David (Davy) Crockett
Painting by Chester Harding |
| Nickname: | Davy |
| Born: | August 17, 1786, Greene County, TN (then in the State of Franklin) |
| Died: | March 6, 1836, Alamo Mission, San Antonio, Republic of Texas |
Notes:
• "When the Creek Indians opened hostilities and attacked Fort Mimms on August 30, 1812, the Militia was called for the purpose of raising volunteers. Davy Crockett volunteered and was assigned to Captain Jones' Mounted Vols. He went to Beatty Springs and from there continued with Major Gibson across the Tennessee River into the Creek nation as a spy. For a partner he chose the major's son George. They returned safely and reported to General Coffee, who was in command. Crockett and 800 volunteers of General Coffee's command crossed the Tennessee river through Huntsville, Alabama. Davy ask permission of General Coffee to go hunting, and on the river to Muscle Shoals and Melton's Bluff, he killed a bear." - Laughter
• When he was twelve years old, his father hired (bound) him to "Jacob Siler to help drive a herd of cattle to Rockbridge County, Virginia. Siler tried to detain David by force after the job was completed, but the boy escaped at night by walking seven miles in two hours through knee-deep snow. He eventually made his way home in late 1798 or early 1799." - Texas State Historical Association
• "Although he was admired for being a strong, hard and heroic frontiersman, the obsessive admiration of Davy Crockett was due in large part to his humor. He was charismatic and possessed the mastery of vernacular coupled with common sense that made him a natural storyteller with the power to enthrall his audience and parody his opponents." - University of Virginia
• "His grandparents were murdered by Creek and Cherokee Indians before he was born." - University of Virginia
• "In 1826, Crockett was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Crockett vehemently opposed many of the policies of President Andrew Jackson, most notably the Indian Removal Act. Crockett's opposition to Jackson's policies led to his defeat in the 1834 elections, prompting his angry departure to Texas shortly thereafter. In early 1836, Crockett took part in the Texas Revolution and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo in March." - Wikipedia
• "On September 24, 1813, Crockett joined the Second Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Riflemen for an initial term of 60 days and served under Colonel John Coffee in the Creek War, marching south into present day Alabama and taking an active part in the fighting. Made a scout because of his abilities as a hunter, trapper, and woodsman, Crockett is known to supposedly have supported the starving troops during the time of the Creek War with the game he hunted. He was eventually discharged from service on March 27, 1814. Crockett was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment of Tennessee Militia on March 27, 1818." - Wikipedia
• While Crockett never lived in Madison County, AL, he frequently came to the area. In the early days he came with Colonel John Coffee and Andrew Jackson. His name appears when describing skirmishes, parties, and meetings. In 1828 Crockett broke ties with Jackson and became a Whig for the remainder of his political career.
• He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet "King of the Wild Frontier".
• His motto was, "Be always sure you are right, then go ahead."
Related Links:
• Faceook - Related material archived here (administrator, Gert Petersen)
• Go Ahead - Family and Friends Web page
• Helion Lodge #1 - There are records of Crockett's visits to Huntsville's Masonic Lodge.
• Laughter - Biographical information including a mention of Huntsville Compiled by Margaret Nolen Nichol of Jacksonville, Florida, © 1998-2001. (Originally found at http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/histprof/misc/crockettbio.html.)
• Teach American History - Collection of information, photos, and stories. (Originally found at http://www.teachamericanhistory.org/File/Davy_Crockett.pdf.)
• Texas State Historical Association - Bio
• University of Virginia - Short Bio.
• Wikipedia - Bio and portrait.
• Wikipedia, State of Franklin - History of the Sate of Franklin or also known as Free Republic of Franklin. Davy was born in the state of Franklin (it later became part of Tennessee.)
• Wikiquote - Famous Crockett quotes.
• You Tube - Bill Hayes signing The Ballad of Davy Crockett (1956)
• Abbott - Book titled "David Crockett: His Life and Adventures" by John S.C. Abbott, originally published in 1874, completely digitized and available here throuogh the University of Viginia Library..
• eBay - Almost 3,000 items on eBay related to "Davy Crockett". Most items are Disney Collectibles. But there are also a hundred items claiming to be biographical.