Foreword: This paper was researched and written because of the interest of Barclay family members and of other families connected to the Barclay family wanting more information about Anderson Barclay. The specific questions had to do with who were his descendants, as distinguished from the descendants of his brothers, when did he come to Texas, and what was his role in the Texas War for Independence. Readers should remember that the men who lived at that time considered themselves to be doing what needed to be done; for themselves, their families and their posterity. They did not set out to be heroes, although that is how it turned out. We owe a debt of gratitude to Anderson Barclay and others of his era for their gift of the freedom of Texas.

Anderson Barclay was born in Franklin County, Tennessee, in 1806. (d.1870 after) He came to Texas from Tennessee when he was a young man. His wife Sarah Prather (m. 1829) came, and the relatives of his mother, Elizabeth McQueen Barclay.

Here is the traditional story of Anderson Barclay, which has checked out to be pretty reasonable. It was compared with the findings of the earlier and current Barclay researchers, and the researchers of the McQueen, Bean, Taylor, and Deason families. Anderson Barclay lived first in the St Augustine settlement, and then in North Tyler County in the area of Mt Hope, Peach Tree and Chester.

Anderson's father, Walter, and Walter's older sons ( Robert, Anderson, David, John, William, James) went to look Texas over as a prospective home. They went first to Nacogdoches, which was a town of size, and then made their plans to move on into East Texas.

The rest of the Walter Barclay family were back home in Alabama. (near the Tennessee border) They were Anderson's mother, Elizabeth, and Anderson's younger brothers; Jeremiah Todd (Rigsby) and Milton, and sisters; Mary "Polly" (Bevin), Louisa (Jennings), and Nancy (John Deason).

Walter and his older sons liked what they saw. They went back to get together the rest of the family and bring them to Texas. This process took several years. Different ones came at different times. The last and the eldest of the sons, Robert and his wife Sarah McKinsey Barclay, and their children already born, arrived around 1838.

After entering and signing papers at Nacogdoches, Anderson settled in the San Augustine settlement. There were some other pioneers that moved on to the Menard district after a while.(see the census of 1835).

By the time Anderson Barclay and the McQueens settled in Texas, the Mexican position had changed. Anglo setters were not surposed to be in the area, and so many of the deeds that were later recorded were dated several years after the pioneers had actually come to Texas.

This may have been for several reasons, such as; 1) why tell that you had already been there when you were not supposed to be, 2)why let your time for seven years without taxes start earlier than it had to, and, 3) why risk getting yourself and others in trouble, and 4) primarily, the reason was that deeds were not being writtened earlier.

When Anderson's deed in the Menard was first recorded, it was 1834. Other records show him to have been in east Texas many years, by then. Some other settlers were in the same situation. Anderson Barclay had one of the first recorded deeds. There were other families in the Mount Hope area where Anderson moved to from San Augustine that had already been there also.

Later, after the war with Mexico had begun, but Texas Independence had not yet been declared, Anderson joined with others in the Mount Hope area with an army raised by Uriah Irwin Bullock who invested his fortune in the cause of Texas Independence and brought the Georgia volunteers, men who came with him.

Bullock's army headed toward the area of San Antonio, where trouble was brewing. At Valasco, south of the Harrisburg area, U. Bullock was taken with the measles. Measles was a more serious illness then than it is now. He was bedridden. Not wanting the army to wait several days for his recovery, they went on without him.

From the pension applications from the service in the army of the republic (AOR).it is noted that:
Anderson Barclay, Tyler Co., approved June 23, 1871. Age 63 in 1870. Served in Captain M. B. Lewis’s company and Col. B. R. Milam’s regiment which engaged in the battle of San Antonio in 1835. Received bounty warrant #3396 for 320 acres.
Stephen Williams and Hanable Good, of Jasper Co. knew that Barclay served in AOR in 1835. James T. Priest and W.W. Whitehead certified A. Barclay, Sr. was living in 1873.

Santa Ana and his army, which increased in size as it went, numbered between four and seven thousand men. Santa Ana wanted to be known as the Napoleon Bonaparte of the west. One reference said it was his custom to travel with everything but an Italian opera. While the remaining Texas soldiers waited to be joined by Fannin's army, they were celebrating a fesita in honor of George Washington's Birthday when Santa Ana's army was first spotted by the look out.

History and the records tell us that most of the men at the Battle of the Bexar stayed there and were at the Battle of the Alamo. The volunteers from Georgia were at the Massacre of Goliad under Fannin. They all gave their lives for the cause of Texas Independence.

Tradition has it that Anderson and several others were out hunting for game for Fannin's army when the Mexicans captured the town. They were not with Fannin's army. The records for the massacre at Goliad indicate that some were not present on leave and that some did excape.

There was a soldier named Barkley, which was the spelling the Barclays of Tyler County continued to use for quite awhile after coming to East Texas. He is listed as J.H. Barkley. I have copied for the reader what the records about the Goliad Massacre showed. This is directly from those records, which may be found on the Internet. --------
---------------------------------------------------------Shackleford, Jack "Red Rovers" List of massacred at Goliad on Mar 27, 1836 [some escaped] Col. Fannin, Jr. Comm. Jan 19, 1836 - Feb 29, 1836 [A2, Section C] Dep: GoliadStart of Transcription (literal, 90 char wide)============================================ (22) 18 Muster Roll Capt Shackleford's Co. "Red Rovers" from 19th Jan: to 29th Febry 1836. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Names Rank RemarksJack Shackleford Captain EscapedF.S. Early 1st Lieut Sick & on furlough W.C. Francis 2 " In adv with HortonF.S. Shackleford 1st SgtJ.D. Hamilton 2 " EscapedA.G. Foley 3 "Z.H. Short 4 "H.H. Bentley 1st CorplD. Moore 2 " Issd No 8 1/3 Lea 30th May 1848 J.H Barkley 3 " No 113 Issd for 1/3 L. Oct 14/59A. Winter 4 "P.H. Anderson Private Joseph Blackwell "B. F. Burts " No 135 issd for 1/3 L. Oct 24/59Thomas Burbridge " Issd No 139 1/3J N. Barnhill "J.W. Cain "Harvey Cox " No 119 issd for 1/3 L. Oct 16th/59Seth Clark "J G. Coe " Alfred Dorsey "G.L.[5] Davis " Issd for 1/3 L to G A Davis

It is not likely that the Barkley shown above was Anderson. It would be good to check with the military records about who J. H. Barkley was, and what kin, if any, he was to the children of Walter Barclay and Elizabeth McQueen Barclay/Barkley. This research point is solvable through the names of the descendants in the pension paid.

All wars have patriot soldiers, who may be called the militia or minutemen. This may have been the case with Anderson in some of the battles, since his service was verified later by others when he received his acres for his grant and pension. (WW Whitehead and James Priest of MT Hope).

Anderson was said to have gone to San Jacinto without a captain. He had come from the area of Goliad, where the troops there under Col. Fannin had been massacred. His commander Uriah Irwin Bullock was not there, because U. I. Bullock was bedridden at Valasco. There were others that were also listed on the military records in the same way.

Anderson E. Barkley/Barclay received a large acreage bounty pension for his service in the Texas Army. It is likely he was in several battles in order to receive that much. His participation was witnessed by WW Whitehead and J Priest of the Mount Hope settlement where Anderson lived in the adjoining Peach Tree area.

The fighting between Mexico and Texas continued over the position of the border, until after Texas entered the Union and the United States went to war with Mexico over the same issue.

Anderson and all of his brothers that were old enough, serviced in the Texas army. Those too young to serve were Jeremiah Todd and Milton, who were children. The other brothers who served were; David, William, John, James and Robert. There was a John Barkley who was at the Battle of San Jacinto.

David and William were in the military later, in the US War with Mexico. While in Mexico, William Barclay lost his life.

The people of Tyler County call the descendants of Anderson Barclay and his brother Robert Barclay the Chester Barclays. The descendants of Anderson's brother James and his wife Virginia (Foster) Barclay are the Woodville Barclays.

Some of the descendants of Anderson Barclay are given below, after the reprint of the story from the Beaumont Enterprise of 1932, which tells of the Wild Deer aiding in the capture of Santa Ana. Annotation to this article has been done by this writer.

Forward: Anderson Barclay also served the previous December at the Battle of the Bexar, at the same location as the Battle of the Alamo about three months later. Anderson served with Uriah Irwin Bullock from the San Augustine settlement with his volunteers from Georgia and other east Texas men from the Liberty area. Bullock sunk his personal fortune into the cause of Texas Independence. Bullock became ill with the measles and was left at Valesco. His army went on to the Bexar.

The battle of the Bexar consisted of week long house to house combat. The Mexican solders who were there went back to Mexico. President and General Santa Anta returned in a forced march earlier than it was thought possible. He was not expected until after winter was over. Many at the battle of Bexar stayed over and were at the battle of the Alamo. Others, including the Georgia volunteers, were at Goliad under Fannin. At Goliad, 500 Texians were captured and executed about two weeks after the fall of the Alamo. Legend was that Anderson was out with several others on a hunting expedition for game for food.

Another Barkley who was at the Battle of San Jacinto was John Barkley/Barclay, who is listed on the official San Jacinto records. Anderson Barclay received land pensions for his service. When the Barclay family of Walter and Elizabeth McQueen, consisting of eight sons and three daughters with some wives and children came to the Menard district, they were still using the Barkley spelling of their family name. The spelling Barkley was used in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. (Teddy L. Barclay Pope, Ed D, January, 1999)

A frightened buck deer running across the battle ground of San Jacinto was responsible for the capture of General Santa Anna--the self-styled "Little Napoleon of the West." The story has never been published, though it is well authenticated, and old-timers will tell it as long as old-timers last in the communities of Chester, Mount Hope, and Peach Tree Village in Tyler County.

For it is a tale which was handed down by Anderson Barclay, one of the first settlers of northern Tyler county, the man who helped the famous Deaf Smith cut Vince's bridge just before the Battle of San Jacinto, and who told it to his grandsons who live today near Mount Hope. (historians now believe there were several trusted men with Deaf Smith, hand picked by him who destroyed the bridge by blowing it up and burning it. Anderson had just been at the Battle of the Bexar with Deaf Smith. TLBP 8/1/1999).

Anderson Barclay, whose name will live in Texas history, along with that of Deaf Smith, who was an intimate of General Sam Houston, was chosen with Smith to do away with the only means by which Houston's little army could escape from the pocket in which they placed themselves on the bend of the San Jacinto river, and where they intended, and did, teach Santa Anna and his much larger army a monumental military lesson--while they liberated Texas from Mexico.(note: Historian think that Santa Ana had intended to head toward Ft. Teron, north of Chester, TX by then miles. Recently visited by Garland Hayes of Woodville and Robert David of Chester, July 1998, report terrible rough logging road, accessible by truck or jeep, too rough on sedan automobile).

Barclay returned from destroying the bayou bridge, to engage in the short but decisive battle. It was the next day, while he was in company with Deaf Smith and other Texans, that he saw a buck deer running across the prairie--as his grandsons tell it today. Suddenly, the deer halted, frightened, evidently at something in the underbrush or tall weeds. The Texans, noticing the incident, decided they would investigate. As they moved, the deer made away, but when they reached the spot and peered in, they found two or three Mexicans.(recent visit to area by Teddy Barclay Pope and Dennise L. Pope to observe area in April, third week, 1997 found marsh like area surrounding the park, unlike the manicured grounds of the historical park at San Jacinto).

All were dressed as peons or common soldiers, and it was not until a little later that Smith and Barclay learned that they had captured the Mexican general. That was when other Mexican soldiers, who had been captured, recognized Santa Anna and cried, "Viva la General!" (other reports of eye witnesses said that others also brought in similarly clad soldiers. Santa Ana was among those peon soldiers brought in, and some of the soldiers were murmuring and saying "El Presidenta".)

Then they took Santa Anna before General Houston, who lay wounded under a tree. Anderson Barclay, a beloved man, came to the Mount Hope country from somewhere east of the Mississippi just before the first Barnes came into that part of the then east Texas wilderness to establish the name and their fortunes.

Anderson Barclay lies today in a little burial ground, with only a bit of native rock, uncarved, above his head.

It would be well to have a monument for Anderson Barclay, and yet the man who helped cut Vince's bridge, and who helped in the capture of Santa Anna, needs none.

Anderson Edward Barkley was born in 1807/8 in Franklin County, Tennessee to Walter Barkley of Rowan County, North Carolina, and Elizabeth McQueen Barkley of Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky. He was the second son. He served in the Battle of Bexar in December of 1835. He received six hundred and forty acres for his service. He joined Sam Houston’s Army and received twelve hundred and eighty acres in Hutchinson County, Texas for his service. He had three hundred and twenty acres in Newton County, Texas in 1838. In the 1840 census, he had 3,353 acres, one slave and one horse, valued at $4,400. Anderson was a soldier in the Civil War, serving in the Home Guard at Mount Hope.

Anderson Edward Barkley/Barclay was born in 1807, married Sarah Prather in 1829 and died after 1870. His children were: W. W. (William Walter), who served in the Confederate Army and married Elizabeth Futch, b. 5/22/1832, married 3/24/1853 and died 11/04/1908; John; Elizabeth; Mahaley F.; Anderson, Jr. (b. 8/9/1845), who married Mary J. Seaman 12/13/1871 (d. 11/26/1898); Jerry, G_____? daughter, Andrew and Artelia.

Here is a list of leaders in the Mount Hope Chester Area starting in 1853 and going to 1953 in chronological order; They were grand masters of the Mont Hope Lodge; Wm Harris, H. W. Carter, H. A. Willson, Henry West, A Laird, S. H. Barnes, W. W. Whitehead, Wm. Lowe, Jonathan Peters, I. G. Futch, James T. Priest, J. W. Futch, J. W. Simons, J. W. Futch, Jas Mann, U. H. Shine, M. C. Parks, L. R. Cade, T. B. Morgan, U. G. Feagin, J. G. Angel, S. T. Russel, B. F. Adams, J. R. Wallace, G. S. McAlister, J. C. Feagin, G. C. Enloe, Vinson Goolsbee, J. A. Vinson Jr., C. A. Seamans, M. O. Sutton, M.O. Sutton, J. M. Sheffield, J. A. Vinson

This paper is a draft. A descendant of Anderson Barclay, or a family genealogist should write a paper and identify all of the descendants of Anderson Barclay to the current date. Another research point not pertinent to Anderson, but of general curiosity, is determining who is J.H. Barclay, of the Battle of Goliad.

To the reader: See other related information about Anderson Barclay in the biographies of his parents and brother and sisters. Also see information online about the St Augustine settlement, Peach Tree, Mount Hope, Chester, Battle of the Bexar, Battle of San Jacinto and the Home Guard of Tyler County, Civil War

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August 11, 1999

TLBarclay Pope

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