Memoirs of Mary A. Maverick: Arranged by Mary A. Maverick and Her Son Geo. Madison MaverickExcerpt from Memoirs of Mary A. Maverick Samuel Augustus Maverick, my husband, was born July 23rd, 1803, at Pendleton, South Carolina. His parents were Samuel Maverick and his wife Elizabeth Anderson. She was the daughter of General Robert Anderson, of South Carolina, and of Revolutionary note, and his wife Ann Thompson of Virginia. Samuel Maverick was once a prominent merchant of Charleston, S.C., where he had raised himself from the almost abject poverty, to which the war of the Revolution had reduced his family, to a position of great affluence. It is said of him that he sent ventures to the Celestial Empire, and that he shipped the first bale of cotton from America to Europe. Some mer cantile miscarriage caused him subsequently to withdraw from, and close out, his business, and he retired to Pendle ton District* in the north west corner of South Carolina, at the foot of the mountains. Here he spent the balance of his days, and invested and speculated largely in lands in South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. |
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Page 44 - Her head, arms and face were full of bruises, and sores, and her nose actually burnt off to the bone — all the fleshy end gone, and a great scab formed on the end of the bone. Both nostrils were wide open and denuded of flesh.
Page 16 - Bowls" came in dressed in a breech-cloth, anklets, moccasins, feathers and a long, clean, white linen shirt, which had been presented to him in Houston. He said the pretty ladies in Houston had danced with, kissed him and given him rings. We, however, begged to be excused and requested him to retire, when he in great contempt stalked out, and our dance broke up.
Page 55 - The room was decorated with flags and evergreens; flowers were not much cultivated then. At the ball, General Lamar wore very wide white pants which at the same time were short enough to show the tops of his shoes. General Lamar and Mrs. Juan N. Seguin, wife of the Mayor, opened the ball with a waltz. Mrs. Seguin was so fat that the General had great difficulty in getting a firm hold on her waist, and they cut such a figure that we were forced to smile. The General was a poet, a polite and brave...
Page 29 - The surveying parties frequently had 'brushes' with the Indians, and it was on these occasions that Hays displayed such rare military skill and daring, that very soon by consent of all, he was looked upon as the leader and his orders were obeyed and he himself loved by all. In a fight he was utterly fearless and invincible,
Page 23 - China trees, and on the river bank just below our line in the De la Zerda premises was a grand old cypress, which we could touch through our fence, and its roots made ridges in our yard. The magnificent old tree stands there today. It made a great shade and we erected our bath house and wash place under its spreading branches. Our neighbors on the east, Main or Commerce Street, were the De la Zerdas. In 1840, their place was leased to a Greek, Roque Catahdie, who kept a shop on the street and lived...
Page 33 - Then I saw two others lying dead near by. Captain Lysander Wells, about this time, passed by riding north on Soledad Street. He was elegantly dressed and mounted on a gaily caparisoned Mexican horse with silver-mounted saddle and bridle — which outfit he had secured to take back to his native state, on a visit to his mother. As he reached the Verimendi House, an Indian who had escaped detection, sprang up behind him, clasped Wells's arms in his and tried to catch hold of the bridle reins.
Page 33 - Thompson and the other gentlemen near by, instantly killing Judge Thompson. We fled into Mrs. Higginbotham's house and I, across the street to my Commerce Street door. Two Indians ran past me on the street and one reached my door as I got in. He turned to raise his hand to push it just as I beat down the heavy bar; then he ran on. I ran in the north room and saw my husband and brother Andrew sitting calmly at a table inspecting some plats of surveys — they had heard nothing. I soon gave them the...
Page 33 - I'll mash your head with this rock!" The Indian seemed regretful that he hadn't time to dispatch Jinny and her brood, but his time was short, and pausing but a moment, he dashed down the bank into the river, and struck out for the opposite shore. As the Indian hurried down the bank and into the river Andrew shot and killed him, and shot another as he gamed and rose on the opposite bank, — then he ran off up Soledad street looking for more Indians.
Page 44 - ... the fleshy end gone, and a great scab formed on the end of the bone. Both nostrils were wide open and denuded of flesh. She told a piteous tale of how dreadfully the Indians had beaten her, and how they would wake her from sleep by sticking a chunk of fire to her flesh, especially to her nose, and how they would shout and laugh like fiends when she cried.
Page 56 - ... and mischief as they made faces and shook their fists at the dancing one. John D. Morris, the Adonis of the company, escorted Miss Arceneiga who on that warm evening wore a maroon cashmere with black plumes in her hair, and her haughty airs did not gain her any friends. Mrs. Yturri had a new silk, fitting her so tightly that she had to wear corsets for the first time in her life. She was very pretty, waltzed beautifully and was much sought as a partner. She was several times compelled to escape...