William Barret Travis

A sketch of William Barret Travis in 1835 by Wiley Martin.  This sketch was done barely three months before Travis' death during the fall of the Alamo.

    
        I have been working on other things and have neglected this blog.  I apologize, but I have nothing new written.  I will, instead, insert a character study I did on "Buck" Travis some time ago.  I pick him up as an adult in Alabama and follow him to Texas in this piece.   If I can get it done, this will be in the "Readable Texas History Book" that I plan to write.  Most history books I've read are written by PhD's and the language is so stilted I have to read every sentence three times to decipher the meaning and it puts me to sleep.  When I get my book finished, no one will think a PhD wrote it.

      William Barret Travis was born in South Carolina and moved with his family to Alabama when he was nine.   Young William disliked the idea of becoming a farmer, so he applied himself diligently to his education.  He read voraciously, worked tirelessly at his studies, and became a teacher, lawyer, and newspaper publisher.  He also became a Mason, fathered a child, and married one of his students, all before he was twenty years old.
      Travis was born on August 9, 1809, and was inducted as an apprentice into the Alabama Lodge #3, Free and Accepted Masons in June of 1829.  He recieved a Fellowcraft Degree in July and became a Master Mason in August of 1829.  Because the Masons have strict policies about age, Travis must have lied about being twenty-one.  If so, it would not be the last time--he lied to Stephen F. Austin about the same thing.

     Even though Travis was a talented writer, his newspaper suffered from lack of advertisers.  Claiborne, Alabama, wanted a newspaper, and Travis wanted the prestige of being the editor of a successful paper, but the paper floundered.  His law practice also floundered.  William and his lovely wife, Rosanna, were not getting along.  No matter how hard Travis worked, debts were mounting and there were  lawsuits pending.  The young man was miserable.

     William and Rosanna Cato Travis were living beyond their means.  They were supporting themselves, the baby Charles Edward, and three slaves.  The slaves were borrowed, but had to be fed and maintained.   Possibly Travis endured this expense to cater to the beautiful Rosanna’s need to be “the lady of the house.”  She was not a good housekeeper, being barely eighteen, immature, spoiled, and pregnant with her second child.  

      Travis had no quarrel with the idea of marital fidelity, so long as it applied to the female partner.  He could stray if he wished, but if his wife sought satisfaction elsewhere, he got all bent out of shape.  Rosanna had a friend, Samuel Cloud, and Travis questioned their relationship.  William suspected Rosanna had strayed and worried that the child she carried was not his.  Life was complicated in Alabama.

     Eight months after his twenty-first birthday, William Travis kissed his pregnant wife goodbye, mounted his horse, and left for Texas.  The court ruled against him on the debts and shortly a warrant would be issued for his arrest. He promised to return for Rosanna and the children when he could afford to support the family.  He rode out of Claiborne, crossed the Alabama River on the ferry, and headed west, never to return.    

      William Barret Travis had much time to think on his trip west from Alabama.  From his youth, he read romantic novels, Sir Walter Scott, Shakespeare, and stories of bigger than life heroes, doing good and righting wrongs.  Travis felt as if he had another chance at life and he would do it right this time.  He would be a dashing, romantic character.  Naturally, he would become wealthy, but on the way, he would live and dress flamboyantly, ride the finest horses, seduce every available woman, play cards and gamble.  He would be a raconteur, welcome at every party, telling stories, weaving tales and holding his audience spellbound.  Travis would fascinate people with his vast knowledge, deep intellect, and quick wit.  He would have the love of beautiful women and the respect of honest men.   He was twenty-one years old and his mistakes were behind him.  He would call himself "Buck."

      Texas was as good a place as any to get started.