Autographs
"David Crockett" Signature Clip "King of the Wild Frontier" with Transmittal ALS by His Son Robert Patton Dated 1873
DAVID "DAVY" CROCKETT (1786-1836). American Frontiersman and Folk Hero, Politician, killed at the Battle of the Alamo in Texas on March 6, 1836 (aged 49). With ALS by his Son Robert Patton (Crockett).
(1833) Rare Authentic Clipped Signature, "David Crockett", measuring 5.5" x 1.5", no place, Fine. This Signature is accompanied by a November 7, (18)73-Dated, Autograph Letter Signed, "R. P. Crockett", who was David Crockett's and Wife (1815"1836; until his death) Elizabeth (Patton) son. Robert Patton Crockett (1816-1889), was born September 16, 1816. This Letter measures 8" x 6.5", 1 page, Acton (Johnson County, Texas), Very Fine. This transmittal Letter being written by Crockett's son and Signed, "R.P. Crockett", to a Mr. L. Laroni. It reads, in full:



"Acton - Nov. 7th, Mr. L. Laroni -- Dr (Dear) Sir - in compliance with your request I have inclose you my Fathers signature cut from an old bill of sale written in the year 1833 - This is a True Sketch of his hand writing -- yours respectfully -- (Signed) R. P. Crockett". Docket on the blank reverse, "R.P. Crockett".



A remarkable pair of tied autograph items from the Son to an admirer wanting to collect the signature of the famous American Folk Hero Davy Crockett. (2 items).
David Crockett (August 17, 1786 " March 6, 1836) was an American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician. He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet "King of the Wild Frontier". He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the Texas Revolution.



Crockett grew up in East Tennessee, where he gained a reputation for hunting and storytelling. He was made a colonel in the militia of Lawrence County, Tennessee and was elected to the Tennessee state legislature in 1821.



Crockett's first wife died in March 1815, and Crockett asked his brother John and his sister-in-law to move in with him to help care for the children. That same year, he married the widow Elizabeth Patton, who had a daughter, Margaret Ann, and a son, George. David and Elizabeth's son, Robert Patton, was born September 16, 1816. Daughter Rebecca Elvira was born December 25, 1818. Daughter Matilda was born August 2, 1821.



In 1827, he was elected to the U.S. Congress where he vehemently opposed many of the policies of President Andrew Jackson, especially the Indian Removal Act. Crockett's opposition to Jackson's policies led to his defeat in the 1831 elections. He was re-elected in 1833, then narrowly lost in 1835, prompting his angry departure to Texas (then the Mexican state of Tejas) shortly thereafter. In early 1836, he took part in the Texas Revolution and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo in March.



Crockett became famous during his lifetime for larger-than-life exploits popularized by stage plays and almanacs. After his death, he continued to be credited with acts of mythical proportion. These led in the 20th century to television and movie portrayals, and he became one of the best-known American folk heroes.



Robert's father, David (Davy) Crockett was married to Miss Elizabeth Patton in Franklin county, Tennessee, about the year 1815. Their first child, Robert Patton Crockett, was born September 8, 1816. Elizabeth Crockett came to Texas in 1854 with her son, Robert Patton Crockett, from Gibson county, Tennessee. They located on the David Crockett head right, a league of land patented to Elizabeth Crockett bv the Republic of Texas as the surviving widow of David Crockett, which was situated between Rucker and Long Creeks in Johnson (now Hood) county.



She lived with her son, Robert Patton Crockett, in his rude log cabin in Johnson county until 1860, when death claimed her. She was buried in the Acton cemetery on Walnut Creek, some five miles south of their home, and about six miles east of Granbury, and now a mound and stone slab mark her resting place.



Note: This excerpt was written in 1911. Immediately after the fall of the Alamo in 1836 and the death of his father, David Crockett, Robert Patton Crockett left his home, came to Texas and joined the Revolution, remaining in the service until the Independence of Texas had been secured. He returned to Tennessee in 1841, where he was married.



In 1854, he moved his family to Texas, bringing his mother with him. Robert Patton Crockett died in Hood county, September 23, 1889, aged 73 years and eight days. He was also buried in the same lot of land in the Acton cemetery. Source: The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 14 By Eugene Campbell Barker, Herbert Eugene Bolton, Texas State Historical Association, 1911 Compiled by: Joel Parks