William Christian Menefee (1796 - 1875)

Born 11 May 1796 in Knox, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Oct 1875 at age 79 in Fayette, Texas, United States

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Biography of William Menefee

William was born on May 11, 1796, in Knox County, Tennessee. He was the son of John Menefee and Frances Rhodes.

William had was admitted to the bar to practice law. In 1824, his family moved with that of John Sutherland Menefee to Morgan County, Alabama and settled near Decatur. In 1830 he moved to Texas with his wife, the former Agnes Sutherland, daughter of George Sutherland, and seven children. They were to have one more daughter born in Fayette County, Texas.^[1]

Stephen F Austin was contracted by the Menefees to purchase land in what would become the Republic of Texas. On 24 January 1830, Stephen F Austin issued certificates to the following gentlemen from Alabama who had the term of 16 months after the first of the month of January [1830] to effect moving their families into this colony. They were George Sutherland, John Sutherland, Wililam Manifee, Thomas Manifee, William H Heard, Joseph Rector, William Pride, Jessey White, Benjamin White, Samuel Rogers, Robert G Crosier, William Haskins, Pulaskey Dudley, James N Smith, Mary Smith, Richard R Royall, Thacker Winter, John Caldwell, Washington J Cockrill.^[2]

William applied and received title for 1300 Acres to settle. Soon he owned 50 cattle, horses, and 7 slaves. William was a delegate to the 1832 and the 1833 conventions and represented the Austin colony in the Dec 8, 1835, Consultation. By 1836 he was elected judge of Colorado Municipality.^[1]

Colorado delegate along with Wm Lacey to the Washington-on-the-Brazos Convention, where he was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.^[1]

William was a commissioner who recommended Austin to be the Capital of the Republic of Texas 3 Dec 1840. He was in House Congresses 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th Congresses. He made a bid for vice press presidency by was defeated by Edward Burleson. ^[1]

William and Agnes Sutherland Menefee had eight known children.

1. Sarah S Menefee b. 14 Sep 1818 - d. 28 Feb 1844, m. Levi Mercer
2. Thomas Shelton Menefee b. 27 Sep 1820 - d. 2 Feb 1912, m. Mary Elizabeth Penn (his brother Quinn's widow)
3. John Menefee b. 27 Jul 1822
4. Talitha Ann Menefee b. 5 Jun 1824 - d. 14 Aug 1846, m. Rev John W Devilbiss
5. William Christian Menefee Jr b. 5 May 1826 - d. 15 Aug 1846, m. Susan B Smith
6. George Menefee b. 6 May 1828 - d. 25 Aug 1829
7. Quinn Morton Menefee b. 11 Aug 1830 - d. 5 Sep 1867
8. Elizabeth Frances Menefee b. 14 Sep 1833 - d. 11 April 1853, m. Mary Elizabeth Penn

His wife, Agnes passed away on February 28, 1859. She was buried in Pine Springs Cemetery in Oso, the community that arose around the Menefee’s land. Some 16 years later, William passed away on October 29, 1875, burial was at Pine Springs Cemetery.

Later the state of Texas moved his and his wife's remains to the State Cemetery where a number of prominent citizens were re-interred there as a place of honor for eternal rest.^[1]

Census and Tax Records

In 1850, William (age 54), is head of household in Fayette, Texas, USA^[3].

In 1852, William was on the Tax list with land in three districts in Fayette County, Texas with a total value of $15, 593, state tax $33.68 & county tax $11.69^[4].

In 1859, William was on the Land Assessment with land in three districts in Fayette County, Texas with a total value of $8,490, state tax $10.42 & county tax $5.31^[5].

In 1860, William (age 64), is, widowed, living alone, in Fayette, Texas,^[6].

In 1861, William was on the Tax list with almost 1,000 acres and 20 slaves in Fayette County, Texas with a total value of $20,500, state tax $33.83 & county tax $16.91^[7].

In 1862, William was on the Land Assessment with almost 7,000 acres in multiple counties in Texas with an assessed value of $4100^[8].

In 1864, William was on the Tax list with almost 1,000 acres and 10 slaves in Fayette County, Texas with a total value of $11,233, poll tax $1.30, state tax $54.18 & county tax $14.34^[9].

In 1867, William was on the Tax list across multiple rows, in Fayette County, Texas^[10].

In 1870, William (age 74), is, widowed, is living with son William and his family, in Fayette, Texas,^[11].

Slaves

From tax lists

From census records

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fme20
2. ↑ Stephen F. Austin's Register of Families, Volume 1, page 13
3. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-VJ1 : Fri Mar 08 04:56:41 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Manifee and Agnes Manifee, 1850.
4. ↑ 1852 Tax Roll: "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-4Q87 : Sat Mar 09 08:49:39 UTC 2024), Entry for William Menefee, 1852.
5. ↑ 1859 Land Assessment : "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-4XNG : Sat Mar 09 09:15:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Menefee, Senr, 1859.
6. ↑ 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFB-9R7 : Sat Mar 09 07:20:32 UTC 2024), Entry for William Menifee, 1860.
7. ↑ 1861 Tax Roll: "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-4V9P : Sun Mar 10 12:36:12 UTC 2024), Entry for William Menifee, Sr, 1861.
8. ↑ 1862 Land Assessment: "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-42L8 : Sun Mar 10 01:21:55 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Menefee, Senr, 1862.
9. ↑ 1864 Tax Roll: "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-4GLL : Sun Mar 10 06:22:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Senr Menefee, 1864.
10. ↑ 1867 Tax Roll: "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-4BVX : Fri Mar 08 04:01:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Menefee, 1867.
11. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGY-XCL : Tue Mar 05 09:45:54 UTC 2024), Entry for William Menifee and Susan Menifee, 1870.

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