The Huddleston Family Website Home Page
.
.
OLD TRAMMELL HISTORY
.
NOTE: I do not know who to credit as author of this manuscript.
.
This is not a complete copy. If you have a complete version,
I'd like to know where to get a copy.
.
Brandon S. Huddleston
email: bshuddleston@tds.net
.
.
.
.
.
.
--- page 12 ---
.
To the east this trail connected with one that led to the old
French port, Ecore Fabre, on the Ouachita River. (Present day Camden, Ark)
This was the nearest point of navigation for the frontier. Merchandise
from New Orleans, shipped by Red River and the Ouachita, and unloaded
at the bluff, was consigned to traders and delivered to various points
in the Red River district.
.
The main travel from Camden was in a northwesterly direction to
where it crossed the Great Southwest Trail, or Military Road, at
Washington, Arkansas. From this point it continued a westerly course
through Mound Prairie, Paracliffra, Fort Towsen, to reach the old
Red River Crossing at Jonesboro below the mouth of the Kiamichi River.
.
While Trammell's Trace from Fulton Was the most direct route to
Nacogdoches, Texas, much of it was subject to overflow, so that
during the rainy season travel proceeded over the trail to Port Towsen
and down the Spanish Trail from Jonesboro to reach Trammell’s Trace, as
has been stated.
.
Nicholas Trammell's place was conveniently located at the junction
of the Washington-Camden road with the old road to Haynesville, Louisiana.
The first record we find of this place says: "Nick Trammell at his
residence on the Terre Rouge (creek) entertained visitors and health
seekers from the south on their way to Hot Springs. These planters
from the south had plenty of money, and Nick at his place, and Pol1y
Vaughn at her place (Janes ferry on Little Missouri River) got much
of their specie.”
.
We have no doubt he refers to gambling and horse-racing which was
part of the entertainment at the taverns along the early traces. Nick's
uncle, David Trammell kept the tavern at the junction where the road
to Hot Sprlngs left the Great Southern Trail. And strangely enough
he called his tavern “Fair Play”. Featherstonaugh stopped there on his
trip to the Texas Frontier in 1834, and describes it well.
.
--- page 13 ---
.
There is little doubt but that Nick Trammell's father and his uncles
traded on the trails to the west long before Nick came to Texas. His
father Nicholas Trammell Sr. was one of the founders of the first Tennessee
settlement and signed the Articles of Agreement for Government at Nashboro
(Nashville Tenn.) May 13, 1780. He was licensed by the government to trade
with the Indians of the west and listed as : "Agent of the state of Virginia
residing in the territory along the Ohio River and trading in Illinois."
The document states that all men over twenty-one years of age are
required to have a license, and in this particular party we find the
familiar names of Humphry Hogan, Edward Lucus. Nathaniel and William
Overall, Robert and George Espey, and Daniel Jarrott, most of them related
to Nicholas Trammell.
.
Nicholas Trammell Sr. with his brother Philip Trammell and his
cousin David Fane, were scouts for tho Continental Army in the war
of the American Revolution, and were commissioned to guard the wagon
trains on the road to Kaskaskia on the Mississippi River. This
evidence is found in the Old Records Division of the Library of Congress
as well as in the archives of Kentucky.
.
After the war when the government granted land to the soldiers in
the states of Tennessee and Kentucky, Nicholas Trammell Sr. held a
commission as commander of rangers who were to guard the new settlements.
It was in fulfilling this duty that he was killed by the Cherokee Indians
in the year 1784. Judge Haywood, early historian of Tennessee, gives
a long and thrilling account of the bravery displayed by these men
and he says “Trammell and Hoskins, who were enthusiastically courageous
and bent upon making their enemy yield the palm of victory, precipitated
themselves into the midst of the Indians ... and fell by the hand of the
foe.”
.
--- page 14 ---
.
An inventory of Nicholas Trammell’s estate appraised by
James Ford and Soloman White was filed in Davidson County records
June 25, 1784 , and the court appointed Fanny Trammell (the wife of
Nicholas Trammell Sr.) administrator of the estate for Nicholas
Trammell Jr. a minor. While the personal estate was small there
was considerable land involved. Nicholas Trammell had received a
bounty grant for his services in the Revolutionary War, and to
this the government granted 640, acres "to tlle heirs of Nicholas Trammell
for his heroic defense of Davidson County.
.
This land was granted by the state of North Carolina and
Mr. Heywood explains, "When the right of pre-emption was created
1783 events took place which formed pre-emptioners into classes.
Some had gone off when public distress was very pressing, And lived
in Kentucky. Some had remained and defended the country through
all of its dangers and because of their great bravery some of them
left young children and widows. These were entitled to 640 acres
of land". The act then names those so honored and among them is
the name Nicholas Trammell.
.
In Mr. Haywoods account of Nicholas Trammell’s death he says,
“At the head of White Creek. Nicholas Trammell and Philip Mason had
killed and were skinning a deer when the Indians fired upon them
wounding Philip Mason, they got the venison while Trammell got assistance
from Eaton's Station and followed the Indians." This fixes the
location in which Little Nick lived and the early histories of Tennessee
tell us much of the character and conditions of the White Creek
settlement and Eaton's station, near Nashville.
.
--- page 15 ---
.
By treaty the Chickasaws had deeded the land on Duck River and
the Cumberland to the settlers even when the Cherokees claimed they
had no right to do so. In spite of the frail agreement the settlers
developed trading posts and established their homes. The record states
“Casper and George Mansker commenced their little fixings for making
meal” “but the master millers were Frederick Stump and John Buchanan.”
The article concludes with "Capt. Stump had a real good dam and a real
good mill and made down right good corn meal at his mill on White Creek".
.
It is interesting to note how this mill operated. There was a
wheel, and upon the rim was fastened a number of cow horns. As each horn
was filled with water from the stream its weight turned the wheel so the
next horn was presented for filling. Thus the Wheel was kept in
constant motion. The mill supplied the neighboring settlements.
Eaton’s Station was a mile and one half below the Big Salt Lick
(Nashville) and Capt. John Donelson's diary states "It was agreed the
fort at Nashboro should be the main defense" for the settlements on
Duck River and the Cumberland.
.
The land records of Kentucky and Tennessee show that Nicholas was
surrounded by his relatives in the sett1ement in the west, but he does
not appear in the record, again until 1808 when the Land Grant Book of
Franklin County lists “To Nicholas Trammell, Jr., heir of Nicholas Trammell, Sr.
deceased, land on the waters of Elk River (description given) and
witnessed by Norton Maulding and Bartlett Pitte, acting attorneys in fact
for the said Nicholas Trammell, Jr. the heir of Nicholas Trammell Sr. deceased.”
.
Nick’s mother was certainly dead at this time for he is the sole heir
to the property, a fact which is sustained in several documents pertaining
to land titles, and when at length he sells the land granted to him
on account of father's death, the document is signed “Nicholas Trammell
and Sarah his wife.” We could find no record of this marriage.
.
--- page 16 ---
.
It is reasonable to suppose that Nick joined the trading <word?>
of his uncles who continued to trade in the west. Born in the wilderness
and schooled to hardship, he doubtless was of much service even before
he was grown. The record shows that he acted as interpreter for the
courts of Arkansas so we must conclude he spoke French as well as Indian
languages. Since all the tribes of the Mississippi valley understood
French the court required the testimony to be confirmed in French
after it had been given by Indian signs and languages, to be certain
the court understood the testimony. In fact French was so universally
spoken on tho frontier, the Arkansas Gazette always published political
announcements in both French and English.
.
Nick must have been a very queer child. He was small and dark and keen,
unlike the other Trammell men who were tall with dark hair and Irish blue
eyes. They were dark skinned, however, with big hands and long capable
fingers. Because Nick was weazened, he acted as jockey for his uncles
who ran blooded horses on the race tracks of the west. While he took
part in riding: and shooting sports, he remained forever shy, and the
record sustains the fact that he was an enigma to everyone.
.
In the memoirs of Samuel H Williams, published in the Washington
Telegraph (1886) we find: "There lived in Hempstead County a well known
character by the name of Nicholas Trammell. To everyone he was known
as "Old Nick Trammell”. He was an odd, exclusive, secretive sort of
fellow; mingled but little with his neighbors and when he did was noted
more for what he did not say than for what he did say; was rarely at home
to anyone, and as rarely called at other people’s houses. His comings and
goings were secret and mysterious, being frequently conducted under
cover of darkness.
.
--- page 17 ---
.
"He would quietly disappear and remain absent for days; neighbors
knew not where, nor upon what business or mission. Then as unexpectedly
he would return and for a season pursue the even tenor of his way
about home. He was always flush of money without seemingly putting
forth any effort, either of muscle or brain power for procuring it.
This fact, together with the queer movements, and absolute unsocialibility
of the man gave rise to a good deal of gossip and speculation
concerning his character and doings".
.
Thus it is easy to understand how legend was built up around
Nick Trammell that cannot be supported by facts. Through the Records
of the Civil courts we were able to trace this family from the time they left
Virginia until they settled in Texas, but not one record did we find
against them in the criminal court record. In the war department
records we find they served their country well, in fact the only black
mark we have to record is against Nick Trammell’s sons, Philip and
Robert, who were fined for displaying gambling devices (Roulette)
in their taverns in Lafayette County Arkansas. Gambling was a part
of frontier life, until the year 1833 when laws were passed prohibiting
horse-racing and gambling in Arkansas.
.
For six generations the Trammells had fought on every frontier
before Nicholas Trammell came to Texas. Thomas Trammel the first
ancestor came to Virginia in 1670. He was bound by indenture to
Mr. Thomas Wyeth who agreed to pay him in corn and clothes, as was the
custom. At the end of four years he was to receive his freedom and
fifty acres of headright land.
The record of the court shows that he had to sue Hr. Wyeth to
obtain them, which was accomplished by the oath of Captain Moore, who
commanded the vessel on which they sailed to America. Captain Moore
testified that Mr. Trammell had hound himself to Mr. Wyeth for four years
so the court ordered Mr. Wyeth to pay Mr. Trammell and the cost of the...
<note: my copy is missing this line>
.
--- page 18 ---
.
Thus the fight for freedom began. Thomas settled on his land
in Stafford County, Virginia and took his place with the pioneers who
come to possess the land on the cruel terms' of tho wilderness. Having
established his plantation, Thomas Trammell married Mary, the daughter
of John Williams who "Died possessed of land in Stafford and Westmoreland
county.. which was devised to John Trammell," the son of Mary and Thomas.
.
Thus the estate grew, until John Trammell the son of a poor emigrant
established a plantation on the Potomac River "Next to the lands of
Theodoric Bland." Here we find that John Trammell is a prominent
citizen, serving as sub-sheriff for the county and giving the land for
the famous Falls Church, Virginia. In a deed transferring to Walter
English and his two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah English, he reserves
two acres for a church and grave yard at Falls Church where the Trammell
family lived in Fairfax County, Virginia. The record states: "John Trammell
sells two acres of land for five shillings for the Upper Church, to be
reserved for a church yard, spring and church”. The Upper Church became
the famous Falls Church of Virginia.
.
Gerrard Trammell, the son of John and Mary Gerrard Trammell, was
appointed surveyor of roads for Fairfax County Virginia in the year 1754.
So it would appear the Trammell's had blazed many trails before Nick came
to Texas. The document shows that Gerrard was living on the old
plantation when his son Philip (the grandfather of Nick of Texas) was
born. This fixes the age and date of Philip’s birth. This Philip
Trammell was destined to play an important part in the history of the west.
.
He supported his old neighbor, Ninian Edwards, in establishing a
government in southern Illinois and securing the trails of migration
west of' the Mississippi. Educated in Virginia he was able to serve in
forming the Territorial government.
.
--- page 19 ---
.
The records of Fairfax county show that Philip Trammell married
Jemima Grimes, and her father Nicholas Grimes was a man of means and
distinction. For her wedding present Nicholas Grimes gave his daughter
a pony so she would be free to visit her friends and relatives. This is
where the name Nicholas comes into the Trammell family, and distinguishes
the heirs from the other branches appearing in the records of the War
Department. Philip and Jemima started life peacefully and elegantly
in their plantation home in Fairfax County, Va. But even then the war of
the American Revolution was brewing and since their sentiments were with
Democracy they were destined to be catapulted across many frontiers and
end gloriously with their sons west of the Mississippi River.
.
The first brave move was to cross the Potomac and join their
relatives in Maryland in signing the Association Test of Loyalty, which
preceded the Declaration of Independence. This brave band took their stand
against the unjust treatment imposed on the colonies by England.
Maryland was a better place to declare their stand than Virginia, for
Maryland was founded on Religious Freedom and had long been a neutral
ground between the straight laced Puritans and the easy indolence of
Tide Water Virginia.
.
Philip and Jemima well knew they were committed to civil war, for
they had many friends who would fight with the Tories and be loyal to
England, while their sons would join them in fighting for their rights
in the west. As we see Nick Trammell’s grandparents renounce the ease
and luxury in Virginia, to start the long migration through the wilderness
we are better able to understand how the concept of freedom became a
fixation with each succeeding generation. Philip and Jemima were really
casting their lot with their sons who were already trading in the West.
.
--- page 20 ---
.
Their oldest son, John, and his cousin B.S. Trammell from Maryland,
were trading down the Caro1ina coast to New Orleans. Philip’s two
brothers Dennis and William Tramme1l had left Fairfax County and settled
below the James River, until they joined the migration to Carolina where there
was more resistence to King George's effort to regulate commerce.
John Trammell had staked a claim on Pearl River and established a
commission-house to accommodate trade from the gulf. The grant was
described as, "all that part of Louisiana east of tho Mississippi River
and the island of New Orleans, and west of Pearl River.”
.
Philip Trammel1 Jr. and his brother Nicholas had a trading party
that reached from Georgia to Kaskaskia on the Mississippi River, as
has been said. The younger brothers, Gerrard, James, Thomas and David,
appear in the early land records of Kentucky, in the settlement where
land was granted "for service rendered the Continental Army".
.
In the year 1796 Philip and Jemima were living in Logan County, Ky.
Withh their land adjoining their son Philip Jr. in what was known as
the Georgia settlement. In 1797 Philip Trammell Sr. is taxed for
200 acres of land belonging to his son Gerrard, not yet 21 years of age.
Philip Jr., John and Sampson Trammell owned land on Terripin Creek whil
David and Gerrard Trammell each had 200 acres on Spring Creek.
.
In the descriptions it is interesting to note Philip Jr. and
Nicholas Trammell owned land on Duck Lick, for in the autobiography
of Andrew Davis who was born at old Jonesboro on Red River, he says that
his father Daniel Davis, was the son of John Davis and moved from
Virginia to Tennessee and settled on Duck River. In his autobiography
Mr. Davis said his family moved to Texas with Nick Trammell and states
further that he was with him when he cut the trace.
.
--- page 21 ---
.
It is interesting to note that David Trammell, Nick’s uncle, had
married the daughter of John Davis, and that Jesse Davis and John Trammell
had married the daughters of Joel Dickinson. The families of the early
migration were so intermarried it was quite impossible to establish all
relations, but one thing is certain, they moved together, and the best
evidence of this is the documents recorded by the courts. Often they
gave much information about relationship.
.
In the land descriptions they usually named the owners of the
land adjoining and often gave little bits of information about them.
A case in point a suit brought to clear title for overlapping of a survey.
The deed had been given to Ninian Edwards and his ?wife, on the original
grant belonging to Gerrard Trammell. The suit brought by Philip Trammell
involved Willoughby Powell and Leonard West. The record stated that it
was "a friendly suit to clear title, since these men were friends and
neighbors back in Fairfax County, Virginia."
.
Before the title was clear, Philip and Jemima had moved with
Ninian Edwards to Shawneetown, Ill. On the Ohio River in the settlement of
southern Illinois. Here the old trail from Kentucky dropped dowm to
New Madrid where Colonel Morgan had founded a settlement west of the
Mississippi River, and continued to Ste. Genevieve where Moses Austin
was mining lead at Mine a Burton. David Trammell had joined the
New Madrid colony with the Bowies and other old friends from Maryland.
Among them were Dr. Robert Dawson and Dr. Samuel Dorsey.
.
New Madrid was located on the old rendezvous point of the French
traders called "Greasy Bend", because bear oil was obtained there for
the New Orleans Market. The grant extended from the mouth of the
St. Francis River, (near present day Helena, Arkansas) northward to
Cape Cinque Hommes (Perry County Missouri) and was to extend two degrees
back from the Mississippi River.
.
--- page 22 ---
.
David Trammell’s plantation adjoined the Bowies near the mouth
of the St. Francis River in Arkansas. Later when Rezin Bowie left his
plantation to his son John Jones Bowie and moved with his sons Rezin Jr.
and James to Louisiana, David Trammell moved down the Southwest Trail to
Hot Springs, and left his plantation to his sons, Peter and Dennis Trammell.
.
At this time we find that Nick's grandfather Philip Trammell was taking
an active part in the Illinois settlement. He was Capt. of the company
of militia called into service by Governor Ninian Edwards, and he had
leased the Government Salines in order to supply salt for the trade to the west.
The record states "Philip Trammell not only possessed a good discriminating
mind, he had a strong inclination to military affairs."
.
Salt had become an essential commodity of trade. It was selling
for thirty dollars a bushel in the Tennessee settlement, and the government
had imposed a heavy tax on all salt shipped through the port of New Orleans.
Philip Trammell with his son Gerrard, employed expert men to help produce
salt from the Gov. salines. Anthony Hart, a friend of Nicholas Trammell Sr.
who had operated the salt licks at Nashville since 1790, came to his
assistance, as did Claiborne Wright from the Duck River settlement. Claiborne Wright
remained with Philip Trammell at the salt works for two years before he
returned to Tennessee and moved his family to Red River settlement of Jonesboro.
.
While surplus hams and bacon continued to arrive for the New Orleans
market, proving that the pioneers were using salt to cure their surplus meat,
government agents reported to congress that western scouts were smuggling
salt to the Indians by means of pack horses, and it was believed that salt
from government salines was being carried to Texas. In an address to
congress, President Jefferson explained the delicate balance the Indians
held in the crisis of the frontier and he said, “It is not only necessary
to distribute salt among the Indians, but we should subsidize the salt
workers, for the trading posts that satisfy the Indians are our only safety
in the west.”
.
--- page 25 ---
.
In looking into the record of horse stealing...
.
--- page 28 ---
.
The ground rose and sunk in great undulations...
.
--- page 29 ---
.
It is to be noted how the manufacture of salt thrived in this
section rich with saline springs. Mark Bean’s salt works in Old Hempstead
County are given a prominent place in early records. One of particular
interest is found in the papers of Governor Izard of Arkansas Territory,
when he tried to get the government to give the Bean brothers a lease
of the salines in 1825, and was continually ignored by the federal
Government. So that Governor Izard writes a very strong letter in
which he points out how necessary salt is to the settlers and the Indians,
and how the Bean Brothers have long manufactured good salt at low costs,
and with or without the consent of the Government the Governors of
Arkansas Territory had granted them a lease, and he would continue to do
so.
.
One point that is made in the early correspondence in
connection with collecting a tax on salt for the federal government
appears in the American State Papers, and established the fact that
the people in the west are aware that the War of 1812 is coming to a
crisis, and bacon and meat are being cured and stored to sustain the army.
Salt was now a commodity of national defense, but it could best be used
where meat was abundant. It is recorded that the scouts took the
fat sides of bear and cured them for bacon. That buffalo tongues
cured and smoked were packed in bundles and transported overland to
points of deposit.
.
The records of the War Department show how well the Trammells served
their country in the War of 1812. Here again they were not only scouts
for the army, but conducted supply trains, and served as officers
in charge of rangers and militia. It is interesting to note that when
the Neutral Ground was established and Dr. Sibley appealed for troops
to protect the border, that Levi Trammell was in charge of the militia
sent from Mississippi to Nacogdoches “to protect the settlers on
the Frontier."
.
--- page 30 ---
.
Philip Trammell, Nick’s grandfather, was appointed Colonel
in the Illinois Militia to see that rangers in the west kept tho trails
open for wagon trains and supplies. The original papers of the
muster rolls are signed by Philip Trammell Colonel for Ferguson battalion.
Here we find the names of Capt. Edward Hempstead, Capt. Joseph Conway,
William Morrison, David and James Music, William Ashley, Samuel Judy,
Charles Lucus, Robert Gray, James Calloway, the grandson of Daniel
Boone and many names that are prominent in the history of migration to
Texas. Stephen F. Austin was commissioned Ensign in the 6th regiment
for Missouri Territory.
.
Nick Trammell served directly under Capt. B.F. McFarland who had
settled on White River Crossing of the Southwest Trail in 1804.
He was doubtless attached to various units, because one document
stated that he served as scout under his uncle Philip Trammell a
Major in the Ill. Militia, and was in company with his cousin Philip
who was also a scout of the American Army. Nick's uncle David Trammell
with his sons Peter and Denis served under Capt. Thomas in Colonel
Booth’s Tennessee regiment. Gerrard Trammell was; commissioned
Captain of a company in a Tennessee regiment. John Trammell served with the
Militia at Arkansas Post, and Thomas Trammell with his cousin
Jacob Trammell served to gard the settlements on the Texas Frontier (Joneboro).
.
As late as 1824 when it became necessary to guard the Red River
settlement against Indians and outlaws, Thomas Trammell, Nick's uncle,
was elected first Lieutenant of a company organized at Pecan Point.
The account of this incident is found in the files of the Arkansas
Gazette (Little Rock) and shows the confidence placed in these men
since they were elected by popular vote.
.
Nick's grandfather Philip Trammell, resigned his commission as
Colonel of the Illinois Militia March 12th 1814, and was elected
as representative of the Ill. House of Representatives.
.
--- page 31 ---
.
In the Illinois State Historical Archives we read, “Plilip Trammell
ranger, from Gallatin County, was elected representative of Illinois
Territory Legislature October 1812. He was re-elected , the only member
of the house to be so honored, in 1814". From the Annals of tho West
we find a record of Philip Trammell's service which gives some idea of
what he established in the government of the west. In the Territorial
Legislature of 1814 on the subject of common schools, "On motion of
Mr. Trammell, a committee was appointed to draft a bill to incorporate
the inhabitants of the respective townships, to enable them to choose
trustees to lease and appropriate the profits of the sixteen sections
in each township, for the benefit of Public Schools, in conformity
to the act of congress.”
.
In the court order book of Gallatin County we find the court
orders a road to be laid out "From Flynn' s Ferry on the Ohio River
to Saline Tavern... then with the same to Trammell's Field.” Then another
order saying that Philip Trammell and Nathaniel Lacy shall be exempt
from working on public roads on account of their age. Colonel Philip
Trammell lived to be eighty-five years of age and his Will is recorded
in Shawneetown, Ill. (1818). Jemima's will is recorded in McLearsboro,
Hamilton County, Ill. and is dated 1826. So we find the grandparents
of Nick Trammell of Texas, left a good account of their deeds in the
west, and the friends and relatives who settled at many river crossing
on the S.W. Trail were doubtless friends of Nick Trammell and followed
him to remote settlements int eh West.
.
It is apparent that the Great Southwest Trail was opened as far
as the Ouachita River crossing as early as 1811. Indeed a venerable
beech tree bears the carving 1800 and another "killed a bear 1811, W.H.G."
This may have been William H. Glass who was an indian trader from
Arkansas Post and later went to Texas with the Trammell’s.
.
--- page 32 ---
.
Nick's uncle David Trammell moved to the Ouachita River crossing
in 1811 with the Davis family, and the old record of Clark County shows
that his land joined Jacob Barkman, who was also related to the David family.
The census of 1810 shows that John Jacob and Asa Barkman were living
on Ouachita River and that they had previously resided at Arkansas Post.
Jacob Barkman was the first postmaster at this location on tho Caddo
Crossing of the Southwest Trail, near its junction with the Ouachita River
and the first court was held at his home. David Trammell is listed among
the names for the First Jury assembled and further that his two sons,
F.W. and G.W. (George Washington) Trammell went to the Mexican War with
Company A volunteers from Clark County. We assume they must have been
killed for when David Trammell died his sons Peter and Denis, who had managed
the plantation near Helena, Arkansas appeared as the "Sole heirs of
David Trammell, their father.”
.
Nicholas Trammell, as usual, went in advance of the settlements,
and established his home, as has been said, on the junction of the
trail that went from Hot Springs to Haynesville in Louisiana. The
oldest maps show this as "Leading from the Hot Springs to Red River.”
Nuttall speaks of it in his journal, "From what I can learn it appears
pretty evident that these extensive and convenient routes have been opened
from time immemorial by the Indians; they were their war-paths
and Hunting trails... it is in these routes conducted by the Indians
we are to trace the adventures of DeSoto and La Salle and by which
we may possibly identify the truth of their relations ." Then he says
"The Great Road to the Southwest, connected with that to.St. Louis
communicates downward to the most of Ouachita and the
remarkable Thermal Springs (Hot Springs) and continues on 250 miles
to the settlement of Mound Prairie, on to crossing of Saline Creek
(Saline Landing on Saline River) and on to Red River. (This is the
road to Fort Towsen before mentioned)”.
.
--- page 35 ---
.
Mr. Davis says, "The community at Jonesboro was once at least
we1l nigh broken up. Many left there, some went to Arkansas and others
to Nacogdoches and San Augustine. A Mr. Trammell was the first man to
move his family from family from the Red River country prior to 1825 to Nacogdoches.
.
"There had never been a road prepared that a wheeled conveyance
could pass over from one section to the other. Mr. Trammell, with
chopping axes and hatchets, cut a road from Pecan Point, or Jonesborough,
to the east so that pack horses could pass over it. They used in that day
an affair they called a pack saddle, and instead of bags everything was
packed in Mexican ciaxes (sillojes).
.
The ciaxes were made of rawhide just as it came from the animal,
the hair side turned out and the flesh side turned in. These hides were
soaked and softened and then drawn drum tight around a solid wood frame.
They were made long enough to fill the space between the horse's shoulder
and the point of the hip and were attached together with broad
strips of raw hide. There was a large flap of rawhide for covering
that made them resist rain. You could carry a featherbed in one of
them. These were used by Mr. Trammell, in fact everybody used them in
that early day.
.
"A short time after Mr. Trammell arrived in Nacogdoches the Mexican
authorities employed him to keep the ferry on Trinity River on the
San Antonio road.” From this point there is much in the record to
determine the activity of Nick Trammell and his friends from the Pecan
Point settlement. In Yoakum’s History of Texas we find, “the news of
Austin's intended colony had spread over tho Western country... and about
the middle of June 1821, before Austin had made his selection, several
families at Pecan Point in Arkansas started for the Brazos and on January
1822 encamped at tho crossing of the old San Antonio road two miles above
the mouth of the little Brazos”.
.
--- page 36 ---
.
Nicholas Trammell placed a Mexican...