Jack Hemphill Williamson (1842 - 1867)

Born 25 Feb 1842 in Gay's Hill, Washington County,Texas)

Ancestors

Died 1867 at about age 24 in Millican, Texas

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Biography

Jack Hemphill Williamson. Given Name: Jack Hemphill. Surname: Williamson. Nickname: Patrick Jack.

Patrick Jack Williamson. Given Name: Patrick Jack. Surname: Williamson. aka Found multiple versions of name. Using Jack Hemphill Williamson.

Died Cause: Yellow Fever. 1867 Millican, Texas.

Note: Jack was given the nickname "Patrick Jack" in honor of a close friend of his father's. He was born in 1842 in Independence, Texas. He attended the Baylor school in Independence from 1854-57. After the death of his mother in November, 1856 and the steep decline in his father's health, he and his siblings were sent to live with their Williamson relatives in Lowndes County, Alabama (1858-59). Neither he or his older brother, Peter, could be found on the 1860 census for Alabama, but his younder siblings were found with the Alabama Williamsons. At the start of the Civil War, Peter and Jack enlisted in Alabama units and were appointed sergeants. However, some of the Alabama boys objected, so they resigned and went back to Texas to join up. This story is per their sister Julia's son, Thadeous Rice as told to him by a black slave woman that accompanied the Williamson children from Texas to Alabama. Per Rufus Williamson's manuscript, he served in Hood's Texas Brigade in the Civil War. This appears to be based on the two boys being listed on the muster rolls for Company D, 5th Texas Regiment, commanded by Capt Robert M. Powell, their cousin as documented in the "Texas Brigade " book by Polly. His brother, Peter, per his compiled service records, did indeed serve in that company and died at Gettyburg. However, Jack's compiled service records and letters by members of the Wood family, mentioning him, show him joining Company G, 7th Texas Cavalry in August, 1861 and, other than a two week stay in the General Hospital in Houston in Jan, 1863, served in that unit, rising from private to the rank of 2nd Lt until captured by Union Forces on Nov 20, 1863 at Camp Pratt, LA. He was also slightly wounded at Donaldsonville, LA on June 28, 1863. Afrter his capture, he was sent to New Orleans and then to New Iberia for exchange on Dec 21, 1863. He then apparently joined Company D of the 4th Texas State Troops until it was disbanded in Feb, 1864. He probably then reenlisted in Company G of the 7th Texas Cavalry along with his friend, Rush Wood in March, 1864 as Wood family letters mention that date for Rush and Jack is mentioned in Oct and Dec 1864 letters. They were discharged together at the end of the war. After the war, Jack spent a good bit of time with his Alabama relatives before heading back to Texas. Jack died of yellow fever in Millican, Texas in 1867, most likely a victim of the July, 1867 yellow fever epidemic that swept the area at that time.

File Format: jpg. "Patrick Jack" Williamson. 1850 Note: Jack H. Williamson. PHOTO Scrapbook: Y.

Sources