My Dawson and Broughton Family Page
After reading a book on stagecoach stops of the old west I became interested in Genealogy. My father grew up in Dawson, Texas named after his Maternal Great Grand father Britton Dawson.
I found information in all kinds of places. I spent time on the Internet and at the Clayton Library in Houston.
Britton Dawson was the person the intrigued me the most. He seemed larger than life. Every where I looked I found information on him. Almost every article said something about his service at the battle of San Jacinto.
I live near the San Jacinto Monument, so I took a field trip there to see what I could find out about Britton. There are names engraved on the outside of the monument of those who served. I searched but no Britton could be found. I went inside and talked to someone about finding him. They searched their records but no luck. I next went to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. I explained I was looking for Britton’s service record. They spent a couple of weeks trying to help me with out any positive results.
I had moved on in my search and was at the Clayton library doing some reading. I was trying to locate Britton’s farther Dread Dawson. I knew he had lived in Robertson County. So I was reading a book on the history of Robertson County. I started reading a story about Sterling C. Robertson and his company of Texas Rangers. It listed Britton Dawson as a member. There were several stories about them chasing Indians around Franklin. Later in the story I discovered my answer. Sterling and his men went to serve Sam Houston. Here is some of what I found:
Meanwhile, Robertson becomes Captain of a Ranger company that was mustered into service on January 17, 1836. He and his nephew George C. Childress were elected as delegates to the Convention of 1836. There, along with the other delegates at the convention, Robertson signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas.
During the Battle of San Jacinto, Robertson was stationed at nearby Harrisburg to guard equipment and supplies critical to the success of the Texas army.
Technically Britton and Sterling did not fight at San Jacinto, but stood guard to prevent the Mexicans from escaping via Harrisburg ferry. He received his land grant for this time spent in service of the Republic of Texas.
It took almost two years from the time I started looking until I found the information I was looking for. Just wanted to share this for those frustrated souls looking for facts.
Ben Broughton
Pearland, Texas
mailto:benmbroughton@gmail.com
12/27/2006
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