Post by stuart on Aug 23, 2007 14:25:00 GMT -5
I mentioned in passing on another thread that Tom Pearson's men brought the 18 pounder up from Velasco, whereupon Jim added this comment:
"Brown mentions Pearson as having been listed as the man who led the group accompanying the gun, stating that the info came from the Pruett and Cole book "The Goliad Massacre", but he claims that Morris' muster role at Velasco does not include any NO Gray by that name.
There was a "Mr. Johnson" listed in the party, and there is a Francis Johnson on the roles, so Brown assumes they are on and the same.
jim"
Gary Brown's book is about the worst I've read on the subject and that's saying something. Tom Pearson certainly recruited his company in New Orleans, but it was never a part of the New Orleans Greys so its hardly surprising he doesn't appear on Morris's muster roll.
Here's the entry on him from my own book:
Captain Thomas K. Pearson
Originally from Philadelphia, Pearson was described by Reuben Brown as being connected with the theatre when he raised his company in New Orleans and Lewis Washington also declared that he and King “were, I believe, of the histrionic profession, as well as some of those attached to their respective commands.” Arriving at Paso Cavallo in November, 1835, he and his men escorted the famous 18 pounder cannon salvaged from the wreck of the San Felipe to Bexar, but left it in the Alamo when they marched away with Grant. Pearson put his oratorical skills to good use in the confrontation at Refugio and afterwards went down to the Rio Grande. At San Patricio he was called upon to surrender, but at first refused and started shooting: “Some of the Texians seeing from within that they was going to set fire to the house called to Capt Pearson to Surrender to which he answered no that he would [ ] way,” remembered McMullen, “but the men Called Surrender; and in going out to give themselves up the[y] ware Shot or lanced, among them Capt. Thos. K. Pearson, Dr. J. Hart, Benjamin Dale, Liet. [Henry] Cooney of New York, all which ware Intered next day by the Revd. T. J. Malloy in the Church yard of the Same Place.”
I need to check further on "Mr Johnson", but he certainly wasn't Francis (Frank) Johnson, who was a long term resident of Texas
"Brown mentions Pearson as having been listed as the man who led the group accompanying the gun, stating that the info came from the Pruett and Cole book "The Goliad Massacre", but he claims that Morris' muster role at Velasco does not include any NO Gray by that name.
There was a "Mr. Johnson" listed in the party, and there is a Francis Johnson on the roles, so Brown assumes they are on and the same.
jim"
Gary Brown's book is about the worst I've read on the subject and that's saying something. Tom Pearson certainly recruited his company in New Orleans, but it was never a part of the New Orleans Greys so its hardly surprising he doesn't appear on Morris's muster roll.
Here's the entry on him from my own book:
Captain Thomas K. Pearson
Originally from Philadelphia, Pearson was described by Reuben Brown as being connected with the theatre when he raised his company in New Orleans and Lewis Washington also declared that he and King “were, I believe, of the histrionic profession, as well as some of those attached to their respective commands.” Arriving at Paso Cavallo in November, 1835, he and his men escorted the famous 18 pounder cannon salvaged from the wreck of the San Felipe to Bexar, but left it in the Alamo when they marched away with Grant. Pearson put his oratorical skills to good use in the confrontation at Refugio and afterwards went down to the Rio Grande. At San Patricio he was called upon to surrender, but at first refused and started shooting: “Some of the Texians seeing from within that they was going to set fire to the house called to Capt Pearson to Surrender to which he answered no that he would [ ] way,” remembered McMullen, “but the men Called Surrender; and in going out to give themselves up the[y] ware Shot or lanced, among them Capt. Thos. K. Pearson, Dr. J. Hart, Benjamin Dale, Liet. [Henry] Cooney of New York, all which ware Intered next day by the Revd. T. J. Malloy in the Church yard of the Same Place.”
I need to check further on "Mr Johnson", but he certainly wasn't Francis (Frank) Johnson, who was a long term resident of Texas