Alfred Wyly came to Texas in 1836 and he was the Captain of a Volunteer Company of 17 men at the Battle of San Jacinto. He was married to a widow, Mrs. Josephine Louise (Burk) William. They lived in Pickton, Hopkins County, Texas for awhile, and then later moved to Rusk County but ended up in Hempstead, Waller County where he died on May 11, 1867.

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WYLY, ALFRED HENDERSON ( ? - 1867 MAY 11 )

TEXIAN LOCATION: PARTICIPANT

The Kemp Sketch

WYLY, ALFRED HENDERSON--Captain of a Volunteer Company of 17 men at San Jacinto. Five of the men in this organization are known to have been members of Captain L. Smith's Company at muster April 5, 1836. Captain Wyly's Company was omitted from the General San Jacinto muster rolls originally prepared by Adjutant General John A. Wharton. Wharton, however, on May 16, 1836 submitted the roll with this statement, found on page 140 of the army rolls in the General Land Office: I do hereby certify that owing to an oversight of the proper officers, within report was not hand to the Adjutant General in time to accompany the report to the Commander-in-Chief, and further that Captain Wyly's Company should have been reported as having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

Captain Wyly was issued Donation Certificate No. 124 for 640 acres of land October 13, 1848 for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

The compiler has been unable to learn when Captain Wyly came to Texas. In compliance with an act of the Legislature approved August 6, 1856, Headright Certificate No. 4146 for one-third of a league of land was issued to him August 19, 1856 but in the certificate the date of his emigration is not shown.

Captain Wyly was married to a widow, Mrs. Josephine Louise (Burk) William, and to them the following children were born: Josephine, Mrs. Alex Melson, Richard, Mrs. J. M Nichols, and R.E. Wyly. In 1931 Mrs. Nichols and R.E. Wyly lived in Pickton, Hopkins County, Texas and Mrs. Alex Melson lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Captain Wyly died in Hempstead, Waller County, May 11, 1867 and was buried in the cemetery there. Mrs. Wyly at her death (date unknown to the writer) was buried at Pickton, Hopkins County.

On May 9, 1880, Mrs. Josephine L. Wyly, made application for a bounty of land as the widow of Captain Wyly. In her petition she stated that Captain Wyly served in the army from March 20 to July 24, 1836. She gave May 11, 1867 as the date of the death of Captain Wyly. Mrs. Wyly was at that time living in Hopkins County but she did not state where Captain Wyly died. Her claim was allowed and she was granted 320 acres of land.

The following letter dated Sulphur Springs, Texas, March 17, l931, from Mr. C.O. James, Attorney-at-Law, was addressed to L. W. Kemp, at Houston: "The county clerk, Mr. Kitts, turned your letter over to me for reply, concerning Captain Wyly. My oldest brother, W.B. James, now dead, married a daughter of Captain Wyly, and she now lives at Pickton, Texas, this county, and is the wife of J.M. Nichols, at that place. Captain Wyly also has a son, R.E. Wyly, now living at Pickton. The oldest Wyly child lived in Oklahoma City, a Mrs. Alex Melson, whose address, I do not know. I knew Captain Wyly's widow, but she is long since dead. She was a remarkable woman, most highly educated. I remember seeing a letter written to Captain Wyly, in the own handwriting of General Rusk, which they used to exhibit, but of late I have been trying to see if they could find the letter, but no one seems to know about it.

They were a fine family of people. Captain Wyly married his wife, Josephine Williams Wyly, when she was a widow, Mrs. Williams. They had an old slave negress named Fan who died at Panhandle City, out near Amarillo. If you would write to Mrs. Minnie Sims at Pan Handle City, she might give you some information. This old negress died with them, there. I know Captain Wyly was in this battle, for the reason I recollect the letter from Thomas J. Rusk. Horace James, a nephew of mine lives here, and he is a grandson of Captain Wyly. I trust this will give you a "starter" so you can get something worth while for your work. With great respect, and wishing you success. I am sincerely, (signed) C.O. JAMES" WYLY, ALFRED HENDERSON-- He came to Texas in January, 1836.

Major Leander Smith had recruited a number of men for the army of Texas and was with them at Harrisburg when the cannons "Twin Sisters' were brought there from Cincinnati. With Major Smith he transported the guns to the main army then stationed at the plantation of Leonard W. Groce on the Brazos. (See the sketch of Stephen F. Sparks in this volume). That Major Smith was at Harrisburg April 1, 1836, is shown in Comptroller's Military Service Record 479. On that date he signed the following receipt there: "Received of Edward Gritton a small American horse to go on public service, which shall be returned when the duty for which he is pressed shall be performed."

Among the muster rolls in the General Land Office is one of Major Smith's at muster April 5, 1836. Many of the men shown on the roll served in Captain Wyly's Company at San Jacinto.

The names of Captain Wyly and those of the men of his company were omitted from the official rolls as printed in 1836. The muster roll of his company, however, is among the San Jacinto rolls at the General Land Office. It was submitted May 16, 1836, by Adjutant General John A. Wharton with the following explanation: "I do hereby certify that owing to an oversight of the proper officers, the within report was not handed to the Adjutant General in time to accompany the report to the Commander-in-Chief, and further that Capt. Wyly's Company should have been reported as having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto."

On Captain Wyly's roll as submitted by Adjutant General Wharton are the names of five men who are shown on other rolls. These are Joseph Doan of Fisher's Company; Philip Stroh and Joseph Miller and Andrew Fogle of Baker's Company and Robert Hood of Captain Billingsley's Company. The compiler is assuming that due to the small number of troops in Captain Wyly's command, the men mentioned were attached to his company for the battle. Their names have, accordingly, been removed from the rolls of the other companies.

In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 1106 issued to William Cartwright, Captain Wyly signed his name as a Captain of the First Regiment of Texas Volunteers. On October 3, 1848, Captain Wyly was issued Donation Certificate No. 124 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto. His widow, Mrs. Josephine Wyly, on May 8, 1880, in her petition for a Veteran's Donation Certificate, stated that he served in the army from March 20 to July 24, 1836.

Captain Wyly was married to Mrs. Josephine Louise (Burk) Williams. According to the statement of Mrs. Wyly, Captain Wyly died May 11, 1867. His death occurred at Hempstead, Waller County. Mrs. Wyly died in Pickton, Hopkins County. Captain and Mrs. Wyly resided in Rusk County for a number of years and in 1855-56 Captain Wyly was a member of Clinton Masonic Lodge No. 23 at Henderson.

Children of Captain and Mrs. Wyly were (l) Josephine, at this time it is unknown if she married; (2)Name unknown, married Alexander Melson and lived in Oklahoma City; (3) Richard, at this time it is unknown if he married; (4) Name unknown, married J.M. Nichols and lived in Pickton, Texas; (5) R.E. Wyly, married-name unknown at this time, lived in Pickton, Texas.

Notes: R.W. Wiley lived at Athens, Henderson Co. Representative 11th Legislature aged 50. Born in North Carolina.

Wyly signed name as Captain of A Company of Second Regiment with Wharton's report.

Captain A. H. Wyly: Men on Captain Wyly's roll were: A.H. Wyly; H.B. Balch; J.A. Hueser; F. Hickos; John Balch; Jas. Doan; Wm. Gammell; Philip Stowe; Jos. Miller; Robert Hood; Andrew Fogle; Lewis Kratz; Augustus Henderstron; Dr. Tobias Duhrower; of these the following fought in other companies: Joseph Doan-Fisher's Company; Philip Stowe-Baker's Company; Joseph Miller-Baker's Company; Robert Hood-Billingsley's Company.

On page 65 of the Land Office Rolls the following names are listed under the caption: "Return of men raised for 3 months by Major L. Smith, April 5, 1836." 1. Daniel Sayers 2. Wm. O. Blanton 3. Robt. Hood 4. Henry M. Brewer 5. Thomas Byley 6. Henry Chapman 7. Zacaheriah M. 8. Wm. Gammell 9. F. Hickox 10. John Barker 11. Michael Short 12. ___ Stebbins 13. Redd --of Georgia 14. William Gould 15. J. Hunter 16. John Frederick Wiehl 17. Joseph Doan 18. Jas. T. White 19. Levi Howard 20. August Henderstrong 21. Ulyses Roberts 22. H.B. Balch 23. A.H. Wyler 24. Wm. Bernbeck 25. A. Vogel 26. Philip Straugh 27. ___ Miller 28. T. Dumbromer 29. James McCocklin 30. name unknown

CLOSE

Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.

Battle STATISTICS

DIED IN BATTLE: No

RANK: Captain

COMPANY: Second Regiment Texas Volunteers

Personal STATISTICS

CAME TO TEXAS: 1836 Jan

DATE OF DEATH: 1867 May 11

BURIAL PLACE: Hempstead, Waller County, Texas

DONATION CERTIFICATE: 124

WIFE: Josephine Louise Burk Williams

CHILDREN: Josephine Wyly; Wyly Melson ?; Richard Wyly; Wyly James Nichols ?; R. E. Wyly

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Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002

Name Alfred H. Wiley

Gender Male

Marriage Date 4 Feb 1857

Marriage Place Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Spouse Mrs. Josephine Williams

Household Members

Name Age

Mrs. Josephine Williams

Alfred H. Wiley

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A H Wyly

Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910

Name: A H Wyly

Event Year: 1859

Event Place: Goliad County, Texas, United States

FHL Film Number: 002282219

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Original data: Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

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A. H. Wiley

Texas, Land Title Abstracts,1700-2008

Grantee: A. H. Wiley

Certificate: 4/42

Patentee: A. H. Wiley

Patent Date: 10 Aug 1861

Acres: 357.17

District: Fannin

County: Denton

File: 977

Patent #: 398

Patent Volume: 15

Class: Fan. 1st.

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Texas, Land Title Abstracts,1700-2008 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

Original data: Texas General Land Office. Abstracts of all original Texas Land Titles comprising Grants and Locations. Austin, TX, USA.

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Giles B. Malone

Land Title Abstracts, 1700-2008

Grantee: A. H. Wyley

Certificate: 124

Patentee: Giles B. Malone

Patent Date: 14 Jul 1860

Acres: 40

District: Nacogdoches

County: Van Zandt

File: 522

Patent #: 793

Patent Volume: 2

Class: Nac. Don.

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Texas, Land Title Abstracts,1700-2008 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

Original data: Texas General Land Office. Abstracts of all original Texas Land Titles comprising Grants and Locations. Austin, TX, USA.

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A listing of officers and enlisted men at the Battle of San Jacinto, 4/21/1836 in Captain Wyly's 2nd Regiment (bolded names are known relatives of Alfred Henderson Wyly):

http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/sjvetsunit.htm

(Primary sources Dixon and Kemp's The Heroes of San Jacinto, John Henry Brown's History of Texas and Miller's Bounty and Land Donation Grants of Texas, Stephen Moore's Eighteen Minutes. The Battle of San Jacinto and the Texas Independence Campaign and many other diverse sources. Listings are inclusive where there are questions or differences among sources)

GENERAL STAFF:

Commander-in-Chief: Major General Samuel Houston

Secretary of War: Colonel Thomas Jefferson Rusk

Adjutant General: Colonel John Austin Wharton

Inspector General: Colonel George Washington Hockley

Assistant Inspector General: Major William Gordon Cooke

Commissary-General: Colonel John Forbes

Aides-de-Camp: Major James T. Collinsworth, Major William Hester Patton, Colonel Alexander Horton, Major Lorenzo de Zavala, Jr.

Volunteer Aides: Col. Robert Morris Coleman, Major Robert Eden Handy, Major James Hazard Perry

Aides-de-Camp: Moses Austin Bryan, Junius William Mottley, M.D.

2nd Regiment Volunteers Infantry Company

Officers

Alfred Henderson Wyly, captain

Hezekiah B. Balch, first lieutenant

John Abram Heuser, second lieutenant

Franklin B. Hitchcock, first sergeant

Dr. Tobias Dubromer, Surgeon

Privates

John Balch

Musgrove Evans

Andrew Jackson Fogle (Fowler)

William Francis

William Gammell (Gamble)

Augustus Henderstrom

Robert Hood (from Billingsley's Co)

Levi Howard

Lewis Kratz

Hugh Marshall

John Matchett

Joseph McGee

Joseph Miller (from Baker's Co)

Michael Short

Phillip Stroh (from Baker's Co)

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From Wyly's Wisdom (Charles Wyly)

http://www.usgenwebsites.org/TXDublin/blog5.htm

Now, in a recent 2004, 502-page book EIGHTEEN MINUTES: THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO, Stephen L. Moore lists 10 Kuykendalls in the Texas Army under Sam Houston. I also had a distant kin there-Capt. Alfred Henderson Wyly, who, with his Balch first cousins, delivered the TWIN SISTERS cannons to Sam Houston before the attack on the Mexican Army, asleep in their tents. He also has more details on the YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS, a free born mixed blood YOUNG LADY, who spied in Santa Ana's camp and delivered his food to him and had ways to contact Sam Houston when to attack before Santa Ana's reinforcements got there.

...JANUARY 28, 2010

Seeking information on Balch family and connections to Capt. Alfred Henderson Wyly and his Balch cousins in San Jacinto. Also, some records say Sam Houston's mom was a Balch--others have another [surname] listed. Also, When Sam Houston was adopted by John Jolly, a Cherokee chief of the east coast, he left for Arkansas before the Trail of Tears. Sam Houston visited in Arkansas with his old Cherokee friends from Georgia and Tennessee. Some list a marriage of s Cherokee who married an Indian lady and did not divorce his Anglo or his Cherokee wife, as the law of the Indians were not registered with the State at first. State records did not list divorces unless they had County birth certificates. Divorce among some tribes was when a squaw would roll up her blankets and move out and away from her husband.

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