Briscoe, Mary Jane Harris, 1819-1903

Mary Jane Harris was born August 17, 1819, to John Richardson and Jane Birdsall Harris. She married Andrew Briscoe in 1837 in Texas. After Andrew's death in 1849, Mary Jane and her 4 children moved to her father-in-law's plantation in Mississippi. In 1852 she returned to Texas. She was a charter member of the Ladies' Reading Club, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the Texas State Historical Association. She was active in the Texas Veterans Association. Mary Jane Harris Briscoe died March 8, 1903.

Born at Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, Mary Jane Harris (1819-1903) was educated in New York before moving to Harrisburg, Texas, to join her family. In 1837, she married Andrew J. Briscoe, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The couple had five children, including Adele Lubbock Briscoe (1848-1935) who married Confederate officer and lawyer Michael Looscan in 1881. In 1885, Adele organized the Ladies Reading Club of Houston, which would become a model for similar study clubs throughout the state. Mother and daughter were also founding members of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and hosted its organizational meeting at the Briscoe home in 1891.

Sources:

Connor, Seymour V. " Briscoe, Mary Jane Harris ." Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed April 28, 2011.

Hazlewood, Claudia. " Looscan, Adele Lubbock Briscoe ." Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed May 6, 2011.

Mary Jane Harris Briscoe was born at Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, on August 17, 1819, one of four children of John Richardson and Jane Birdsall Harris. When John R. Harris left Missouri for Texas in 1824, Jane Harris and her children returned to New York. After the death of Harris in 1829 in New Orleans, Jane waited until 1833 when her eldest son was mature to travel to Texas and claim her inheritance. Mary Jane remained in New York and attended finishing school until allowed to proceed to Texas. She joined her family in Harrisburg in the fall of 1836 and soon became known as the Belle of Buffalo Bayou. On her eighteenth birthday she married Andrew Briscoe. The couple lived in Houston where their son Parmenas was born and later moved to Harrisburg where they had another four children. Of their five children, four lived to adulthood: Parmenas (1839-1906), Andrew Birdsall (1841-1912), Jesse Wade (1845-1920), and Adele Lubbock (1848-1935).

On October 4, 1849, Andrew died of yellow fever in New Orleans leaving his widow and children without a means of support. Mary Jane and her children moved to her father-in-law's plantation near Port Gibson, Claiborne County, Mississippi, and remained there until after General Parmenas' death. In 1852 she returned to Texas settling first in Anderson and later in Galveston and Harrisburg. In 1874 she moved to Houston to live with her son, Parmenas.

On July 18, 1881, as a widow of a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, she received a donation grant of 1,280 acres. She was a charter member of the Ladies' Reading Club, the first woman's club in Houston, and served as the treasurer until her death. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas was organized at the Briscoe home in 1891 where the local chapter continued to meet. She served as vice president of the DRT until 1897. Active in the Texas Veterans Association, Briscoe was held in high esteem by many of the veterans. Mary Jane founded Sheltering Arms, a home for needy women in Houston, and served as the first president. She wrote sketches and reminiscences and was a charter member of the Texas State Historical Association, of which she was elected an honorary life member in 1897. Briscoe became an invalid after suffering a fall in 1899 and died in Houston on March 8, 1903. She was buried in Glenwood Cemetery.

Born at Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, Mary Jane Harris (1819-1903) was educated in New York before moving to Harrisburg, Texas, to join her family.

In 1837, she married Andrew J. Briscoe, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The couple had five children, including Adele Lubbock Briscoe (1848-1935) who married Confederate officer and lawyer Michael Looscan in 1881. In 1885, Adele organized the Ladies Reading Club of Houston, which would become a model for similar study clubs throughout the state. Mother and daughter were also founding members of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and hosted its organizational meeting at the Briscoe home in 1891.