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 Texas : Features : Columns : Lone Star Diary :

The Adventures of
Spencer Houston Jack

by Murray Montgomery
Murray Montgomery

Students and researchers of Texas history are inundated with information about the heroes of the Texas Revolution. But more often than not, the history books don’t tell us much about ordinary soldiers who also served Texas in the cause of freedom.

One such man was Spencer Houston Jack. As an early settler, Jack left his home in Georgia and came to Texas in 1830 with his brother William, and William’s family. According to The Handbook of Texas Online, the brothers first settled in San Felipe de Austin. And Spencer Jack was said to have been the first colonist to draw Mexican blood in the days preceding the revolution.

It seems Jack was involved in an altercation with Mexican soldiers while he was aboard a ship that was attempting to leave the mouth of the Brazos River without permission from Mexican authorities. Jack was aboard the Nelson when it was fired on by the Mexicans – Jack supposedly grabbed a rifle and wounded one of the soldiers. An arrest warrant was issued for Jack and he decided it might be a better idea to flee Texas and lay low for a while in the United States.

While he was away, Mexican authorities in Anahuac imprisoned Jack’s brother, Patrick C. Jack, and William Barret Travis. In June 1832, Jack and brother William marched to the town and demanded the release of Patrick Jack and Travis. After an armed confrontation with other Texans coming to their rescue, the authorities were forced to free Patrick Jack and Travis. One these men would become a celebrated martyr – William Barret Travis was the gallant commander who died at the Alamo. Patrick Jack was well known as a representative from Brazoria in the second congress of the Republic of Texas.

After the excitement at Anahuac, Spencer Jack was issued a title to one-fourth league of land in what would eventually become Lavaca County. However, he didn’t seem to care much for settling down in any one location, but continued to be involved in the business of bringing new families to Texas.

Jack spent some time in San Antonio where he got into more trouble with Mexican authorities – he was accused of cutting one official’s nose. Several months later, in his role as an attorney, Jack along with another lawyer named Grayson, went to Mexico City to try and negotiate the release of Stephen F. Austin who had been imprisoned there by Santa Anna. Austin was eventually let out on bail.

With the talk of revolution on everyone’s lips; September 1835, found Jack obtaining more land. He received title to ten leagues which was being sold by the Mexican government to finance a frontier force for fighting Indians. It is important to remember that in 1835, Texas was still part of Mexico and its residents, including those from the United States, were Mexican citizens.

Evidently, Jack had other interests besides acquiring land – he was also involved in the shipping business. One source indicates that he had some cargo aboard the schooner Martha, which was docked at Galveston. A Mexican warship seized this vessel and Jack’s cargo was confiscated. This incident was just more fuel for the fire, and Jack was determined to continue in the fight for Texas Independence.

As a soldier in the siege of Bexar, Jack received more land for his military service to Texas and was granted 320 acres in Blanco County. He served in the Texas army from July 30 to October 30, 1836.

It seems that Jack never really settled down and there isn’t any indication that he spent much time on the property in Lavaca County or on any of his other land. However, there’s no doubt that he was a lively individual who loved to be any place that included a fight – he was typical of those adventurers who were involved in the early days of the Texas Revolution.

When he died in Matagorda County in 1837, Jack evidently left his holdings to his brother William; according to information filed in Brazoria County. The remains of the brothers Spencer, William, and Patrick Jack are buried in the State Cemetery at Austin.

© Murray Montgomery
Lone Star Diary October 6 , 2009 Column

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