Byrd Lockhart (1782–1839), was a 19th-century American surveyor, Alamo defender, courier, and Texian officer during the Texas Revolution.

Early life and family

Lockhart was born in Virginia in 1782. At age 32, Byrd Lockhart was known to be a surveyor in Madison County, Illinois. He moved to Texas from Missouri with his mother, sister, and two children. He was already a widower when he settled in

Green DeWitt Green DeWitt (February 12, 1787 – May 18, 1835) was an empresario in Mexican Texas. He brought families from the United States to what is now South-central Texas and founded the DeWitt Colony. Missouri Green Dewitt was elected as the first Ralls ...

's colony on March 20, 1826.Groneman, ''Alamo Defenders'', p. 72.

Career in Texas

Lockhart was appointed deputy surveyor to James Kerr on December 12, 1826, and surveyed the lands of DeWitt Colony around Gonzales. In January, he headed a meeting denouncing the

Fredonian Rebellion The Fredonian Rebellion (December 21, 1826 – January 31, 1827) was the first attempt by Anglo settlers in Texas to secede from Mexico. The settlers, led by Empresario Haden Edwards, declared independence from Mexican Texas and created the R ...

and pledging loyalty to the Mexican government. In April, he was put in charge of defense in Gonzales, using a row of blockhouses that served as protection against Indians. Later in 1827, he pioneered construction of roads from Bexar to Gonzales and from the Lavaca River right bank to the Matagorda Bay. In 1830, he was paid four leagues of land on Plum Creek for his construction work. In April 1831, he was appointed official surveyor to DeWitt's colony by

José Antonio Navarro José Antonio Navarro (February 27, 1795 – January 13, 1871) was a Texas statesman, revolutionary, rancher, and merchant. The son of Ángel Navarro and Josefa María Ruiz y Peña, he was born into a distinguished noble family at Sa ...

. During this time, Land Commissioner Navarro and he laid out the official plans for the town of

Gonzales Gonzales may refer to: Places * Gonzales, California, U.S. * Gonzales, Louisiana, U.S. * Gonzales, Texas, U.S. * Gonzales County, Texas Other uses * Battle of Gonzales, 1835 * Gonzales (horse) (1977 – after 1996), an American-bred Thoroughbred ...

. Byrd Lockhart became the municipal surveyor of District Three in September.Groneman, ''Alamo Defenders'', pp. 72–73.

Texas Revolution

In late 1835, he joined with Commander

Stephen F. Austin Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836) was an American-born empresario. Known as the "Father of Texas" and the founder of Anglo Texas,Hatch (1999), p. 43. he led the second and, ultimately, the successful colonization ...

's forces in San Antonio and served with

James W. Fannin James Walker Fannin Jr. (1804 or 1805 – March 27, 1836) was an American military figure and slave trader in the Texas Army and leader during the Texas Revolution (1835-1836) against Mexico. After being outnumbered and surrendering to Mexi ...

as a scout. Private Lockhart recruited his son, Byrd Lockhart, Jr. and they participated in the

siege of Bexar A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characterize ...

in Captain

John York John C. York (born April 18, 1949) is a retired American cancer research pathologist, married to Marie Denise DeBartolo York, and former co-owner and current co-chairman of the San Francisco 49ers.James C. Neill James Clinton Neill (c. 17881848) was a 19th-century American soldier and politician, most noted for his role in the Texas Revolution and the early defense of the Alamo. He was born in North Carolina. Early life and career James Clinton Neill w ...

, José Francisco Ruiz, and John William Smith, along with Lockhart, were selected as commissioners by James W. Robinson to parley with the hostile Comanche Indians, who were endangering Bexar.Groneman, ''Alamo Defenders'', p. 73. Lockhart was named along with

Mathew Caldwell Matthew Caldwell, (March 8, 1798 – December 28, 1842), also spelled Mathew Caldwell was a 19th-century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales – Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Because of ...

and William A. Mathews as commissioners to raise a group of volunteers in Gonzales for a ranging company on February 4.Lindley (2003), p. 96. Though serving at Bexar, Andrew Jackson Sowell and he were sent from the Alamo a short time before the battle to obtain supplies for the garrison. They were delayed foraging livestock and supplies and were blocked by Mexican troops upon their return.Lindley (2003), p. 90. They promptly headed for Gonzales, and on February 23, the Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers was mustered into service by Lockhart. Lockhart, Sowell, and others rode back with the 32 rangers, into the Alamo, on the morning of March 1, and later departed again, at night, as other couriers left.Lindley (2003), p. 98. Lockhart later served the Texan army as the captain of a spy company. He died in 1839.Groneman, ''Alamo Defenders'', p. 74.

Legacy

The town of

Lockhart, Texas Lockhart is a city and the county seat of Caldwell County, Texas, United States. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 14,379. History The city of Lockhart is named after Byrd Lockhart, an assistant surveyo ...

is named in his honor.

References

Citations

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lockhart, Byrd People of the Texas Revolution Alamo survivors 1782 births 1839 deaths People from Madison County, Illinois