DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the one carrying the story down the road. Now, most folks who pick up a rifle at seventy-five are doing it to chase a coyote off the porch. Stephen Williams picked his up and marched toward a siege.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Stephen Williams was born on May 9, 1760, in North Carolina — the fourth child of a blacksmith named Richard Williams, Jr. He grew up in a world on the edge of something enormous, and when that something arrived, he didn't wait for it to find him.
In 1778, he enlisted in the armed forces for the first of what would be many, many times. He enlisted three times in the United States Army. Three times.
And in between signings, he fought. Briar Creek. Camden.
Eutaw Springs. He was in the thick of the American Revolutionary War, and he came out the other side breathing. After the war, he settled in St.
Helena Parish, Louisiana. Found some peace, or something close to it. Then the War of 1812 broke out, and Stephen Williams — at age fifty-two — volunteered again.
Served as a sentry. Some men his age were sitting in rocking chairs. Williams was standing a post.
He was in Louisiana when his wife Delilah died in 1829. Shortly after her passing, he relocated — made his way to Bevil's Settlement in Jasper County, Texas, where he received a Mexican land grant. A new chapter, new land, new ground beneath his boots.
And then November 1835 arrived, and with it the Siege of Bexar. Here's where the story gets the kind of quiet that makes the hair on your neck stand up. Stephen Williams was seventy-five years old.
Seventy-five. And when the call came, he picked up his rifle and went armed to participate. He served alongside four grandsons and one son-in-law in Captain Cheshire's Company, and he didn't just show up — he rose to first sergeant.
For that service, the Republic of Texas gave him a land grant. The Republic recognized what he was. He returned to Bevil's Settlement after Bexar, and he died there around 1839.
He was buried right on his homesite. And he stayed there — on that ground, on his land — for almost a hundred years. Then came 1936 and the Texas Centennial celebration.
Williams was one of many Texas heroes reinterred at the State Cemetery during that time. Back at his original burial site, a Texas Centennial grave monument was erected in his memory. And in 1991, that grave marker was relocated to allow for better visibility and accessibility — moved, yes, but still resting on land that once belonged to Stephen Williams himself.
Born in North Carolina. Fought in the Revolution. Answered the call in 1812.
Answered it again at seventy-five on Texas soil. He earned every acre of ground that ever had his name on it.
What the marker says
(May 9, 1760- ca. 1839) Stephen Williams was born in North Carolina and was the fourth child of blacksmith Richard Williams, Jr. In 1778, he enlisted for the first of what would be many times in the armed forces. Enlisting three times in the United States Army, Williams fought in Revolutionary War battles including Briar Creek, Camden, and Eutaw Springs. Following the American Revolutionary War, he moved to St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. When the War of 1812 broke out, he volunteered for service and at age fifty-two served as a sentry. Shortly after the 1829 death of his wife, Delilah, in Louisiana, Williams relocated to Bevil's Settlement in Jasper County, Texas, and received a Mexican land grant. In November 1835 as the Siege of Bexar began, the 75-year-old veteran went armed with his rifle to participate. He served with four grandsons and one son-in-law in Captain Cheshire's Company and became first sergeant, ultimately receiving a Republic of Texas land grant for his service. Williams returned to Bevil's Settlement, where he died circa 1839. He was buried on his homesite, and he remained there for almost 100 years. Williams was one of many Texas heroes to be reinterred in the State Cemetery during the time of the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936, and a Texas Centennial grave monument was erected at his original burial site. In 1991, the grave marker was relocated to allow for increased visibility and accessibility. Although moved from its original location, the monument remains on land that was owned by Williams. (1991)