Maverick Family

Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803-1870) was born in Pendleton, South Carolina, and spent most of his early years there. After obtaining a degree from Yale University, he worked with his father and studied law, opening a law office in Pendleton in 1829.

The availability of land led Maverick to Texas in 1835, where he soon became involved in the events of the Texas Revolution. Participating in the siege and battle of Bexar in 1835 December, he then remained with the garrison in the Alamo. Maverick left the besieged fort in 1836 March to attend the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos, where he signed the just-adopted Declaration of Independence. Traveling to Alabama after the convention, he married Mary Ann Adams (1818-1898) in 1836 August. Maverick returned to Texas with his family in 1838 and settled in San Antonio, establishing himself as a businessman involved in real estate and ranching. He was active in public life, serving as mayor of San Antonio, a representative in the Congress of the Republic of Texas and the state legislature, and chief justice of Bexar County. One of several prominent citizens taken prisoner by the Mexican Army following its incursion under General Adrian Woll in 1842, Maverick was marched to Perote Prison near Mexico City, where he was held until 1843 March.

Following his release, the Maverick family lived for a few years on Matagorda Bay before returning to San Antonio. Maverick continually added to his land holdings over his lifetime, eventually amassing over 300,000 acres, primarily in West Texas. Though an anti-secessionist, he supported the Confederate government during the Civil War.

Samuel Augustus and Mary Ann Adams Maverick were the parents of ten children: Samuel (1837-1936), Lewis Antonio (1839-1866), Agatha (1841-1848), Augusta (1843-1849), George Madison (1845-1913), William Harvey (1847-1923), John Hays (1850-1850), Mary Brown (1851-1891), Albert (1854-1947), and Elizabeth (1857-1859). The Maverick children each received a good education, attending private schools and universities. Sons Samuel, Lewis, and George served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Lewis Maverick died as a young adult; the four surviving sons pursued careers in law and business, including the administration of the huge family land holdings. Their fourth son, William H. Maverick (1847-1923), was particularly active in the management of the family land. He married Emilie Chilton (1849-1913) in 1873. The couple had five children before separating in 1892. Their only daughter, Laura Wise Maverick (1878-1956), was married twice, to Amos Graves and to Carl Hahn, and had two children, Amos Graves and Laura Maverick Graves.

References

Marks, Paula Mitchell. "Mary Ann Adams Maverick." Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fma82 .

Marks, Paula Mitchell. "Samuel Augustus Maverick." Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fma84 .

Marks, Paula Mitchell. Turn Your Eyes Toward Texas: Pioneers Sam and Mary Maverick . Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, no. 30. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1989.

From the guide to the Maverick Family Papers Col 11749., 1840-1960 (bulk 1861-1909), (Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas)