Why was William KNIGHT briefly in Texas......



William Knight and his brothers were reported to have been shipwrecked off the coast of Texas...

...one of his sons, Raymond, was born in Silver City (now Navarro county) in 1813, but not by his wife recorded in Louisiana (Catherine ROSS/RUSS), this son born of Theotiste BELLEGARDE...

....he later returned to Louisiana, early on near his son Raymond, later in close proximity of spouse Catherine, but not in the same household....

.......then we find these following exerpts of letters to and from Colo. Stephen F. Austin to expand a bit and confirm the shipwreck itself......
from Thomas White to Colo. Austin
Franklin, Louisiana 31st January, 1829
P. S. I shall leave here in a few days for St Martinsville where I would thank you to write me. Since writeing the within I have been told by a gentleman that there is liveing near the Sabine a man by the name of William Knight who brok geoil [jail] here and frequently crosses the river and commits depredations on the state of Louisiana. Would it not be wise to send a force and detect him in his bandit[rly? I presume that the commander of the Mexican Troops at Nacogdoches would order him and his gang arrested if information was given of the character of Knight and his associates. [Addressed:] Colo S. F. Austin, Natchitoches Louisiana. The post master will be so good as to forward this to San Felipe de Austin Texas.


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from Colo. Austin to Thomas White 31 Mar 1829
The person you speak of called William Knight came to this colony some time ago, and the treatment he met with affords a pretty fair specimen of public sentiment here. He came here in very great apparent distress-stated that he had been shipwrecked and lost his all, etc.-he was taken by the hand a subscription was made up for his relief-he was clothed and fed and attended to in sickness. Our cabbin doors were thrown open, and the hand of liberal and generous hospitality was extended to him, as it is to all strangers and travellers. Accident discovered the gross imposture he had practiced, and nothing but a precipitate flight saved him from severe punishment. The fears you have of being robbed etc. are all groundless. I will only make the remark that when you come here, you will be astonished to see all our houses with no other fastening than a wooden pin or door latch, even stores are left in this state. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN.

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It appears Colo. Austin was aware of William Knight, and admitted he had committed a 'gross imposture', but he  assured Mr. White that the charges of robbery, etc. were groundless......so exactly what was this 'imposture'....would that be a marriage and child that was deemed appropriate at the time???

Please read the full content of the above letters, as well as much more early Texas history at the wonderful following url:

http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/character.htm

(Copy, paste and go and enjoy....)



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