Seth Ingram
 Matagorda Cemetery Road SH 60 & S Gulf Road
28°42'1.66"N
95°57'16.82"W |
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Seth Ingram was born June 19, 1790, in Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont, son of Phillip and Rachel (Burton) Ingram. In the War of 1812, he became a sergeant in the 11th Infantry Regiment, United States Army. Seth came to Texas in 1822. He had a letter of introduction as a surveyor of good character from Joseph H. Hawkins of New Orleans. Stephen F. Austin hired him in August, 1823, as a surveyor for his colony. Ingram laid out the town of San Felipe de Austin. For those who could not pay the survey charge, he took his fee in land. Seth encouraged his brother, Ira, who was living in New Orleans to come to Texas and was able to secure for him a labor of land and a building lot in present Waller County in August, 1824. He was, therefore, one of Austin's "Old Three Hundred" colonists. The 1826 census listed him as single, aged 25-40. The first officers of the town of Matagorda were Hosea H. League, president; Ira Ingram, secretary; Seth Ingram, treasurer; and Elias Wightman, surveyor. On September 2, 1830, Seth Ingram shot and killed John G. Holtham, a lawyer. The deceased had posted lampoons on the door of the alcalde's office, announcing to the public: "Ira Ingram was a coward, a rogue and a man without honor." Earlier Holtham had gotten drunk, gone in Ira Ingram's yard, and been kicked out. Holtham demanded the satisfaction of a duel. Ira's brother, Seth, met Holtham and demanded that he remove the lampoon and Holtham refused. A duel followed and Seth killed Holtham with one shot. Hosea League was also arrested and accused as an accomplice for he had armed himself and accompanied Seth. Since there was no jail, the men were held in chains until the summer of 1833. Seth Ingram married Susannah Rice on December 5, 1837, but it ended in divorce on October 15, 1840. Seth refused to make any provisions for Susannah after the divorce, and Ira left most of his estate to her on his death. She later married David Frost of Washington County. Seth's second wife was Mary Sarah "Sally" Frey Davis, whom he married in Christ Church, February 9, 1846. She was the widow of Elisha Davis. Seth died of consumption on May 12, 1857 and services were held in Christ Church on May 13, 1857. He was buried beside his brother, Ira, in Matagorda. Seth's will, probated June 29, 1857, leaving his estate to his wife, Mary S. Ingram, and his two stepsons, William Felix and John Elisha Davis. Mary's other children by Davis were Sarah Frances Davis, who married John W. McCamly; Ellen Robertson Davis, who married John L. Croom; Joseph Frederick Davis; and Susan Amanda Davis. Historic Matagorda County,
Volume I, page 73 |