I want to thank Tom Green, KSJ Sons of the Republic of Texas, for sending me the article below on Randolph Foster, one of the Old 300. The Foster Family and Old Foster Community Museum hosted a dedication of an Old 300 grave medallion on Randolph Foster headstone in the Fulshear Cemetery. Click on the image below to view photos of the ceremony. (The relevant photos are #2 to #11 in the photo album.)
Randolph Foster Grave Medallion ceremony.
Tom participated in the ceremony and became interested in Randolph's story, so he did some research and wrote this short, but informative article.
History of Randolph Foster
ONE OF STEPHEN F.
AUSTIN’S OLD 300
Randolph Foster was born March 12, 1790, in the Natchez District of
Spanish West Florida, later known as part of the state of
Mississippi. He served with his long time Texas neighbor, Capt.
Randal Jones in the War of 1812, probably in the Canoe Fight on the
Alabama River. In 1821, when he heard about Moses Austin’s plan to
bring 300 American families to Texas, and Randolph Foster came to
Texas with his parents, John Foster and Rachel Gibson, and their
other children, including his brother Isaac Foster, making the
Foster family one first of the Old 300. On July 16, 1824, Randolph
Foster received a 4,400 acres land grant in what is now Fort Bend and
Waller counties. Randolph Foster had married Lucy Ruffin Hunter,
born on 23 June 1804, in Wilkinson County, Mississippi before 1821,
and before the family came to Texas. Randolph Foster was a great
hunter and stories exist about his hunts with Stephen F. Austin, and
during the Texas Revolution, Uncle Ran, as he was known, provided
meat and other supplies to the Texian Army.
On October 11, 1835, Randolph Foster was sent by Richardson R.
Royall to William Stafford’s plantation, for whom the present town
of Stafford was named, to retrieve 800 pounds of lead for the use of
the Texian Army. In April of 1836, when Capt. Wiley Martin’s
company was sent to the Fort Bend area to prevent General Santa
Anna’s Mexican Army from crossing the flooded Brazos River,
Randolph Foster joined Capt. Wiley Martin’s company, which
consisted of only 46 men. There were at least 1,500 in Mexican Army,
and the task of preventing the crossing of the Brazos River was
impossible, but the delay was enough time to allow the newly formed
Republic of Texas government to leave Jane Harris’ home in
Harrisburg before General Santa Anna arrived. The delay in crossing
the Brazos River resulted in General Santa taking 750 of his Calvary
to Thompson’s Ferry to cross the Brazos River. The leader of
Mexican Calvary was Col. Juan N. Almonte, who was one of the few
Mexicans who spoke English, so the other Mexican Calvary hid in the
trees, while Col. Almonte impersonated a Texan and convinced the
Thompson ferry operator to bring the ferry over the Brazos River,
where the Mexican Calvary came out of the trees, commandeered the
Thompson Ferry and crossed the Brazos River flanking Capt. Wiley
Martin’s Company and forcing them to retreat. This was the event
that separated General Santa Anna from the bulk of his army, and when
General Sam Houston learned of the separation he turn his army south
at New Kentucky and head for Harrisburg, and later to San Jacinto.
While the efforts of Capt. Wiley Martin’s men at the Brazos River
was considered a failure at the time, this event changed history and
was the main reason the Battle of San Jacinto occurred at the battle
site.
Randolph Foster
helped guide and protect the women and children during the
Run-Away-Scrape. He continued to live in the Fulshear area until
August 18, 1878, when the 89 year old pioneer died at the home of his
daughter, Mary L. Foster, who had married Thomas Blakely, the Sheriff
of Fort Bend County. A local school has been named the John and
Randolph Foster High School, and on May 18, 2017, the family, who are
almost all members of the Old 300 Society, dedicated an Old 300
marker for his grave.
Tom
Green, KSJ
2718
North Larkspur Circle
Pearland,
Texas 77584
(713)
340-1965
I wanted to mention the Sons of the Republic of Texas are reviving their chapter in Richmond. It has been dormant for a few years, and they want to restart it. If you can trace your ancestry back to the Republic of Texas, you can become a member.
They are hosting an initial meeting at Joseph's in Richmond on July 20th at 6:30. Everyone with an interest and an ancestor in Texas between 1821 & 1845 is welcome.
Of course, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas have a proud organization, too. Their Richmond chapter is very active. If you have an interest in their organization, comment on this blog and I'll send you info.
