Texas


1. Rockport, Aransas County, Texas
 

(Click on the small pictures for a larger view.)




"SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN CHOATE 

Who was born in the State of Louisiana 
on the 25th day of July A.D. 1818 
and was killed 
at his residence in 
San Patricio Co. Texas 
on the 3rd day of August A.D. 1869" 

[Masonic Emblem] 

"A good man and true has gone to his rest. 
He was an affectionate husband, 
a good neighbor, 
a warm friend and a zealous Mason." 

"This simple tribute to his memory 
was erected by his wife who of all, esteemed 
him most for his many virtues." 







"SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF CROCKETT CHOATE 

Who was born in the State of Texas A.D. 1842 
and was killed 
at the residence of his cousin in 
San Patricio Co Texas; 
on the third day of August A.D. 1869." 

" This tells of a grave by the dashing wave, 
A fond friend's lip that did quiver, 
Of an eye that's hid by a leaden lid, 
And a voice now still forever. 




There are no actual headstones, rather both graves are coverd with a
concrete slab and a marble? slab is inset with the inscriptions.
Evidentally, both men were murdered during some of the feuds and wars
that went on in post-Civil War Texas.  The story can be found at 
LEANDER McNELLY AND HIS DEATH SQUAD   I have included here only a small 
part of the story, the part pertaining to the Choates.

"Jack Helms, the inept Captain from the old State Police and staunch
supporter of Bill Sutton, was the District United States Marshal at
the time. He was as mean a snake as ever lived. Back during the Civil
War, he killed a black man for merely whistling a Yankee song, and
in San Patricio County in July 1869, he murdered Taylor men John
Choate and his nephew Crockett Choate. As Marshal, he appointed as 
his deputy, a cattleman named Joe Tumlinson to help end the range 
wars in the local area. Tumlinson was also a friend of Bill Sutton’s,
and in his ambition, he allowed a band of men calling themselves 
"Tumlinson’s Regulators" to kill a cattleman friend of Buck Taylor’s.
Ironically, Tumlinson was also related to the Taylors through 
marriage, and this betrayal of kin prompted Buck Taylor’s cousin, 
John Wesley Hardin, to shoot Jack Helms dead in the streets of 
Albuquerque, Texas in July 1873."



PHOTOS:  "Copyright © 2002 JUDY T. WOSTAL  All rights Reserved"