Richard Royster Royall
 Matagorda Cemetery Road SH 60 & S Gulf Road
28°42'1.66"N
95°57'16.82"W |
|
|
|
| Richard Royster Royall [aka
Richard and R. R.] was the youngest child born to
Captain William and Elizabeth Bedford Royall of Halifax
County, Virginia. He was born June 1 1798. When Royall
became twenty-one years of age, his father gave him a
plantation near Tuscumbia, Alabama. On his way to
Alabama, he stopped off at Nashville, Tennessee, to
visit the Underwood family. Richard fell in love with
their daughter, Ann, and six months later, they were
married. Before Ann died on their Matagorda County
plantation, in February, 1836, they had six children. Royall was a friend of Stephen F. Austin and by 1832, he had emigrated to Texas with some eleven prominent families from Tuscumbia, Alabama. The schooner arrive in 1832 and landed in Matagorda during a storm. The immigrants and livestock were saved, but some of the household goods and farming implements were lost. On January 3, 1839, he married Elizabeth Ann (Allen) Love, in Houston. Elizabeth was born November 9, 1819, in New York and came to Texas with the A. C. Allen family. Royall was active in the colony and was president of the committee of safety of Matagorda Municipality. He was the delegate to the Convention of 1833, temporary chairman of the Consultation of 1835, and a member of the General Council of the provisional government of Texas from December 6, 1835, to January 17, 1836. This first governing body, which met at San Felipe on October 11, 1835, elected Royall as president; their purpose was to make preparations for war. For twenty-one days, October 11-31, 1835, the Permanent Council was the government of Revolutionary Texas. It accomplished much important work during this time--perhaps the most critical period in the organization of the Revolution of Texas. Royall was elected a delegate to the convention that convened at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1, 1836, but the election was contested by S. Rhoads Fisher on February 22, 1836, and Samuel Rhoads Fisher became the representative instead. Royall then joined Thomas McCoy's Company of Mounted Riflemen in April of 1836, and sent word to Austin that they could "count on Matagorda." On August 8, 1836, David Burnet authorized him to raise and organize an independent ranger company of at least one hundred men to round-up all apparently ownerless cattle. These beeves proved a valuable source of food for the Texas army. A merchant in Matagorda, Royall had a home in the town as well as a large plantation, where he had a cotton gin and other machinery. He died May 28, 1840. Family information indicates he was buried on his Matagorda plantation, but the 1936 Texas Centennial Historical Marker is located in Matagorda Cemetery. After Royall's death, his widow married James Denison, a prominent lawyer, on April 2, 1848, in Christ Church. They had two children: Alice Dudley Denison born January 10, 1849 and Mary Chase Denison, born August 31, 1851. Historic Matagorda County,
Volume I, page 88 |
Last Will and Testament of Richard Royster Royall
Republic of Texas
County of Matagorda
I Richard Royster Royall of the County of Matagorda do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby working and making and all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
First. I hereby make and ordain my esteem[ed] friend Geroge M. Collinsworth of the County of Matagorda sole Executorof my succession and of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I Richard Royster Royall, the
Testator, hereby set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of May
One thousand eight hundred and forty in the County of Matagorda in
presence of
Witnesses
E. L. Holmes
A. Forster Axson
Burwell Kendrick
Richard Royster Royall
Republic of Texas
County of Matagorda
Whereas I Richard R. Royall of the County aforesaid having made and executed my last will and testament in writing bearing even date with this Instrument. Now I hereby declare this present writing to be as a Codicil to my said Will and direct the same to be annexed thereto and taken as part thereof. And I here by empower and direct my Executor George M. Collinsworth, with the consent of my heirs or their Guardians, residing in the County of Matagorda to sell at private sale any part or portion of my Estate, when the same can be done to the advantage of my heirs & auditors.
In witness whereof I the said Richard Royster Royall have to this Codicil set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of May, Eighteen hundred and forty.
Richard Royster Royall
Witnesses
E. L. Holmes
A. Forster Axson
Burwell Kendrick