John McGrew

Notes:

Wynema McGrew writes (p. 7) that it appears that John McGrew may have been a royalist and left the Carolinas in the mid to late 1770s, moving to the area that became the Mississippi Territory. He received a 1500 acre land grant from the Indians in 1782 and a Spanish land grant in 1787 between the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers in what is now Alabama.

According to Feldman's ANGLO-AMERICANS IN SPANISH ARCHIVES he was a resident of Tombecbe in 1781 (pg 34) and an American resident of Mobile on January 1, 1786 (pg 27).

In the Rev. Ball's book titled "A Glance into the Great South-East, or, Clarke County, Alabama, and Its Surroundings, From 1540 to 1877" it was noted that "among the laws of 1807 was also an act for laying out a town in Washington county near Fort St. Stephens, (the streets to be not less than one hundred feet wide,) on the lands of Edwin Lewis; John Baker, James Morgan, and John F. McGrew, being appointed commissioners to lay out the town. In the same year the town of Natchez was incorporated----[settlers] came in wagons, through the Choctaw Indian Nation, finding rough roads, and being on the way twenty-five days. They brought with them a drove of three hundred hogs and a flock of about seventy-five sheep. They found cattle already, in Clarke, in abundance, McGrew alone having one thousand head. The nothern part of the county was then covered with cane which afforded excellent pasturage. Deer, and bears, and wolves, elsewhere mentioned, and also catamounts, called panthers, found hiding places in the tall cane. One of the panthers killed by this family measured nine feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. The bears and the yellow and black wolves were destructive to their hogs. Small parties of Choctaws could talk broken English. The Indians, and also the American settlers cut the bee-trees in the woods and obtained wild honey."

The Rev. Ball's book was originally published in Grove Hill, Alabama in 1882. It was reprinted by Photolithography by Willo Publishing Company, Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1962, and a digital image of this reprint can be found on Ancestry. com at

http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/BookList.aspx?dbid=22977

In his biographical sketch of the McGrew family (pages 347-349), the Rev. Ball wrote that "Two brothers, British royalists, William McGrew and John McGrew, were early settlers on the Tombigbee. They were probably refugees from the Atlantic coast settlement. The two brother have left the reputation of having been fine men and of having become good Americans. The active part taken by Colonel William McGrew in the Indian troubles and his death at the hands of the Indians on Bashi Creek will not be forgotten. It has been difficult to obtain clear and certain trace of the descendants of these brothers. Each seems to have left some sons. Major John McGrew, either one of these brothers or a son, in after years lived near Nanafalia. He was wealthy. His wife was a Miss Caller. It is said of her that she would often swim the Tombigbee on her horse Pomp if the flat boat was not of that side of the river where she wished to cross. Major McGrew of Nanafalia is said to have been an estimable man, spending however considerable money to keep his son out of trouble. The names are preserved of three sons, John, William, and Flood, and two younger sons are mentioned and some daughters. William McGrew and his cousin William McGrew have left an unenviable reputation for recklessness, and for an overbearing, tyrannical, and even cruel disposition. They were known in their day as Red-headed Bill and Black-headed Bill, and many are the reckless and insolent deeds attributed to them in the traditions of this region. Sometimes they met with just punishment. (The scene of the following incident has been placed up the river and on a flat-boat. Where it took place is therefore uncertain. The main facts are quite sure.) One of them, it is said, was one cold morning near the landing at Coffeeville, and a stranger coming to the river, McGrew ordered him to take a bath in the water. The stranger glanced at him for a moment and requested, as the water was quite cold, that he might return to his saddle bags and take a drink of whiskey first. To this McGrew assented, when the stranger, taking out of the saddle bags a pistol instead of a bottle, and again advancing remarked to McGrew that he might now enjoy the luxury of that cold bath. The steadily aimed pistol was a very convincing argument, and quite speedily but very unexpectedly McGrew was in the river while the stranger, pistol in hand, stood on the bank and enjoyed the change of situation and circumstances...

Their bad behaviour was not always so lighthearted. Rev. Ball later writes that "After killing some boys they [the cousins McGrew] disappeared from the community. Their mad pranks and ruthless and bloody deeds to not obscure the virtues of the older and other members of this family, and ever with honor in the history of the Indian War of 1813 the name will live of Colonel William McGrew "

According to THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW Red Headed Bill and Black Headed Bill were eventually captured, found guilty, and imprisoned around 1836 in Sumter County, Alabama. "Black Haired Bill" was the son of William McGrew and Nancy Hainesworth. Nancy married James Phillips after her husbands death. "Red Bill" was the son of Major John McGrew, Jr and Caroline A. Caller. John and Caroline became guardians of William and Nancy (Hainesworth) McGrew's son, "Black Haired Bill", when William died. They lived in Washington, Clarke, Marengo and Sumter counties, Alabama in the 1830's.

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Clark. Elizabeth was born about 1751; died about 1808 in Mississippi Territory. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wynema McGrew writes that during the Creek Indian War "William, son of John, Sr., was elected lieutenant-colonel in the reorganization of the Militia after the Battle of Burnt Corn. He led an expedition towards Pensacola to meet the Indians and was killed in the skirmish at Bashi Creek in 1813." (pp. 8-9).

Family/Spouse: Nancy Hainsworth. Nancy was born before 1789; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Caroline A. Caller. Caroline was born before 1794 in Mississippi Territory; died before 1854 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William "Black Bill" McGrew along with his cousin William "Red Bill" McGrew, in their early twenties, had killed two teenage boys in Sumter County, Alabama in 1835. In May, Alabama Governor John Gayle put out an $800 bounty for their apprehension. From the Commercial Register of Mobile:

"Wanted - A Proclamation - On or about the first day of April of the present year [1835], William McGrew and William P. McGrew, in the county of Sumter [Alabama] murdered a couple of boys in the foulest manner, and under the most shocking and aggravated circumstances. The oldest of the lads was 16 or 17 years of age, and his little brother about 11 or 12. Their name was Kemp. They were peaceably at work, earning a subsistence for the indigent family to which they belonged, having given no offence or provocation whatsoever, when they were cruelly shot down at the same time, in a very wantonness of deliberate and cold blooded murder."

Notices of the reward appeared in Mobile, New Orleans, and even in Texas. Soon another reward of three thousand dollars was raised by the citizens of Sumter and Marengo. Published in Mobile, New Orleans and in the Brazoria, Texas Republican 24 October 1835 was this descriptions of culprits:

"William P. McGrew ("Black Bill") is about twenty four years of age, hair a little dark, fair skin and blue eyes; mild, and retiring look when sober; six feet high. William McGrew, ("Red Bill") the cousin of the other, is about 21 years old, red hair, fair skin, eyes between gray and blue, six feet high, down look and forbidding countenance. Both addicted to intemperance."

"Black Bill" McGrew fled to Texas, to a place "about 125 miles from Nacogdoches" where bounty hunters from Alabama " handed a letter, perhaps from some authority in Texas, to a man there by the name of Bowie with the expectation of getting his assistance in the taking of McGrew; but he being the friend of McGrew showed him the letter. The party in pursuit of McGrew immediately became alarmed and fled," according to the Voice of Sumter paper, Nov. 6, 1837. Eventually McGrew was betrayed by a man posing as a friend and turned over to the three bounty hunters. He was returned to Alabama where he escaped from the Mobile jail and was subsequently recaptured by the sheriff in Little Rock, Arkansas. As he was being returned to Alabama, he created such a commotion on board the steamboat trying to escape that the Captain was obliged to put him and the sheriff off at Vicksburg. He was then shackled and the sheriff and a contingent of men delivered him for trial in Sumter County. Tried for murder, he received a $500 fine and one year for manslaughter since evidence proved the Kemp boys had readied guns in an ambush position. In addition, the Kemp boys' mother, who was the only eyewitness, told at least three different stories to different people, and did not fare well under cross-examination. Yet within the year, "Black Bill" died from his prison experience.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-WilliamMcGrew2.html

Notes:

Time Line for Red Bill McGrew's family

1815 Approx. date, Tombigbee area, AL, William (Red Bill) McGrew was born to John McGrew Jr and wife Caroline Caller.

1816 Census John McGrew Jr is living in Clarke Co, AL.

1820 Land deed, John Mcgrew Jr living in Marengo Co, AL, formerly of Clarke Co.

1824 Pauline (last name unknown) born in AL.

1835 April 1, William and his cousin William P. (Black Bill), son of deceased William McGrew and Nancy [ Hainsworth] McGrew Phillips, were in a gunfight with 2 younger Kemp boys. Cousins flee to Texas.

1836 Wm P. captured, sent to Mobile,but had escaped before 21 June 1836.
Red Bill was captured in June 1836 and sent to Mobile. He was returned to Sumter County, but the venue was changed to Pickens County. So far we have not found a record of the trial.
There was conflicting testimony by the only witness to the shooting.

1836 Aug. Wm P. McGrew captured and returned to Sumter Co, AL. Tried Nov. 1837, Washington Co. Convicted and sent to jail for one year. Col. William McGrew's son Black Headed Bill died in prison, 4
Feb 1838.

1840 Sumter Co, AL Census, page 84
John McGrew (#3)
John McGrew Sr (# 2) (Called Jr. before his father died.)
William McGrew b 1810-1820, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 0-5 I think this is Red Bill.
Could the child be Frances Williams? or perhaps a child who died?
Thomas E. Lenear (Lenoir)

1842, 16 Aug. John McGrew Jr. (number 2), Red Bill's father, died in Tex. From Caroline McGrew's March 1843 petition for Dower to the Orphan's Court of Sumter Co, AL
List of children: John abt 30, William abt 28, Elizabeth Lenoir, John F. 20, Caroline 17, Clarke 13, Mary 10, Judith 8.

1843 Frances McGrew b MS to Pauline and William McGrew (1850 census Grimes Co, TX, and the estate papers for William McGrew in Montgomery County, TX.)

1844 Census also indicated William J. McGrew born in MS to Pauline & William McGrew .
Between 1844 & about 1846, William "Red Bill" died.

1846 Poll Tax in TX, Grimes Co: Egbert Oliver & John Oliver.

1846-1848 During this period Pauline probably married Egbert O. Oliver.

1848 Robert Oliver born abt this time.

1849 John P. Oliver died in Grimes Co, TX. (Possible brother to Egbert.)

1849, April, Egbert & Louisa Oliver applied for administration of the estate of John P. Oliver.

1849 Oct., Grimes Co., Egbert became guardian of Frances Williams, orphan of James Williams, late of AL.

1850 census Pauline and Egbert Oliver in Grimes Co, TX pg 390
children: Frances 7 MS, William 6 MS, Robert 2 TX, Frances Williams 12 AL.
Mother of Red Bill and siblings are living in Claiborne & Copiah Cos. of MS.

1851 letter ( in possession of Sue Moore) from John Flood McGrew in TX to Clark McGrew in MS mentions Montgomery, TX, "where brother John is." ( John McGrew # 3 ?)

1851 January, Grimes Co., Egbert O. Oliver fails to appear for guardian report. Made an accounting in May. Failed to appear in Nov. Removed as guardian that year.

1853 Newspaper account, Oct., E. Oliver was shot in Montgomery, TX.

1854-55 TX Scholastic list, Montgomery Co, Pauline Oliver has children: Frances, Robert & John.

1856, February, Probate Ct of Montgomery Co, TX, Pauline L Oliver petitioned for Letters of Guardianship over persons & estates of Francis and William McGrew, minor children of William McGrew, dec'd.

1856-8 Pauline married a man named Hall and had a son, James Hall.

1859 John D. Hall died before November this year. Probably not Pauline's husband.

1860 Jan. and Mar., Court records to settle estate of Caroline (Caller) McGrew in Claiborne Co, MS.
Children of William McGrew, dec'd," Frances McGrew & William McGrew, residing somewhere in Texas".

1860 Hardin County, TX census, page 335b
family 28/28
Benjamin McKinney 56 male farmer (2185/10420) b SC
Ann " 35 female Miss Insane
Henry " 20 (2nd number unclear) m farm labor Ala.
Frances McGrew 18 f Tx
Robert Oliver 11 m Tx
John Oliver 9 m Tx
Clark Hill 3 m Tx (Hall?)
Elizabeth Thompson 46 f laboring Ms
Robert " 15 m farmlabor Ms

This census taker had very sloppy writing The Henry above might be 26 rather than 20.


1861 Robert (Bob) & John Oliver were given a guardian for their inheritances, Israel Worsham, Montgomery Co, TX. Money was received from the estate of James Paul of Galveston, TX.

1861 Civil War, William J. McGrew served in the Confederate forces, Pvt TX 4th Reg. Disabled.
Served then as 1st Lt TX 20th Infantry, Co. K, a Home Guard Unit.

1866 July, Montgomery Co, TX Probate Record ..Mother of the Olivers called Mrs. Hall.

1867-68 William J. McGrew was appt County Attorney in Montgomery Co, TX (Republican appointee)
History book of Montgomery Co (CHOIR INVISIBLE) says he was KKK at night.

1868, December A Gunfight in which Bob Oliver, John Oliver, Wm J. McGrew, and Mr (Tex ) Brown were killed by the Cartwright family of Fort Bend Co, TX. One newspaper (Republican) account stated that McGrew was trying to prevent the gunfight. The 3 brothers were laid on Mrs. Hall's porch after their deaths.

1869 Sept. 29, WmSton Williams received letters of Administration for the estates of John & Robert Oliver. Money had been loaned out by Israel Worsham before the boys' deaths.

1870 Census, Hardin Co, TX, page 464, Fanny McGrew (#190) has 2 children in house: William age 6, and Nolia age 5. She is living next door to Benjamin McKinney. (not married? divorced?)

1872 Sept 25, Estate of Robert & John Oliver finally settled. 1/2 to Pauline Hall, Mother; 1/2 divided into thirds: 1 share each, Mrs. Lucy McGrew heir of deceased posthumous child of W.J. McGrew half brother decedents, Miss Fannie McGrew half sister of decendents, and guardian of James Hall, half brother of decedents. One record said Fannie Ward.
*********************************************************************



Source: http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=barjeanm&id=I0376

William married Pauline ??? about 1840. Pauline was born about 1824 in Alabama; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"A Tragical Affair" in Old Montgomery, TX
By Sue Moore

William J. McGrew might have been a hero, but unfortunately he turned out to be a scalawag. Born in 1844 in either Claiborne or Copiah County, Mississippi, his roots were Old Alabama, but his destiny was an early grave in unholy ground in Texas.

He joined the Porter's Guards, Co. H of the 4th Texas Infantry C.S.A., at the beginning of the Civil War in Montgomery, Texas, but was discharged in 1861 as being disabled. He was only seventeen at the time. He returned home to Montgomery in Montgomery County, Texas, to eventually become a lieutenant of the home guard, Co. K, 20th Texas Regiment, basically assigned to duty in Texas and the Indian Territory.

Remaining in the Porter's Guards of Hood's famous Texas Brigade were the Cartwright brothers of Montgomery's Bear Bend. Unfortunately, E. W. "Ras" Cartwright became the first casualty of the company. As the group was being shipped to the Virginia battlefields, the train stopped at Holly Springs, Mississippi. "Ras," six feet six, borrowed a sword and was impersonating an officer in order to impress the Southern belles gathered on the platform. Evidently, he was enjoying himself so much that he was the last man to leap aboard the moving train. Somehow the sword caused him to trip and fall beneath the train, severing both legs and resulting in his death. The Cartwrights' bad fortune continued when brother James G. W. Cartwright was killed in the bloody Wilderness Campaign in Virginia, and brother Lemuel, the eldest, was wounded and lost an arm in the last major conflict before Appomattox. Their unit was devastated, and of the 143 men of Porter's Guards, Hood's Texas Brigade, only nine remained to surrender with Lee in April of 1865. However, the survivors of the Cartwright family would soon cross paths with the McGrew-Oliver clan.

Following the war in 1867, William J. McGrew/McGraw was appointed county attorney during Reconstruction. His reputation among town folks was "a Republican appointee by day, a KKK by night, and a horse thief in between," according to Montgomery County Historical Society's Choir Invisible. Added to his list of misdeeds were the actions of John P. and Robert O. Oliver, his younger half brothers, teenagers who maddened the town folks by riding their horses into business establishments, shooting up the town, robbing and stealing.

These boys had inherited a terrible legacy . Their father and William McGrew's stepfather, Egbert O. "Eg" Oliver, had been shot down in 1853 in old Montgomery when the boys were small children. From the Autauga Citizen, Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, issue of Thursday, Oct. 20, 1853:

"Death of an Outlaw: The Galveston Civilian has a letter dated Montgomery, Texas, October 1st, in which the writer says: A sad occurrence took place in our (town) between seven and eight o'clock. A man, well known in this section of the country, if not in others, named Eg Oliver, was shot from his horse on the public square. He had been arrested by the sheriff of which was for an assault with intent to kill a fellow named Lang in this county. It being the greatest charge on which the sheriff was authorizer to arrest him, he brought him to our town and delivered him to our sheriff, who committed him to jail in default of bail. About a week before court began here he broke out, and was then supposed left. But during court he was seen several times in this vicinity, and one night went to the house of our sheriff and called him up, but would not let him approach near enough to arrest him. Yesterday, while most of our citizens were at dinner, he rode into the square, galloped about it, and then rode off again, in defiance to all. He was pursued by the sheriff and several citizens but eluded the pursuit, and last night just at dark came into town again, threatening, as I am informed, to burn the jail. In attempting to arrest him for the purpose of recommitting him, he refused to surrender, and while in the act, as was supposed from his action (it was dark) of shooting upon those gathered around him, he was shot down, fell from his horse and died immediately. Who committed the deed, can never be known, as there was several shots fired at the same time. Thus perished a man, who, by his reckless and lawless course of life has been a horror to some, and respected by but few. May the memory of his many errors be buried with him. He has left a wife and two small children who have been compelled to flee from him, and seek protection under the roof of strangers."

To make matters worse, William's real father had been an outlaw in his own right. William "Red Bill" McGrew and his cousin William "Black Bill" McGrew, in their early twenties, had killed two teenage boys in Sumter County, Alabama in 1835. In May, Alabama Governor John Gayle put out an $800 bounty for their apprehension. From the Commercial Register of Mobile: "Wanted - A Proclamation - On or about the first day of April of the present year [1835], William McGrew and William P. McGrew, in the county of Sumter [Alabama] murdered a couple of boys in the foulest manner, and under the most shocking and aggravated circumstances. The oldest of the lads was 16 or 17 years of age, and his little brother about 11 or 12. Their name was Kemp. They were peaceably at work, earning a subsistence for the indigent family to which they belonged, having given no offence or provocation whatsoever, when they were cruelly shot down at the same time, in a very wantonness of deliberate and cold blooded murder." Notices of the reward appeared in Mobile, New Orleans, and even in Texas. Soon another reward of three thousand dollars was raised by the citizens of Sumter and Marengo with this descriptions of culprits: " William P. McGrew ("Black Bill") is about twenty four years of age, hair a little dark, fair skin and blue eyes; mild, and retiring look when sober; six feet high. William McGrew,("Red Bill") the cousin of the other, is about 21 years old, red hair, fair skin, eyes between gray and blue, six feet high, down look and forbidding countenance. Both addicted to intemperance." This was published in Mobile, New Orleans and in the Brazoria, Texas Republican 24 October 1835 .

"Black Bill" McGrew fled to Texas, to a place "about 125 miles from Nacogdoches" where bounty hunters from Alabama handed a letter, perhaps from some authority in Texas, to a man there by there by the name of Bowie with the expectation of getting his assistance in the taking of McGrew; but he being the friend of McGrew showed him the letter. The party in pursuit of McGrew immediately became alarmed and fled," according to the Voice of Sumter paper, Nov. 6, 1837. Eventually McGrew was betrayed by a man posing as a friend and turned over to the three bounty hunters. He was returned to Alabama where he escaped from the Mobile jail and was subsequently recaptured by the sheriff in Little Rock, AR. As he was being returned to Alabama, he created such a commotion on board the steamboat trying to escape that the Captain was obliged to put him and the sheriff off at Vicksburg. He was then shackled and the sheriff and a contingent of men delivered him for trial in Sumter County. Tried for murder, he received a $500 fine and one year for manslaughter since evidence proved the Kemp boys had readied guns in an ambush position. In addition, the Kemp boys' mother, who was the only eyewitness, told at least three different stories to different people, and did not fare well under cross-examination. Yet within the year, "Black Bill" died from his prison experience.

Ironically, his name "William" had once been an honorable one, passed down from "Black Bill's" father, William McGrew, Territorial Representative, Colonel and commandant of the 15\super th\nosupersub Regiment Militia, Clarke County, Alabama, and a hero of the Creek War, killed by Indians at Bashi Creek in Alabama in 1813. "Bill" was only two years old when his father was ambushed, and his mother Nancy Hainsworth McGrew Phillips did not maintain such an honorable family reputation. In the Voice of Sumter , August 9, 1836,she was denounced by Regulators, as a "Jezebel" for harboring mixed Indians and borderers among her clan, and for aiding and abetting the Kemp-McGrew feud. The article by Louis C. Gaines called for her to be driven from the country, but she said she would "die on the grit." Evidently, she did choose to return to Texas, She had been listed in the failed Wavell's colony in Texas in 1830, causing her to remain in Alabama, but 1850 she was in Leon County, Texas, whether by choice or force is unknown.

"Red Bill" McGrew was arrested in St. Stephens, Washington Co. AL. in June of 1836. He was arraigned, plead not guilty, but evidently was never tried, probably due to the inconsistencies brought out in his cousin's trial. The Voice of Sumter reported his court appearance: "Thursday being a fair day, our town was crowded to with persons anxious to witness the interesting trial of McGrew, which has received double interest from its notoriety. About 10 o'clock, the accused, a young man of fine personal appearance, was brought to the bar, and a great rush was made for the Court house to secure an opportunity of witnessing the event. But a small number of the multitude could crowd in the house, and the yard was thronged with spectators on tiptoe to listen to the trial." Evidently "Red Bill" could no longer remain in Alabama, so he sought a new home.

Economic depression occurred in AL beginning with the Specie Circular, and by the early 1840's the cotton market was in shambles. The McGrews had once been very influential and wealthy planters. The patriarch of the family, John McGrew, had arrived on the Tombigbee River above Mobile in 1779, settling in what would become old Washington and Clarke counties. He had survived the English, the Spanish, and the Indians, carving out the largest holdings in the area. The chiefs of the Choctaw Nation had deeded him 1500 acres of the best river land because "in his kindness he had saved them from famine." He ran more than 1,000 cattle on his plantation. The infamous "Bills" were his grandsons. With the economic crash, Caroline McGrew , "Red Bill's" mother, moved her family to Claiborne County, Mississippi, after seeing her once-fine plantation sold for taxes after the death of her husband, John Jr., in 1842 in Texas. Bill and family evidently accompanied her at this time, eventually succumbing to the greener and fresher pastures of Texas in the 1840's.

How "Red Bill" ended his days is uncertain, but McGrew cousins who lived in old Milam, Sabine Co TX, passed down a story of two men who arrived sometimes in the mid-to-late 1840's at their home. One was a McGrew cousin they called "Red," and he was wounded. The men had saddlebags full of gold which they were taking to Mississippi. During the night, "Red" crept out, buried the gold, and returned to bed to die before morning. The gold was never found, and he was buried north of the house. His mother's estate papers in 1853 in Claiborne County, MS, revealed that Bill was dead in Texas, survived by several children, including a son William - William J. McGrew who would come to no good end in Montgomery in a few short years at the hands of a group of vigilantes lead by the Cartwright family.

Ironically, the Cartwrights and McGrews knew each other back in old Washington County, Alabama. Thomas Peter Cartwright, the patriarch of the family, had served on juries with the McGrews. He was a Methodist minister, and he and his wife Elizabeth Shaw, had eleven children, all were born there . Old John McGrew and his sons John Flood McGrew and Col. William McGrew were judges and representatives of that area to the Mississippi Territorial Legislature. Flood McGrew had been appointed by President John Adams as a member of the Territorial Council of five men who served as a virtual Senate of the Mississippi Territory. So the families certainly knew each other. When they moved to Texas, the Cartwrights also became influential in county government, with old Peter Cartwright becoming a Justice of the Peace in 1836 and Samuel Cartwright becoming sheriff of Montgomery County. For an unknown reason, Samuel resigned in 1866. Records do not show how or when William J. McGrew became the county attorney, but records indicate he was in office in 1867.

About this time, according to Robin Montgomery's History of Montgomery County, Jesse James had camped at McGraw's crossing of the San Jacinto River for a few weeks. When the gang departed, they left behind Charles "Tex" Brown, a Yankee sympathizer, with whom Jesse had grown weary. "Tex," also believed to be a murderer and deserter from Wheeler's Cavalry, then fell in with the McGrew-Oliver clan. He was described by J. W. DeForest in Harper's Weekly, December, 1868, as "Twenty-three or twenty-five years of age, of medium height, slender, sinewy, and agile, with a dark complexion, piercing black eyes, and a jaw disfigured by a pistol shot, and an expression of brutal ferocity."

What caused the shootout in late December of 1868 is not recorded in the county records, but two old citizens of Montgomery County, Mrs. W.C. Cameron and Mr. Buck Martin recounted the following, according to Narcissa Boulware of the Montgomery County Times: "When they (the gang) stole a fine horse from the Cartwrights and came into town to rob the stores and head out on 'a scout' for Mexico, a mob was formed at Bear Bend where the Gaffords, Cartwrights and others who came in after the men, lived." According to Montgomery's History, "Finally the citizenry had had enough, and led by the old family of Cartwrights from Bear Bend, they engaged in a bloody shootout with the outlaws in Montgomery which ranged over several blocks. At the end of the battle, all four desperadoes were dead and placed on Mrs. Oliver's porch." Sadly, Cameron and Martin, recounted the deaths of one of the boys, "Bob Oliver the youngest, was scarcely 16 years old at the time. When the shooting started, he ran to Mrs. Chilton's house. The mob followed, promised not to shoot him if he would come out. Someone killed him with a Bowie knife. He ran back into the house before he died. Here he died under a bed. The blood stains can still be seen on the floor."

Another citizen and local judge, Nathaniel Hart Davis, recorded the bloody event on page 33 of his journal, "McGrew-Oliver Killing of Dec. 28, 1868 - On the 28th of December in the forenoon four men , Wm McGrew Esq. County Atty. for the last two years and his two half-brothers, John and Bob Oliver of this town and "Charles Brown" of Cokesbury, S. Carolina alias "Texas Brown" of whom an account is given in Harper's Monthly of Decr. 1868 were shot to death here (Montgomery) by some ten to 20 or thereabouts, men of this town and vicinity. If the people or society can be said to act in necessary self defense in the destruction of lawless desperados then I am of the option that this was such a case- a few others hereabouts may be nearly as bad as they-or some of them-one, May, made a narrow escape. McGrew for a young man was a moral disgrace to the legal profession as we as to the office he filled. I did not recommend him to the Police Court - the appointing tribunal. After I started for Miss. and Tenn. in Jany., I learned that he was in the crowd that took the Negro at court and that he and others had disguised themselves in the Post Office that night. On my return I found quite a change for the better in Montgomery. It is now rather an orderly quite place. And the general expression is that much good was done in the killing of Dec. 28. There may be some, for reasons best known to themselves who regret the death of McGrew. One white single female to whom he paid marked attention both before and since his marriage, manifests a fondness for his memory and a sorrow at his loss and continues to talk long after with a silly sentimentality-so says gossip. I heard not talk but believe it true - Miss E.A."

The desperadoes were not buried in the consecrated ground of the old cemetery, but rather outside the gates in what would become Montgomery's New Cemetery. There is a CSA marker on Lt. William McGrew/McGraw's grave, but his young stepbrothers, buried near him lie unmarked. The only good thing said of William McGrew was recorded in the Houston Times, picked up by the Texas News, dateline January 23, 1869, "Tragical affair at Montgomery County. Death of William McGraw, county attorney. Mr. Brown of San Antonio and two brothers named Oliver.... William McGraw was in no way connected with the difficulty. He was trying to prevent the parties from using their pistols."

By Sue Burns Moore. sbmoore@swbell,net
This article first appeared in the Oct. 29 and Nov.5, 2003, editions of the Montgomery County News, Montgomery, Texas.
copyright ? 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,2004, 2005 by Jane Keppler This information may be used by individuals for their own personal use, libraries and genealogical societies, however, commercial use of this information is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. If copied, this copyright notice must appear with the information and please email me and let me know .