Edward Murray Burleson (1798 - 1851)

Born 15 Dec 1798 in Buncombe, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Griffin (Owen) Burleson — married 1813 in Madison County, AL

Descendants

Died 26 Dec 1851 at age 53 in Austin, Travis, Texas, United States

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Biography

Gen. Edward Burleson served for Mississippi Territory in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s):
Service ended:

Major Edward Burleson served with the United States Army during the Mexican-American War
Service Started: 1846
Unit(s): unknown
Service Ended: 1848

General Edward Murray Burleson was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina in Dec 15, 1798 (1798–1851).^[1][2]a son of James Burleson and Elizabeth Shipman . ^[1]His father moved early to Tennessee and Alabama. Edward learned of life in the field as an aide to his father, who could neither read nor write. In 1813 Edward married Sarah G. Owens in Madison, Alabama colony. Captain Burleson commanded a company of militia. ^[1]

His service in the War of 1812 was Perkin's Regiment, Alabama, 7th Regiment (Perkin's Battalion) of Mississippi Militia. During the War of 1812-15, Alabama did not participate,(In 1812, it was a colony, then Territory 1817, and a state in 1819 ^[3][2] In 1823 he moved to Hardeman County, Tennessee ^[2]

1830 US Census shows Edward in Tipton, Tennessee. Family consists of wife, 2 children and 2 slaves^[4]

On April 4, 1831 he received title to a league of land in Austin's Second Colony situated in the present county of Bastrop County (Mina). He was a member of the ayuntamiento on the date Aug 11, 1831at San Felipe de Austin. ^[2]The Austin Municipality selected him as Lt Col of militia of the Austin Municipality by Dec 7, 1832, after which in 1833 Edward was elected to be the delegate to the 2nd Convention in Mina, 1833. ^[2]

The Republic of Texas issued to him a Headright Certificate No. 54 in1838.^{[citation needed]} It is stated that he came to Texas in 1831. They selected and settled on land eleven miles below Bastrop colony.

At Gonzales colony on October 10, 1835 he was elected Colonel of the only regiment organized under Stephen F. Austin.^[2] Stephen F Austin was sent by the General Council of Provisional Government of Texas to the United States to enlist men and solicit funds for the Army of the Republic of Texas, and General Burleson succeeded Austin in command of the army.^[5]

On March 12, 1836 Colonel Burleson was elected Colonel of the First Regiment of Texas Volunteers which he commanded at the with commander Sam Houston.. ^[2]On May 14, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 6 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

On November 14, 1838 he received Bounty Certificate No. 4420 for 1280 acres for having served in the Texan army from October 12, 1835 to October 12, 1836. In 1837 Colonel Burleson was elected Brigadier General of the Militia. In 1838 he was appointed Colonel of the First Regiment of Infantry of the Regular Army.

General Burleson was a member of the House of Representatives from Bastrop County, in the Second Congress of the Republic, September 21, 1837 to May 24, 1838, and a member of the Senate from the District composed of Bastrop, Gonzales and Fayette Counties in the Third Congress, November 5, 1838 to January 24, 1839.

In 1838 General Burleson laid out the town of Waterloo. This was renamed Austin, Texas. Land adjoining it was selected for a town to be called Austin, Texas , in honor of Stephen F. Austin, and at which was to be the capitol of Texas.

General Burleson commanded the Regulars in the battle with the Cherokees on July 16, 1839, In which Chief Bowles was killed. In 1840 he pursued Indian raiders. August 12, 1840, Burleson defeated the Comanches in the battle of Plum Creek. .^[2]

On September 6, 1841 General Burleson defeated Memucan Hunt and William Menefee for the Vice Presidency of the Republic of Texas and was inaugurated December 10, 1841. He was a candidate for the Presidency in 1844 against Anson Jones and was defeated largely through the efforts of General Sam Houston.

During the Mexican War, Burleson served as senior aide-de-camp, held the rank of major, and served as a spy. After returning from the Mexican War in 1848 General Burleson settled near the spring at the head of the San Marcos River in Hays County, Texas.^[6]

During the session of the Fourth Legislature General Burleson died Dec 26, 1851 at the home of N. C. Raymond. He was at that time President pro tem of the Senate and on the following day a Committee was appointed by the Legislature to select a suitable burial place for him. His body lay in state at the Capitol and funeral services were conducted under the auspices of Austin (Masonic) Lodge No. 12, of which he was a member. ^[7][8]

Burial: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Travis county, Texas, Plot: Republic Hill, Section 1, Row Q, Number 13; GPS (lat/lon): 30.26486, -97.72688 ^[7]

A joint resolution of the Legislature approved February 13, 1854 provided for the purchase of the land on which General Burleson was buried and which is now the State Cemetery. Later the Legislature appropriated ($1,000) one thousand dollars for a monument to be placed at his grave.

Legacy

Burleson County, Texas was created and named in honor of General Edward Burleson.^[9] It's county seat is Caldwell, Texas -- not be confused with Burleson, Texas

It is said that Burleson served under Gen Samuel Houston, however the men disliked each other.^[10]

Family

Mrs. Sarah G. Owens Burleson (1796 - 1875), wife of General Burleson, born in Kentucky in 1796 and died in Austin, Texas, April 12, 1875. She is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in an unknown grave.

Children of General and Mrs. Burleson, except those who died in infancy, were (1)John, (2) Edward, Jr., (3) Grace B., (4) Joseph R, (5)David Crockett Burleson and (6) Elizabeth T. Burleson.

1. John Burleson was born April 6, 1824.
2. Edward Burleson, Junior (1826 - 1877). He was a veteran of the Mexican War.
3. Grace B. Burleson (July 4,1832 - 1860)* , m March 26, 1850 to Felix Kyle.
4. Joseph Robert Burleson was born September 6, 1837.
5. David Crockett Burleson (Sept 6, 1837 - 1911)*, a twin of Joseph R; m. Louisa Ware.
6. Elizabeth T. Burleson was born October 14, 1841.
7. Elizabeth Shipman Burleson Sneed (1840 - 1893)*

Children: Edward Burleson (1826 - 1877)* Joseph Rogers Burleson (1830 - 1889)* Grace B. Burleson Kyle (1832 - 1860)* David Crockett Burleson (1837 - 1911)* Elizabeth Shipman Burleson Sneed (1840 - 1893)*

Siblings: Sarah Jane Burleson Thrasher (1795 - 1874)* Edward Burleson (1798 - 1851) Joseph Burleson (1800 - 1877)* James B Burleson (1801 - 1848)* Nancy Burleson Rogers (1802 - 1860)* Rachel Burleson Rogers (1803 - 1873)* John Shipman Burleson (1806 - 1874)* Jonathan R Burleson (1811 - 1879)* Aaron B Burleson (1815 - 1885)* Elizabeth Burleson Brooks (1835 - 1920)*

Edward Burleson (December 15, 1798 – December 26, 1851) was the third Vice President of the Republic of Texas. After Texas was annexed to the United States, he served in the state Senate. Prior to his government service in Texas, he was a commander of Texian forces during the Texas Revolution. Before moving to Texas, he served in militias in Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee and fought in the War of 1812. Burleson was the soldier that was given Santa Anna's sword when he surrendered.

Early life

Known as the "Old Indian Fighter", Burleson was a veteran of the War of 1812 and had served in the Missouri and Texas militias. In October 1835 he was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Texas army and served under Stephen F. Austin in the opening stages of the Texas Revolution. During the Siege of Béxar, Burleson served as the second-in-command to Gen. Austin, and in November, 1835 he was elected Major General of Texas Volunteers and took command of the volunteer army besieging San Antonio de Béxar and received the surrender of Mexican general Martín Perfecto de Cos. In March, he was appointed a Colonel of Texas Regulars and led the First Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Runaway Scrape and at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Burleson
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbu40
3. ↑ http://maxshores.com/study_guides/ftts.htm
4. ↑ 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line], Ancestry.com. 1830 Census Place: Tipton, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 181; Page: 280; Family History Library Film: 0024539,Source Information. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
5. ↑ https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5828/m1/229/
6. ↑ 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, Author, Robarts, William Hugh, Published date 1887, pg 74, Collection: library_of_congress, americana
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #5995671
8. ↑ https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5828/m1/229/
9. ↑ http://www.genealogytrails.com/tex/state/countynamedafter.html
10. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Burleson

• ^ "Robison, Joel Walter". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
• Entry for Edward Burleson from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas published 1880, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
• Sketch of Edward Burleson from A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.