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Richard Cantrell as David Crockett
(1786-1836)
Born in Tennessee on August 17, 1786, David
(Davy) Crockett was enamored by the wilds
of the woods he lived in. As a child, he
endured the abuses of an overly stern father and school master
and ran away from home at 13 for several years.
Crockett proved to be an expert marksman,
trapper and hunter. He married Mary Polly
Finley in 1806, fought with Andy Jackson during the Creek Indian War
and upon returning discovered he was a widower with 3 small children. He
married again and continued moving his growing family west. His fame and common
sense preceded him and he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and was
elected to the office of Colonel in the Tenn. Militia. Crockett was elected
and served two terms in the Tennessee State Legislature, floundered in
several failed businesses adventures before being elected a U.S. Congressman
from Tennessee, serving several terms.
After a political falling out with President
Andrew Jackson and losing the election of
1835, Crockett left his family to explore new lands arriving in Texas
late in 1835.
Crockett signed the Oath of Allegiance to
Texas in January 1836 and on February 22,
1836 made a speech in San Antonio de Bexar asking to serve as a "High
Private" for the Texas Army. During the Alamo siege, Crockett was reported
to have been seen numerous times standing atop the wall calmly loading
his Kentucky rifle, taking aim and firing; always with a fallen Mexican
soldato as a result.
During the final assault at daybreak on March
6th, 1836, Crockett and his Tennessee
Mounted Volunteers were defending the palisade between the chapel and
the low barracks along the south wall. After the battle, Mrs. Susanna Dickerson
reportedly identified his body by the "peculiar cap" that he had been wearing in front of the chapel.
Davy Crockett was 49 years old when he died at
the Alamo.
Richard
Cantrell
portrays this memorable
man as well as John Coffee
Hays
for
Texana Living History Association.
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