Young Perry Alsbury

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Young Perry Alsbury (1814-Novenber 19, 1877) was a soldier in the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution, noted for his participation in a daring action during the Battle of San Jacinto that helped seal the decisive Texan victory.

1 Biography
2 See Also
3 References
4 External Links

[edit] Biography

Young Perry Alsbury was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1814. He was the youngest of his parents’ ten children. His father Thomas Perry Alsbury was a frontiersman and was one of the founders of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. In the spring of 1820 his family moved to Texas. Stephen F. Austin had written a letter to his father Thomas Perry Alsbury, The letter had asked the Alsbury family and their ten children, including seven sons, to move to Texas. They settled in Brazoria on the Brazos River. Land was what had enticed the family to move to the area. Thomas P. Alsbury was given two leagues and 1½ labors somewhere between 9,000 and 10,000 acres. The property was located on the west bank of the Brazos River. Three of the older sons of Thomas were also given land. It was located in the Indian country, along the Gulf Coast, a bit west of where the Dow Chemical Company is now located. When he was 22, Young Perry Alsbury joined Captain Henry Wax Karnes’ Cavalry, better known as "Deaf Smith's spy company." Deaf Smith knew more about the lay of the land in and around the San Jacinto battle ground than any man in Sam Houston's army, so when he went to Houston and told him that unless the bridge over Simm's Bayou was burned, the enemy could keep getting reinforcements and in case of defeat would cross the bridge and escape, Houston agreed. But how was this to be done? "You will have to pass within 100 yards of the Mexican cavalry and they will cut you to pieces," said General Houston. Deaf Smith told him that if he would permit him to take six men, he would burn the bridge or perish in the attempt. When Deaf Smith returned to his little company of about 35 men, he told them General Houston consented to the attempt to burn the bridge over Simm's Bayou, and that he could take six men. No sooner said than a voice cried out, "I'll go with you, Mr. Smith." The company turned about to see hardly more than a youth speaking up. Not a big broad shouldered or rough individual as one might imagine, just a young fellow or average size, but his little black eyes told the story. He was not afraid of the whole of Santa Anna's army. And that was Y. P. Alsbury, first to head the list of volunteers for the dangerous mission. It is history that Vince's Bridge was burned, and Deaf Smith did not loose a man in this adventure. Soon thereafter in the now famous Battle of San Jacinto, Texas won its independence from Mexico. The burning of the bridge had been a strategic move. Young Perry Alsbury had helped to destroy Vince's bridge on April 21, 1836, and later in that day he participated in the battle of San Jacinto. On May 28, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 247 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He received a Bounty Certificate No. 3599 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from March 1 to May 28, 1836. On March 5, 1839, he was issued a Headright Certificate for one-third of a league of land by the Brazoria County Board. Shortly after the Battle of San Jacinto, Young Perry Alsbury came to San Antonio, Texas and in 1845 during the Mexican War he went into Mexico with General Scott. He was wounded at the Battle of Palo Alto. After the war was over he came back to San Antonio, and was married there in 1847 to Mary Rodriguez. Early in the spring of 1848 he moved to the East bank of the Salado Creek, just north of Dittmar road. His mother moved from Brazoria to live there with him. He raised four children, their names were Lea Jane, Thomas Jefferson, Young Perry the 3rd, and Mary Ann. Young Perry Alsbury died November 19, 1877, and was buried only a few yards from the home on the Salado that he loved. A huge pecan tree marked the head of his grave. To his right lies the body of his wife, and to his left is that of his mother.

[edit] See Also

[edit] References

"Our Coker Ancestors" By the Autry Family Association
"Unpublished Genealogical Research" By Richard B. Autry
"Unpublished Texas History Research" By Richard B. Autry
"Coker Community Has Experienced Scope of Area Development" By Susan Goodell
"Y.P. Alsbury letter" Texas Archives
"Coker Community Church Facts" By J. William Roten, Bulletin of Coker Community Church.
"Y. P. Alsbury" A Texas Historical Commission historical marker.
"Battle of San Jacinto" A Texas Historical Commission historical marker.
"Young Perry Alsbury,Hero of San Jacinto" San Antonio Express newspaper,July 15, 1934, Sunday.
"Diary of Willam Fairfax Grey, Virginia to Texas 1835-1837" William Fairfax Grey
"Young Perry Alsbury" San Jacinto Museum Biographies