William Gammell

Duane's take

The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the voice that carries it down the road. William Gammell was born in Scotland, and somehow, someway, he ended up standing on a battlefield in Texas, fighting at San Jacinto in Captain A. H.

Wyly's company. That is not a short journey, friend, by any measure of the imagination. But the marker doesn't tell us how he got there, so we'll leave that mystery right where it sits and let the man speak through what we do know.

He made it out of San Jacinto. He made a life. He died in Houston on April 10, 1869.

And here is where the story gets interesting, because this marker has a supplemental plaque, and that plaque is doing some heavy lifting. Later research, the marker tells us, shows that William Gammell was buried in the Masonic Cemetery, the place now known as Sam Houston Park, on April 11, 1869. That's one day after he died.

But he didn't stay there. On January 22, 1900, he was reinterred in the German Society Cemetery, the place now known as Washington Cemetery. His wife, Jane McDaniel Gammell, born March 28, 1825, died November 12, 1908, and she was interred in that same German Society Cemetery on November 13, 1908.

The original marker had said she was buried in the Glenwood Cemetery. The later research corrected that, too. A man born in Scotland, who fought at San Jacinto, resting finally beside his wife Jane.

Sometimes history takes a few tries to get the story straight. The Texas Historical Commission updated the record in 2006, and now you know.

What the marker says

Born in Scotland. Fought at San Jacinto in Captain A. H. Wyly's company. Died in Houston, April 10, 1869 and was buried here. His widow Jane McDaniel Gammell died November 11, 1908 and was buried in the Glenwood Cemetery. Supplmental plaque: Later research shows William Gammell (Oct. 18, 1812 - Apr. 10, 1869) was buried in the Masonic Cemetery (now Sam Houston Park) on Apr. 11, 1869 and reinterred in the German Society Cemetery (now Washington Cemetery) on Jan. 22, 1900. His wife, Jane McDaniel Gammell (Mar. 28, 1825-Nov. 12, 1908) was interred in the German Society Cemetery on Nov. 13, 1908. Texas Historical Commission - 2006