Thomas McClure Rice
By Earline Rumsey
Transcribed as written by Benjamin L. Bowen
for the Bowen family web.
Thomas McClure Rice was born in 1801 in Poultney, Rutland County Vermont. He was the only son of five children born to Nathan and Jemima ( McClure ) Rice. Nathaniel ( Nathan ) was a descendant of Edmund Rice who settled Sudbury, Massachusetts about 1639. Thomas moved with his parents to washington County, Ohio in 1803 where they farmed in the Rainbow Settlement a few miles up the Muskingham River from Marietta.
Thomas married Elizabeth Wilson of Salem Township ( now Lower Salem ) in Washington County September 28, 1824. Elizabeth was born in Ireland ca 1805. Thomas and Elizabeth helped his father farm until after the birth of James in 1828. They then moved to Steubenville, Ohio where Mary was born in 1829, Oliver 1830 and William Wilson in 1835.
Thomas probably read of the need for settlers in Texas and the promise of free land for he applied for land from the Republic of Texas in 1838.They were in Fort Bend County in 1840 as records show that they owned a saddle horse. Thomas moved his family to Clinton, which was a few miles south of the present Cuero, where his last son Thomas Richard was born February 11, 1842.
In February of that same year 1842, general Vasquez led 700 Mexican troops into Texas to attack San Antonio. They entered San Antonio on MAch5 ,1842 and then after looting the town they retreated on March 7. Once again on MArch 10, 1842, texian spies reported that a Mexican force under General Adrial Wall was approaching. By the 11th. San Antonio was captured by 950 men. On September 14, 1842 the news reached La Grange where a group of fifteen men rallied. This group under the leadership of Nicholas Mosby Dawson rode toward San Antonio to aid another group under Mather Caldwell. On the way they were joined by others, including Thomas McClure Rice,until their number increased to 54.Arrivinf to within two miles of Caldwell's position on Salado creek near the present site of Fort Sam Houston on September 18, 1842, Dawson and his men were intercepted by 400 Mexican troops. Dawson's men realized that they were outnumbered and tried to surrender but the Mexican forces ignored their white flags. After an hour 36 Texians had been killed,15 prisoners taken and three managed to escape. Thomas Rice was among the dead. The following morning Caldwell's men came to the battlefield and buried the bodies in shallow graves.
In 1848, the bones of the dead patriots were removedd and taken to Fayette County. On September 18,1848 the remains were given a military burial in a tomb on the bluff overlooking the Colorado River just outside the town of La Grange. Sam Houton and a large contingent were in attendance. The burial site has become a state park and is well tended.
On April 12, 1847 Elizabeth was granted an unconditional certificate for 640 acres of land in DeWitt County as she had satisfied the three year residency.
On November 18 1854, Elizabeth was awarded $80.75 from the State of Texas for her husband's horse, saddle and three weekks of military service to the State of Texas.
[ Missing text ]...in the cemetery in Clinton.
The childre grew up in DeWitt County and records shoow that MAry had a son Asa then married Joseph Newman. Oliver married Adalino Courtney,William Wilson married Mary Ann -- , Thomas Richard , my ancestor married Martha Ann Alexander, the daughter of James Sidney Alexander and Anna S. Allison. Thomas Richard and MArtha lived innthe Stratton Community and are supposedly buried in the Alexander Cemetery but the sites have been lost.
By Earline Rumsey
Related material:
[ Thomas McClure Rice family group sheet ]
[ Rice and Bowen / Bowen and Rice of Southeast Texas ]
Originally from the DeWitt County History Book .
Transcribed by Benjamin L. Bowen for the Bowen family web
from material supplied By Marlene Bowen Fruth .