. 13 Oct 1857)
Four Known Children:
M Elijah Decrow (185)
Birth __ ___ 1838 Matagorda
County, Texas.
Marriage 29 Jun 1863 Mary
Dooley (6199) (b. 1850, ); Calhoun County, Texas.
M Thomas Edwin Decrow (180)
Birth __ ___ 1839 Texas.
F Sarah Emma Decrow (184)
Birth __ ___ 1842 Texas.
F Susanna M Decrow (186)
Birth 29 Jul 1844 Matagorda
County, Texas.
Marriage 22 Apr 1869 Robert A
Hasbrook (6092) (b. 1836, ); Matagorda County, Texas.
Son: __ ___ 1871 Courtland A
Hasbrook (6232); Texas.
Daughter: __ ___ 1873 Anna T
Hasbrook (6233); Texas.
Son: 14 Jun 1874 Robert Decrow
Hasbrook (6234); Texas
Son: __ ___ 1877 Henry H
Hasbrook (6235); Texas
Daughter: __ Jul 1879 Margaret
E Hasbrook (6236): Texas.
Death 8 May 1883
Family Group Sheet
Subject Elijah Decrow (185)
Birth __ ___ 1838 Matagorda
County, Texas.
Marriage 29 Jun 1863 Calhoun
County, Texas.
Father Howard Decrow (846) (b.
20 Oct 1806, d. before 14 Dec 1853)
Mother Mary Kuykendall (1421)
(b. 1818, d. 1856)
Spouse Mary Dooley (6199)
Birth __ ___ 1850
Father
Mother
No Known Children
Family Group Sheet
Subject Susanna M Decrow (186)
Birth 29 Jul 1844 Matagorda
County, Texas.
Marriage 22 Apr 1869 Matagorda
County, Texas.
Death 8 May 1883
Father Howard Decrow (846) (b.
20 Oct 1806, d. before 14 Dec 1853)
Mother Mary Kuykendall (1421)
(b. 1818, d. 1856)
Spouse Robert A Hasbrook (6092)
Birth __ ___ 1836 New York
Father
Mother
Five Known Children
M Courtland A Hasbrook (6232)
Birth __ ___ 1871 Texas.
F Anna T Hasbrook (6233)
Birth __ ___ 1873 Texas.
M Robert Decrow Hasbrook (6234)
Birth 14 Jun 1874 Texas.
Marriage __ ___ 1903
Beatrice R Koontz (6237) (b. Jun 1883, ), daughter of Henry Clay
Koontz Sr (7443) and Mary Ann Finegan (6240); Texas.
Daughter: __ ___ 1905 May
Aline Hasbrook (6238); Texas.
Daughter: __ ___ 1909
Mary Koontz Hasbrook (6239); Texas.
M Henry H Hasbrook (6235)
Birth __ ___ 1877 Texas.
F Margaret E Hasbrook (6236)
Birth __ Jul 1879 Texas.
Family Group Sheet
Subject Robert Decrow Hasbrook (6234)
Birth 14 Jun 1874 Texas.
Marriage __ ___ 1903 Texas.
Father Robert A Hasbrook
(6092) (b. 1836, )
Mother Susanna M Decrow (186)
(b. 29 Jul 1844, d. 8 May 1883)
Spouse Beatrice R Koontz (6237)
Birth __ Jun 1883 Texas.
Father Henry Clay Koontz Sr
(7443) (b. 12 Apr 1847, d. 28 Jan 1908)
Mother Mary Ann Finegan (6240)
(b. 12 Apr 1859, )
Two Known Children
F May Aline Hasbrook (6238)
Birth __ ___ 1905 Texas.
F Mary Koontz Hasbrook (6239)
Birth __ ___ 1909 Texas
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