In 1790, a baby boy was born in South Carolina. His name was James Edgar. In 1794, a baby girl was born in North Carolina. Her name was Selah Witherington. Their families moved to middle Tennessee in the early 1800s and settled southwest of Nashville, near the Natchez Trace. On 06 Jan 1816 James and Selah were married in Williamson County, Tennessee. He was 26 years old, and she was 22. They settled in nearby Maury County, Tennessee near the headwaters of Leiper's Lick Creek. And, they began to raise a family.
It is unknown how many children in total were born to James and Selah. What is known, however, is that they had ten children who survived to become adults; 9 boys and 1 girl, and all moved to Texas. The children and their approximate years of birth were:
Joseph (1818)
John (1819)
Henry (1821)
William (1824)
James (1826)
Arthur (1828)
Joshua (1828)
Hyman (1830)
Paulina (1833)
Benjamin (1835)
In 1835, their 17-year old, firstborn son, Joseph, went to Texas to participate in the Texas Revolution to gain independence from Mexico. He enlisted 26 Feb 1836, and he very quickly saw combat in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto the afternoon of 21 April 1836. Joseph Edgar died in 1837 at the age of 19 at the home of a family friend (Capt. James Swisher) near Independence, Texas. What caused Joseph's early death is unknown. But, records show he had suffered a minor wound in the Battle of San Jacinto. That wound, and/or the harsh conditions faced by the Texas Army in early 1836, may have contributed to his death.
In early 1838, the Republic of Texas posthumously granted land to Joseph Edgar. For his presence in Texas prior to its Declaration of Independence he was granted one-third of a league or 1,476 acres. For his participation in the Battle of San Jacinto he was granted 640 acres. And, for his military service in general, he was granted 320 acres. Joseph died before seeing or claiming any of that land he had earned. In 1844, Joseph's younger brother, John, went to Texas to claim that land on behalf of Joseph's heirs (his parents and his siblings).
James and Selah and most of their other children, and their families, relocated from Maury County, TN to DeWitt County, TX in late 1853. They traveled on foot, on horseback, and in wagons. The dates of that difficult, 52-day trip are recorded in Joshua Edgar's old family Bible. The trip began on 04 Oct 1853 and ended on 25 Nov 1853. They settled on the 1,476 parcel of land near the headwaters of Cuero Creek.
It is unknown how many children in total were born to James and Selah. What is known, however, is that they had ten children who survived to become adults; 9 boys and 1 girl, and all moved to Texas. The children and their approximate years of birth were:
Joseph (1818)
John (1819)
Henry (1821)
William (1824)
James (1826)
Arthur (1828)
Joshua (1828)
Hyman (1830)
Paulina (1833)
Benjamin (1835)
In 1835, their 17-year old, firstborn son, Joseph, went to Texas to participate in the Texas Revolution to gain independence from Mexico. He enlisted 26 Feb 1836, and he very quickly saw combat in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto the afternoon of 21 April 1836. Joseph Edgar died in 1837 at the age of 19 at the home of a family friend (Capt. James Swisher) near Independence, Texas. What caused Joseph's early death is unknown. But, records show he had suffered a minor wound in the Battle of San Jacinto. That wound, and/or the harsh conditions faced by the Texas Army in early 1836, may have contributed to his death.
In early 1838, the Republic of Texas posthumously granted land to Joseph Edgar. For his presence in Texas prior to its Declaration of Independence he was granted one-third of a league or 1,476 acres. For his participation in the Battle of San Jacinto he was granted 640 acres. And, for his military service in general, he was granted 320 acres. Joseph died before seeing or claiming any of that land he had earned. In 1844, Joseph's younger brother, John, went to Texas to claim that land on behalf of Joseph's heirs (his parents and his siblings).
James and Selah and most of their other children, and their families, relocated from Maury County, TN to DeWitt County, TX in late 1853. They traveled on foot, on horseback, and in wagons. The dates of that difficult, 52-day trip are recorded in Joshua Edgar's old family Bible. The trip began on 04 Oct 1853 and ended on 25 Nov 1853. They settled on the 1,476 parcel of land near the headwaters of Cuero Creek.
In 1790, a baby boy was born in South Carolina. His name was James Edgar. In 1794, a baby girl was born in North Carolina. Her name was Selah Witherington. Their families moved to middle Tennessee in the early 1800s and settled southwest of Nashville, near the Natchez Trace. On 06 Jan 1816 James and Selah were married in Williamson County, Tennessee. He was 26 years old, and she was 22. They settled in nearby Maury County, Tennessee near the headwaters of Leiper's Lick Creek. And, they began to raise a family.
It is unknown how many children in total were born to James and Selah. What is known, however, is that they had ten children who survived to become adults; 9 boys and 1 girl, and all moved to Texas. The children and their approximate years of birth were:
Joseph (1818)
John (1819)
Henry (1821)
William (1824)
James (1826)
Arthur (1828)
Joshua (1828)
Hyman (1830)
Paulina (1833)
Benjamin (1835)
In 1835, their 17-year old, firstborn son, Joseph, went to Texas to participate in the Texas Revolution to gain independence from Mexico. He enlisted 26 Feb 1836, and he very quickly saw combat in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto the afternoon of 21 April 1836. Joseph Edgar died in 1837 at the age of 19 at the home of a family friend (Capt. James Swisher) near Independence, Texas. What caused Joseph's early death is unknown. But, records show he had suffered a minor wound in the Battle of San Jacinto. That wound, and/or the harsh conditions faced by the Texas Army in early 1836, may have contributed to his death.
In early 1838, the Republic of Texas posthumously granted land to Joseph Edgar. For his presence in Texas prior to its Declaration of Independence he was granted one-third of a league or 1,476 acres. For his participation in the Battle of San Jacinto he was granted 640 acres. And, for his military service in general, he was granted 320 acres. Joseph died before seeing or claiming any of that land he had earned. In 1844, Joseph's younger brother, John, went to Texas to claim that land on behalf of Joseph's heirs (his parents and his siblings).
James and Selah and most of their other children, and their families, relocated from Maury County, TN to DeWitt County, TX in late 1853. They traveled on foot, on horseback, and in wagons. The dates of that difficult, 52-day trip are recorded in Joshua Edgar's old family Bible. The trip began on 04 Oct 1853 and ended on 25 Nov 1853. They settled on the 1,476 parcel of land near the headwaters of Cuero Creek.
It is unknown how many children in total were born to James and Selah. What is known, however, is that they had ten children who survived to become adults; 9 boys and 1 girl, and all moved to Texas. The children and their approximate years of birth were:
Joseph (1818)
John (1819)
Henry (1821)
William (1824)
James (1826)
Arthur (1828)
Joshua (1828)
Hyman (1830)
Paulina (1833)
Benjamin (1835)
In 1835, their 17-year old, firstborn son, Joseph, went to Texas to participate in the Texas Revolution to gain independence from Mexico. He enlisted 26 Feb 1836, and he very quickly saw combat in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto the afternoon of 21 April 1836. Joseph Edgar died in 1837 at the age of 19 at the home of a family friend (Capt. James Swisher) near Independence, Texas. What caused Joseph's early death is unknown. But, records show he had suffered a minor wound in the Battle of San Jacinto. That wound, and/or the harsh conditions faced by the Texas Army in early 1836, may have contributed to his death.
In early 1838, the Republic of Texas posthumously granted land to Joseph Edgar. For his presence in Texas prior to its Declaration of Independence he was granted one-third of a league or 1,476 acres. For his participation in the Battle of San Jacinto he was granted 640 acres. And, for his military service in general, he was granted 320 acres. Joseph died before seeing or claiming any of that land he had earned. In 1844, Joseph's younger brother, John, went to Texas to claim that land on behalf of Joseph's heirs (his parents and his siblings).
James and Selah and most of their other children, and their families, relocated from Maury County, TN to DeWitt County, TX in late 1853. They traveled on foot, on horseback, and in wagons. The dates of that difficult, 52-day trip are recorded in Joshua Edgar's old family Bible. The trip began on 04 Oct 1853 and ended on 25 Nov 1853. They settled on the 1,476 parcel of land near the headwaters of Cuero Creek.
Inscription
From the Dec 1987 survey by Patsy Goebel and Jean Tidwell:
Gravesite Details
Photos and data originally posted at Everything A Season: EDGAR Family Cemetery www.parkerhannah.com/EdgarFamilyCemetery
Family Members
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See more Edgar or Witherington memorials in:
- Edgar Family Cemetery Edgar or Witherington
- Edgar Edgar or Witherington
- DeWitt County Edgar or Witherington
- Texas Edgar or Witherington
- USA Edgar or Witherington
- Find a Grave Edgar or Witherington
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