David Crockett

[Subdeacon Joe]

Found on Facebook 

 

"7) DAVID CROCKETT'S STAY IN LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 12-13, 1835.
David Crockett and his little company rode into Little Rock in Arkansas Territory on November 12, 1835. 
Soon after  Crockett was found busy skinning a deer behind Jeffries Hotel where he stayed. The deer he had killed along the road to the town. He was invited to a supper in his honor at the hotel. Crockett accepted the invitation and during the evening Crockett entertained the party with stories from his politcal career in Washington and ended with a speech in which he repeated his remark to his voters in Tennessee.
Two newspapers, which were operating in Little Rock in 1835, Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Advocate, printed a report of David Crockett's stay. 
Gazette wrote on November 17, 1835: “A rare treat – Among the distinguished characters who have honered out City with their presence within the last week, was no less a personage than Col. David Crockett – better known as Davy Crockett – the real critter himself – who arrived on Thursday evening last, with some 6 or 8 followers, from the Western District of Tennessee, on their way to Texas, to join the patriots of that country in freeing it from the shackles of the Mexican government. The news of his arrival rapidly spread, and we believe we speak within bounds, when we say, that hundreds flocked to see the wonderful man, who, is said, can whip his weight in wild-cats, or grin the largest panther out of the highest tree. In the evening; a supper was given him, at Jeffries’ Hotel, by several Anti-Jackson-men, merely for the sport of hearing him abuse the Administration, in his outlandish style, and we understand they enjoyed a most delectable treat, in a speech of some length with which he amused them. Having no curiosity that way ourself, we did not attend the show. But our neighbor of the Advocate was there, and so delighted was he, that he says he can now now “die contended.” Happy man! "
"The Colonel and his party, all completely armed and well mounted, took their departure on Friday morning for Texas, in which country, we understand, they intend  establishing their future abode, and in the defence of which we hope they may cover themselves with glory.”
The Advocate wrote on November 20, 1835:
“We have a single word to say for Colonel Crockett. He was honered and hospitably received here – not because “he can whip his weight in wild cats, or grin a panther out of the highest tree” – ( as the Gazette says) – because there are plenty of Arkansas boys who can do the same – but because he is an honest man, and a true friend to Hugh L. White. Neither was the supper given by several anti-Jackson men. – As well men of one party as of another joined in it. Neither did he abuse the Administration in an out-landish style. His remarks were few, plain, moderate and unaffected – without violence or acrimony. He spoke against the Administration and against the heir apparent – but he did it by quietly detailing facts. His remarks were far from outlandish. He neither aimed at display or eloquence – and was simply rough, natural, and pleasant.”
Photo: Thanks to Gary Zaboly, who has here caught Crockett this evening in Little Rock."

 

 

[Texas Red]

"Since you have chosen to elect a man with a timber toe to succeed me, you may all go to hell and I will go to Texas."

David Crockett

[Pat Riot]

Still trying to figure out what that “single word” was. 

 

[bgavin]

Huntsman may have been elected, but Crockett is the one remembered.

[Rye Miles #13621]

He left his wife and children though, not exactly a good family man!

Marriages and children

Crockett fell in love with John Canady's niece Amy Summer, who was engaged to Canady's son Robert.^[41] While serving as part of the wedding party, Crockett met Margaret Elder. He persuaded her to marry him, and a marriage contract was drawn up on October 21, 1805. However,^[42] Margaret had also become engaged to another young man at the same time, whom she married instead of Crockett.^[43]

He met Polly Finley and her mother Jean at a harvest festival.^[44] Although friendly towards him in the beginning, Jean Finley eventually felt Crockett was not the man for her daughter.^[45] Crockett declared his intentions to marry Polly, regardless of whether the ceremony was allowed to take place in her parents' home or had to be performed elsewhere. He arranged for a justice of the peace and took out a marriage license on August 12, 1806. On August 16, he rode to Polly's house with family and friends, determined to ride off with Polly to be married elsewhere. Polly's father pleaded with Crockett to have the wedding in the Finley home. Crockett agreed only after Jean apologized for her past treatment of him.^[46]

Crockett's second wife, Elizabeth

The newlyweds settled on land near Polly's parents, and their first child, John Wesley Crockett, who became a United States Congressman,^[47] was born July 10, 1807.^[48] Their second child, William Finley Crockett, was born November 25, 1808.^[48] In October 1811, the family relocated to Lincoln County.^[49] Their third child Margaret Finley (Polly) Crockett was born on November 25, 1812.^[50] The Crocketts then moved to Franklin County in 1813. He named the new home on Beans Creek "Kentuck". ^[51] His wife died in March 1815,^[52] and Crockett asked his brother John and his sister-in-law to move in with him to help care for the children.^[53] That same year, he married the widow Elizabeth Patton, who had a daughter, Margaret Ann, and a son, George.^[54] David and Elizabeth's son, Robert Patton, was born September 16, 1816.^[55] Daughter Rebecca Elvira was born December 25, 1818.^[56] Daughter Matilda was born August 2, 1821.^[57]

[Alpo]

40 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

He left his wife and children though, not exactly a good family man!

I've thought of that a time or three. Leave the wife and the kids back at the house and pack up and go to Texas.

 

That was a very common plot in the Sackett stories. Man would get married and start a farm, and hatch out two or three little kids, and then leave the wife and the little kids to take care of stuff while he went West. Orrin/Tyrell/Tell, Galloway/Fagen, 'Lando.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I was a huge fan of. Davy Crockett as a kid, had a coonskin cap and a toy pistol and a powder horn. I watched him on Disney every other week and I actually cried when they showed him at the very end of the Alamo fight and you knew he was going to die even though they didn’t show him being killed! 

[watab kid]

me too , parker was a good actor that represented him well i thought 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

I liked Fess Parker also.   Didn't Buddy Epstsein play Davy at one time?

 

..........Widder

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

29 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

I liked Fess Parker also.   Didn't Buddy Epstsein play Davy at one time?

 

..........Widder

 

I think he played his partner, not sure though. Billy Bob Thorton played Davy in the newer Alamo movie.

[Alpo]

In the Disney show, Buddy played Crockett's friend Georgie Russell. Wiki claims that Georgie was a real person, but I never heard of him anywhere except the Disney TV show.

 

3 years later he again played a frontiersman in a show about Rogers' Rangers called Northwest Passage. Only lasted a year.

[bgavin]

So many times, heroic men are real turds in their private lives.
Babe Ruth comes to mind.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

5 minutes ago, bgavin said:

So many times, heroic men are real turds in their private lives.
Babe Ruth comes to mind.

 

A Baby Ruth candy bar looks like a turd..... 

 

..........Widder

 

[bgavin]

Indeed.
My Dad was a retired doctor... had a Baby Ruth in one hand, and an insulin needle in the other.
He never bothered to move his flannel work shirt.. just shot right through it.
Doctors are indeed the worst patients.

[Pat Riot]

On 11/14/2023 at 11:47 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

He left his wife and children though, not exactly a good family man!

Marriages and children

Crockett fell in love with John Canady's niece Amy Summer, who was engaged to Canady's son Robert.^[41] While serving as part of the wedding party, Crockett met Margaret Elder. He persuaded her to marry him, and a marriage contract was drawn up on October 21, 1805. However,^[42] Margaret had also become engaged to another young man at the same time, whom she married instead of Crockett.^[43]

He met Polly Finley and her mother Jean at a harvest festival.^[44] Although friendly towards him in the beginning, Jean Finley eventually felt Crockett was not the man for her daughter.^[45] Crockett declared his intentions to marry Polly, regardless of whether the ceremony was allowed to take place in her parents' home or had to be performed elsewhere. He arranged for a justice of the peace and took out a marriage license on August 12, 1806. On August 16, he rode to Polly's house with family and friends, determined to ride off with Polly to be married elsewhere. Polly's father pleaded with Crockett to have the wedding in the Finley home. Crockett agreed only after Jean apologized for her past treatment of him.^[46]

Crockett's second wife, Elizabeth

The newlyweds settled on land near Polly's parents, and their first child, John Wesley Crockett, who became a United States Congressman,^[47] was born July 10, 1807.^[48] Their second child, William Finley Crockett, was born November 25, 1808.^[48] In October 1811, the family relocated to Lincoln County.^[49] Their third child Margaret Finley (Polly) Crockett was born on November 25, 1812.^[50] The Crocketts then moved to Franklin County in 1813. He named the new home on Beans Creek "Kentuck". ^[51] His wife died in March 1815,^[52] and Crockett asked his brother John and his sister-in-law to move in with him to help care for the children.^[53] That same year, he married the widow Elizabeth Patton, who had a daughter, Margaret Ann, and a son, George.^[54] David and Elizabeth's son, Robert Patton, was born September 16, 1816.^[55] Daughter Rebecca Elvira was born December 25, 1818.^[56] Daughter Matilda was born August 2, 1821.^[57]

For a minute there I thought this was about some of my relatives. I could just change a couple names and “Wallah!” instant family history for one side of my family.