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Mary Crownover Rabb

by Donna Green

Mary Crownover was born in 1805 in Buncombe County, North Carolina. She met John Rabb while they were living just south of Jonesborough in the Arkansas Territory and were married in 1821. John and Mary departed the Jonesborough area for the new land of Texas on October 1, 1823. They had decided to move to Austin's Colony where John's father, William and two of John's brothers had established a homestead. John and Mary settled on the West Side of the Colorado River just north of the present site of La Grange at a place called Indian Hill. Initially, they stayed at Indian Hill with the rest of the members of the family, later deciding to move south to another colony on the Brazos River. When William Rabb received more land on the Colorado River to build a gristmill, John and Mary returned to the area to help with the mill. William died in 1831 and John assumed primary responsibility for the operation of the mill.

John, leaving Mary at home with four small children, joined the volunteer army of colonists who were fighting for the independence of Texas in 1835. During this time, Mary was forced to keep the homestead going and to deal with local Indians who often came to her home seeking food or medicine for illnesses. When Santa Anna's army marched east across Texas, Mary and the children were part of a group of colonists who were forced to flee in what is known as the Runaway Scrape. During this flight, Mary suffered the illness and death of her youngest child, Lorenzo.

After the war John and Mary returned to rebuild the mill which had been destroyed in a flood in 1833. They remained at Rabb's Prairie until 1860 when John decided to quit the milling business. In one of the county's largest business transactions up to that date, John sold all his property at Rabb's Prairie and moved to Austin. He and Mary purchased land in the current Barton Creek area. John died there in 1861. Mary survived him and died in 1882. Both are buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.

The new Texas State History Museum in Austin features Mary telling of her experiences while an early Texas colonist. Mary wrote a compelling momeir that is considered the most juicy and vivid narrative of pioneer life ever written by a woman.

He was the First Brantley to arrive in America. This is a copy of his will.

Edward Brantley 1688

In the name of God Amen the 30^th Day of March in the year of our Lord Good 1688 I Edward Brantley Senior of the upper parrish of the Isle of Wight county being of sound and perfect memory praise be to God for the same and knowing the uncertainty of this life on Earth and being desirious to see thing in order do make this my last Will and Testament in maner and form following… that is to say first and principally I commend my soul to almighty God, my creator assuredly believing that I shall own full pardon & free remission of all my sins and be saved by the precious death and merritt of my blessed Savior and Redeamor Jesus Christ and my body to the earth and Christian maner, as to be Executrix here after named shall be thought meek and convenient and as touching such Worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath lent make my Will and meaning is that the same shall be employed and bestowed, as here after by this my Will is expressed in… first to revoke, denounce, frustrate and make void all Wills by me formerly made and seal… and appoint this my Last will and testament

I doth give devise and bequeath unto my son Edward and his son James one hundred sixty and five acres of land where the said Edward now liveth… to him and the heirs of the same bodies lawfully begotten that is to say the whole one hundred and sixty five acres of land unto my son Edward until his son James doth attain the age of one and twenty years and then it is my will that the said James Brantley shall have one hundred acres of that land to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten: but if it shall happen that he shall dye without heir or heirs then it is my will that the next surviving child of my son Edward shall have it Forever.

I doth give devise and bequeath unto my son Phillip two hundred acres of land to be both enjoyed by him until his don Edward shall attain unto the age of one and twenty years: one hundred acres I do give unto my son Phillip and his heirs forever the other hundred acres I do give unto the said Edward Brantley and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten: but if it shall so happen that he shall dye without heir or heirs then is my will that the next surviving child of my son Phillip shall have the dame forever.

I do give and bequeath unto my son John Brantly and his son John two hundred acres of land… the said two hundred acres to be enjoyed by the said John Brantly until his son John Brantly doth attain unto the age of one and twenty years and then it is my Will that his said son John Brantly shall have one of the hundred acres of land to be and remain to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever: but if it shall so happen that the said John Brantly doth leave no increase behind him then it is my will that the next surviving child of my son Johns shall enjoy the same forever the other hundred acres of land I do give unto my said son John and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten

I do give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Brantly one hundred acres of land beginning at the corner tree at the Akin Swampe running southwest to the branch below Phillip Brantly’s dwelling house and then north along a place called the medow to be an emanation to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten

I do give and bequeath unto my said daughter a feather bed as it stands curtains, valence, ruggs, blankets, pillows, pillow boulster and sheets.

I do give and bequeath unto John the son of my son John one feather bed with all apparatuses… and one black mare, two pewter dishes, two pewter plates and two porringers I do give and bequeath unto Edward Brantley the son of my son Phillip one bay mare with kin moriake only it is my will and I do give the first mare foul that that mare shall bring unto James Brantly the son of Edward Brantley I do give and bequeath a yoke of steers unto my three sons to be used jointly amongst them during the time the said heirs shall live and equally to be shared when they shall be killed.

I give unto my three sons: Edward, Phillip and John my Indian slave Peter to serve them two years a piece successively one after the other and the six years is expired I do give the said Indian slave Peter unto my daughter Mary during her natural life and after her deceased to her children is she shall leave any behind but is she dye without increase then to return to my sons or their children to be equally devided amongst them: I do give unto my sons eldest sons: a two year ould heifer a piece. I do give and bequeath the remainder of my personall estate after my debts and funeral expenses payd unto my daughter Mary Brantly whom I do make the sole executrix of this my last will and testament in witness where of I do here unto put my hand and seal.

Signed Sealed published and declared to be the                  Edward

Last Will and Testament of Edward Brantly                            Brantley

                   In the sight and presence of

John Whitstone Proved in open court for the Isle of Wight County

Ann A. White     January 9, 1688 by the oath of John Whitstone

                          Ann White & William Evans to be the will of

Will Evans                                                         Edward Brantly

                                                          Test John Pitt