|
(1798-1880)
Jane Long was one of the earliest Anglo women in Texas and
claimed to be the first English-speaking woman to bear a child in Texas. Census
records from 1807-1826 shows this claim to be incorrect; however, her
independent and determined character easily earned for her the title “Mother of
Texas.” Jane Wilkinson was born in Maryland in 1798 where her father died when
she was less than a year old. Her mother moved her family to the Mississippi
Territory. When Jane was fourteen, her mother died and Jane went to live with
her older sister near Natchez. Early in 1815, after a brief courtship, Jane
married James Long. Their first child, Ann James, was born in 1817.
James left for Texas in 1818 and Jane joined her husband in
1820. Their third child, Mary James Long, was born in 1821 at Bolivar Point, a
peninsula outpost near Galveston Island. Her 12-year old slave, Kian, and her
6-year old daughter were her only attendants because James was gone on an
expedition at the time. James died in 1822 but it was some time after his death
before Jane learned of this.
After her husband’s death, Jane and her only surviving
child, Ann, left Texas for a while, but Jane soon returned to live the rest of
her life in Texas. Jane was a strong and enterprising woman who accomplished
many things in her 82 years including operating two boarding houses, and
developing a thriving plantation. She bought and sold land, raised cattle, and
grew cotton with the help of slaves. Family traditions report that she had many
admirers and some would-be suitors, including famous Texans like Ben Milam,
William Travis, Stephen Austin, Sam Houston and Mirabeau Lamar. However, she
rejected all offers of matrimony and died the widow of James Long
|
