2-22

Part 2, Note 22

Caroline von Hinueber, "Life of German Pioneers in Early Texas," The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, vol 2, no. 3, January 1899, pp. 230-231; James Hampton Kuykendall, "Reminiscences of Early Texans," The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, vol. 7, no. 7, July 1903, p. 59; "Die erste deutsche Frau in Texas," Der Deutsche Pionier, December 1884, or the much more convienient, though edited and altered, translation in Crystal Sasse Ragsdale, ed., The Golden Free Land (Austin: Landmark Press, 1976), pp. 3-4. Mary Theresa Jürgens, whose maiden name was Henneke, was ransomed at a trading post on the Red River within one or two years of her capture. Probably, she was one of the persons obliquely referred to in a joint resolution which was adopted by both houses of the First Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 10, 1836 and which authorized then President Sam Houston to take whatever measures he deemed appropriate to "effect the release or redemption of our unfortunate prisoners, captured by and in the possession of hostile Indians, said to be on the waters of Red River" (see Gammel, The Laws of Texas 1822-1897, pp. 1134-1135). While in captivity, she gave birth to a daughter, Jane Margaret. She later declared that the birth had taken place on August 26, 1836 (see Baptismal Records of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Houston, 1841-1860, Record No. 47). She returned to her husband, but he evidently died shortly thereafter. Burdened with a young daughter and, one must imagine, little means of support, she quickly remarried, to George Grimes, on October 8, 1838 (see Austin County Marriage Records, Book A, p. 28). Grimes had either died or disappeared by 1843, for on May 9 that year, she married her third husband, Samuel Joseph Redgate (see Colorado County Marriage Records, Book B, p. 45). Redgate took formal custody of her daughter on May 29, 1843, had her baptised a Catholic on November 11, 1843, and legally adopted her on January 10, 1845 (see Colorado County Probate Records, Minute Book B, pp. 90, 110; Baptismal Records of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Houston, 1841-1860, Record No. 47; Gammel, comp., The Laws of Texas 1822-1897, vol. 2, p. 1060). Nothing further was ever heard from the two children, both boys, who were captured with her.