Daniel Montague (1798 - 1876)

Born 22 Aug 1798 in South Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Covington) Montague — married 15 Feb 1825 in Amite County, Mississippi, United States

Husband of Sarah Margaret (Ross) Montague — married 11 May 1833 in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States

Husband of Mary Piercell (Dugan) Montague — married 14 Nov 1841 in Warren, Fannin County, Republic of Texas

Husband of Jane Elizabeth (Shannon) Montague — married 1 Aug 1848 in Grayson County, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Dec 1876 at age 78 in Marysville, Cooke County, Texas, United States

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Biography

Lieut Col Daniel Montague served with the Texas Volunteers during the Mexican-American War
Service Started: 1846
Unit(s): Third Regiment of Texas Mounted Volunteers
Service Ended: 1848

Daniel was born in South Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts on August 22, 1798.^[1] He was a son of Seth Montague and Rachel Smith. Daniel moved to Vermont after 1800 with his parents and siblings, and was educated as a surveyor and civil engineer. As a young man he moved first to Hunter's Bottoms on the Ohio river in North Kentucky, and then in about 1819 he and a younger brother, Rodney, went to Virginia to work for about eighteen months in the Kanawa Salt Works. Daniel then traveled down the Mississippi and settled in Louisiana, where he worked as a surveyor and established a successful plantation, acquiring many slaves. Daniel first married Rebecca McDowell nee Covington, a widow, on 15 February 1825^[2] in Amite County, Mississippi; Rebecca died on 15 January 1831. In this marriage he had three children: Rebecca, Seth Newell and Luman, only one of whom survived to adulthood. Rebecca Montague married Captain William Carroll Twitty in 1842 and died April 18, 1849.

Daniel married his 2nd wife, Sarah Margaret Griffing nee Ross in Ouachita Parish, Monroe, Louisiana on May 11, 1833^[3]These Records also show Sarah Margaret Ross's first marraige to Gabriel I Griffing. and from this marriage he had 4 children, Jane Ross, Elizabeth, Nancy and Daniel Ross. Daniel, hearing of the Battle of The Alamo and of the Goliad massacre, left his wife and children on the plantation and set off for Texas to fight against General Santa Anna. He arrived too late, as the Battle of San Jacinto was fought on April 21, 1836, and resulted in Santa Anna's capture and end of hostilities with the signing of the Treaties of Velasco. Daniel having seen the land in Texas and realizing the opportunities there, returned to Louisiana, sold all his property and moved to Texas with his family and slaves, arriving in Warren, Fannin County (now Grayson County)^[4]Daniel Montague mentioned the massacre of indians by Daniel and others at Montague Grove. late 1836 to early 1837.

On arriving in Warren, Daniel set himself up in business along with William Henderson. They built a trading house and stockade for protection against Indians at the site of a former trading house of Abel Warren, which they named Fort Warren.^[5] Daniel also started construction of a house for his family that became the marvel of the region for its beauty and convenience. It had two large rooms with a wide hall between, side rooms, and a front porch. The logs were "finished off" and the cracks chinked with mortar smoothly applied. The whole inside and outside was treated to a coat of whitewash. The puncheon floor, made extra smooth, was something few pioneer homes had. There were deep and wide fireplaces for warmth and cooking. The house was not to be completed until 1839, but the house-warming party is well documented.^[6] Being also a surveyor Daniel was able to eventually amass nearly 32,000 acres of land, as he was paid a percentage of what he surveyed.

Although Daniel's trading post traded with the Indians, being a surveyor meant that he had to always be on guard for Indian attacks that were common on the settlers of the frontier. He became a well-known Indian fighter, and one that not only defended himself and others, but took the fight to the Indians. The earliest documented account was in May 1837, when a group of men under his leadership attacked a group of Indians in a grove of trees, killing a number of them, scalping and burning their bodies.^[7] After this it was open hostilities between the settlers and Indians. At the time of the Cordova Rebellion of September 1838,^[8] Daniel was Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 2nd Regiment of the Fourth Militia Brigade, consisting of 3 companies totaling 80 men. On September 18, 1838 this Regiment attacked a small Caddo Indian village, killing 3 while suffering only one wounded. Although his Regiment's campaign against Indians was brief, they remained on active duty well into 1839.^[9]

Sarah Margaret Montague, Daniel's second wife died on February 28, 1841. He next married 22 year-old Mary Piercell Dugan on Sunday November 14, 1841 at the home of her parents, amid many guests for the wedding party. That night Indians attacked Mary's parents' home, probably thinking that Daniel, whose scalp would have been prized, was still present. They killed one man and wounded another, but Daniel had left with his young wife earlier that afternoon.^[10]

In April 1843 Daniel took part in the infamous and disastrous Snively Expedition,^[11] an expedition to the Santa Fe Trail to capture Mexican traders' wagons on land claimed by Texas. The spoils of the campaign were to be taken only in honorable warfare and were to be divided equally between the government and the members of the expedition. 150 men had joined, and self-designated as the Battalion of Invincibles, they were divided into three companies, with later arrivals making up a fourth company plus a spy company consisting of ten men. No contact was made with the Mexican traders, but a company of Mexican Cavalry blundered into them near Santa Fe, resulting in 17 Mexicans killed and 82 taken prisoner while no Texans were injured. After this, bickering between the Texans resulted in it splitting into 2 groups, with one group captured and disarmed by United States Dragoons under Captain Philip St. George Cooke. Returning to Fannin County, Daniel led the last major attack on Indians with 17 men against 16 or 17 Indians camped in a large grove in what is now Grayson County. All the Indians were killed and the spoils taken by the victors according to custom between settlers and Indians. According to folklore, in the next year the flowers bloomed red because of the blood spilled, and this grove of trees was then known as Montague's Grove.^[12]

Mexican War Veteran During the Mexican War of 1846-1848 Daniel served as a captain of volunteers in the Third Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers, under the command of Colonel William C. Young. ^[13],The Library of Congress - Mexican War veterans : a complete roster of the regular and volunteer troops in the war between the United States and Mexico, 1846 -1848 ; the volunteers are arranged by states, alphabetically, p 76 ^[14]Daniel received a land grant for his service in the Mexican American War.^[15] This Fannin Land Bounty was issued by the Republic of Texas. It is shown again without ref tags as the url changes frequently in Texas. 1280 Acres Land Bounty

This is the data from the land bounty:

County: Fannin

Abstract Number: 703

Adj County: Grayson

District/Class: Fannin 2nd

File Number: 000015

Original Grantee: Montague, Daniel

Patentee: Montague, Daniel

Patent Date: 20 Feb 1845

Patent No: 249

Patent Vol: 1

Certificate: 13

Mary Piercell Montague had 2 children: James Newell, born 9 January 1843 and died about 1844, and Catherine Vaden Montague, born 21 October 1845 and died about 1851. Mary died December 15, 1846 of what was termed lung fever. Mary and her children are buried in the Dugan-Whiting Cemetery, Bells, Grayson County.

Daniel next married Jane Elizabeth Shannon on August 1, 1848.^[16]

Daniel, worked as a surveyor, continued to increase his holdings and took up a new grant of land, 1280 acres near Gainesville in Cooke County.^[17] Daniel Montague Land Grant From 1858 the American Abolition Movement resulted in the American Civil War of April 12, 1861 to May 10, 1865. As a slave-owner and supporter of the Confederacy, Daniel was to play a part perhaps with results that he may have regretted....

Around the first of September 1862, a forty-eight-year-old mail carrier, J.B. McCurley, discovered a plot by a pro-Union order connected with the Kansas Jayhawkers and called "The Union League." Their plan was to seize the ammunition at Gainesville and Sherman and take the country by overpowering the local Confederate men, and if they did not submit, all the Confederate men were to be killed. The names of many members were obtained, and about one hundred fifty men were arrested at dawn on October 1, 1862 by the Confederate Military. A meeting of the citizens of Cooke County was called that day, with Daniel's former commanding officer, Colonel W.C. Young, presiding. A committee of five was appointed to select 12 jurors to try the accused; Daniel Montague was one and installed as foreman. Eight men were tried first; seven were found guilty, with the eighth man turned over to the military. The seven convicted of conspiracy and insurrection were sentenced to hang at 2 P.M. on October 4, 1862. This sentence was executed from a large elm tree one-half mile east of Gainesville, which had been the scene of an Indian fight some years before. Later in the week, a mob demanded twenty more men be given them to hang, and threatened to kill all the prisoners if not satisfied. The jury picked fourteen men for hanging, the Confederate Military not interfering with the mob. Around the tenth of the month, members of the pro-Union order killed a hunter who came near their camp, and while investigating the matter, Colonel W.C. Young was murdered. As retribution nineteen more men were condemned and hanged the next day. These men would have been released in a few days. A total of 38 men were hanged, with another 2 tried by a military court, and 2 were shot attempting to escape.^[18]

Sworn in November 3, 1863 as Senator of the 21st Senatorial District of Texas, Daniel served until the end of the Civil War. Possibly devastated by the loss of the war, he left Texas for Mexico in the Tuxpan River Valley, and remained there eleven years. His wife Jane and his son Daniel Ross accompanied him there, where they grew tobacco. His son, Daniel Ross Montague, died February 1, 1876 and soon afterwards, Daniel and his wife Jane returned to Texas. Daniel was to die two weeks later.

LAND GRANTS/BOUNTIES from GLO

G P 173479 Montague, Dan BEX P 009418

G P 464286 Montague, Dan SCH 105399

G P 517119 Montague, Dan SF 001100

G 517178 Montague, Dan SF 001159

G P 204200 Montague, Daniel FAN 2 000015

P 215465 Montague, Daniel FAN 3 002391

• https://s3.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/2/0/4/204200.pdf

• https://s3.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/2/0/4/204200.pdf 1280 Acres
• https://s3.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/1/7/3/173479.pdf Bexar
• https://s3.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/1/1/0/2/1102032.pdf Power of Attorney for Daniel

Daniel Montague, a colorful and great man, was a true Texas pioneer, an Indian fighter, Texas Ranger, a surveyor who explored the frontier and Texas Senator. Montague County and its county seat, Montague, are named after him.

Sources

1. ↑ Montague Family of America Compiled by William Montague, Revised and Edited by Professor William L Montague. Publishers; J. E. Williams Press, Amherst Massachusetts USA; 1886. Page 171 & 172 #901
2. ↑ Mississippi, Marriages, 1800-1911 FamilySearch index, Daniel Montague and Rebecca Mcdowell, 15 Feb 1825; citing Amite,Mississippi; FHL microfilm 864487.
3. ↑ Marriages Prior to 1836; Ouachita Parish Louisiana indexed from the Ouachita Parish Conveyance Books, were copied from the web site of Sandy Schmitz~Moore.
4. ↑ Texas State Historical Association Author; Kelly Pigott, "FANNIN COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online.
5. ↑ Texas State Historical Association "OLD WARREN, TX," Handbook of Texas Online. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical
6. ↑ Indian Depredations in Texas Second Edition. Author; J. W. Wilbarger. Publishers; Hutchings Printing House; Austin Texas. 1890. Pages 404 & 405
7. ↑ An Illustrated History of Grayson County, Texas Landrum, Graham. Grayson County; an illustrated history of Grayson County, Texas., Book, 1960; digital images, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History; UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. Page 11, 2nd Paragraph.
8. ↑ Texas State Historical Association Author; Rebecca J. Herring, "CORDOVA REBELLION," Handbook of Texas Online. Uploaded on June 12, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
9. ↑ Savage Frontier, Vol. 1, 1835-1837 Rangers Riflemen & Indian Wars in Texas. Author; Stephen L. Moore. Publisher; University of North Texas Press, 2006. Pages; 37 to 49
10. ↑ Indian Depredations in Texas Second Edition. Author; J. W. Wilbarger. Publishers; Hutchings Printing House; Austin Texas. 1890. Pages 413-418
11. ↑ Texas State Historical Association Author; H. Bailey Carroll, "SNIVELY EXPEDITION," Handbook of Texas Online. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
12. ↑ A history of Grayson County, Texas Author; Lucas, Mattie Davis and Mita Holsapple Hall. A history of Grayson County, Texas. Published; 1936. digital images, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. Pages 58 & 59
13. ↑ Mexican American War, p 76
14. ↑ Mexican- American War of 1846-1848 Captain Daniel Montague, Third Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers; Jane Elizabeth Montague's Pension Card.
15. ↑ Daniel Montague 1280 acres
16. ↑ Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973 FamilySearch index, Daniel Montague and Jane Shannon, 01 Aug 1848; citing Grayson County, Texas, reference p21; FHL
17. ↑ Daniel Montague
18. ↑ George Washington Diamond's Account of the Great Hanging at Gainesville, 1862. Edited By; Sam Acheson and Julie Ann Hudson O'Connell. Publishers; The Texas Historical Association. 1963

See also:

• https://s3.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/2/0/4/204200.pdf

• Texas State Historical Association Margaret P. Hays, "MONTAGUE, DANIEL," Handbook of Texas Online; Published by the Texas State Historical Association

• Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910 FamilySearch index and images, Daniel Montague, 1838; citing Fannin County, Texas, United States, State Archives, Austin; FHL microfilm 002282190.

• County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910 FamilySearch index and images, Daniel Montague, 1850; citing Cooke County, Texas, United States, State Archives, Austin; FHL microfilm 002282159.

• County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910 FamilySearch index and images, Daniel Montague, 1864; citing Cooke County, Texas, United States, State Archives, Austin; FHL microfilm 002282159.

• United States Census, 1850 FamilySearch index and images, Dan Montague, Cooke county, Cooke, Texas, United States; citing family 1, NARA microfilm publication M432.

• United States Census, 1860 FamilySearch index, Daniel Montague, [Blank], Cooke, Texas, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," p. 42, household ID 374, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 805291.

• United States Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926 "United States Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926", FamilySearch index and images, Daniel Montague, 1887.

• The Library of Congress - Mexican War veterans : a complete roster of the regular and volunteer troops in the war between the United States and Mexico, from 1846 to 1848 ; the volunteers are arranged by states, alphabetically, p 76

• Texas General Land Office Land Grant Search