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- 1 - Esther, Horace, Elias & Erastus
Asa Yeamans, his wife Jerusha Wightman, his father-in-law Benjamin Wightman and other relatives came to Matagorda, Texas on January 27, 1829 on the sailing ship "Little Zoe." All of his sons served in the Texas Revolution in 1836. Three of his sons, were members of Fannin's force which battled the Mexican Army and were captured at Coleto Creek, near Goliad, Texas. Erastus and Elias both died in the following Massacre by the Mexican Army at Goliad on Palm Sunday 1836. The other son, Daniel, managed to escape and lived to tell the story of the Massacre but lost his mind from the horrors seen there. (See "Joseph Yeamans, Sr., Family" by Phyllis Yeamans Culver, page 573, "Historic Matagorda County, Volume II.")
his wife, Jerusha Wightman Yeamans, and their children arrived in Matagorda. They were one of the families listed as passengers aboard the Little Zoe. These families were members of Elias R. Wightman’s colony. Elias R. Wightman had been granted land by Stephen F. Austin to build a town at the mouth of the Colorado River. Also with them on this adventure were Benjamin and Esther Wightman, parents of Jerusha Wightman Yeamans and El ELIAS R . Wightman. Asa ‘s parents. Daniel and Esther Sterling Yeamans remained in New York. Caleb S. Yeamans, Asa’s son by a first marriage, also remained there. Asa and Jerusha’s children were: Elias, Erastus, Daniel, Horace, .Joseph, and Esther. The sons all served in the Texas Revolution. Elias, Erastus, and Daniel were at the Battle of Goliad, and Elias and Erastus were killed at that battle, and their names are listed on the monument there. Daniel survived, but lost his mind from the horrors seen there. Horace and Joseph served at the Battle of Velasco. Horace married EIiza Baxter in 1844, and settled in the Tres Palacios area. Esther married William Baxter, Sr., and lived in Matagorda. Joseph Yeamans, Sr., married Margaret Schmidt of Oldenberg, Germany, in 1833. As a soldier, Joseph served at the Battle of Velasco in Captain Thomas Stewart’s Company, which was organized at Matagorda, Texas, in February, 1836. Along with his uncle Elias Wightman and five other men, they helped hold the port open at the Fort of Velasco while the Battle of San Jacinto was raging. Joseph served as a member of the original list of jurors drawn for the April term for I837 at the District Court He was also the first County Surveyor of Matagorda County under the Republic of Texas. Joseph, Sr., and Margaret had thirteen children? Benjamin; Erastus; Emily, who married H.P. Gove; Esther, who married Abner Reeves; Joseph, Jr.; Phillip, Sr.; Elias; John; Mary, who died at age twelve in the yellow fever epidemic: Caroline, who married .Jimmy Williams; Asa “Acey’”; Horace: and Floyd. Joseph, Sr., died on February 19, 1895. and Margaret died on June 10, 1897. They were buried in the Matagorda Cemetery.
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