This is an article from the Austin History Center in the Frank Brown Journals.
Simpson family. In 1842 there was a family named Simpson residing on West Pecan Street, Southside, in a small house made of pine boards.
The house was at the corner many years later, occupied by Dr Swearinger as a residence. The family at the time these events occurred, consisted of the mother, who was a widow, a son named Thomas about 12 years of age, and two daughters, one of them about 10, and the other about 14 years old. An older son had gone down the country to Fayette County that season seeking employment in order to assist in the support of his mother, mother and her children. He had gone to work for his uncle.
The three children at home went on a summer afternoon in the latter part of the season, to a point less than 200 yards north from their dwelling to the southern slope of the hill now occupied by Mr John Bremond’s residence.
They went in quest of the Spanish persimmons as these were abundant at that place. The hill above them and the valley of Little Shoal Creek, adjoining on the West, were covered with Live Oak brush and trees. While thus engaged, the children were rushed upon by a small party of Indigenous peoples who had been concealed in the adjacent brush. The children screamed and started on a run towards the house. The eldest girl, being Fleet of Foot, managed to escape. She was shot at several times but was fortunately not struck.
The younger girl and the boy were captured, and thereupon the savages at once retreated towards the mountains.
The little girl proved refractory. When beyond Mount Bonnell, she continued to exhibit resentment towards her captors and tried to withstand them. She became somewhat exhausted, and the Indians, having become exasperated, promptly dispatched of her and left her body on the ground, tearing away her scalp. They compelled her brother to wear it. The savages continued their retreat after murdering her. This occurred near Spicewood Spring, about 6 miles north of town and about three quarters of a mile West of the Poor farm.
A party of whites immediately started in pursuit. Some on foot, others on horseback. At one time they came with insight of the Indians. There were 11 of them, some three miles from town West of Shoal Creek. But they soon disappeared from view. Owing to the thick brush and the rocky surface of the ground, the trail was lost. The Indians took their remaining prisoner far away into the wilderness. Upon his return home, Thomas stated that he did what he could to quiet his sister and persuade her to calm down and offer no resistance. But she would not. He said that after remaining at the spring a little while, they took his sister a short distance and soon came back with her scalp hanging on their saddle.
A few citizens, including Judge Joseph Lee, afterwards went out and succeeded in finding her remains, which were identified.
The facts concerning the girl’s death were related by Thomas after his return home. He had been ransomed by some traders and was brought to Washington, Texas in 1844. From his captivity of nearly two years, he was then turned over to the authorities. This writer met him in his return to civilization and knew him well for some years afterwards. It is not remembered what finally became of him. He plainly showed the effects of his enforced residence with the indigenous peoples, being much browned from long exposure to the sun and winds of the plain and presenting an awkward appearance. He was subjected to much abuse by his captors. He told the writer that on occasion for smear sport or from some trifling cause, they bound him securely and threw him in a shallow, partially frozen pond of water. They permitted him to remain there awhile, and then relenting, took him out and unbound him. He was nearly dead from exposure.
He recovered, however, and was finally restored to his mother. Mrs Simpson was the daughter of an aged couple named Craig.
The Craigs resided for many years on a few acres in the bend of Waller Creek, just east of Schultz’s garden, which was donated to them by the Texas government in 1840. Here they erected a double log cabin with an open gallery between. This House remained there until around 1880, when it was demolished. There was a cedar worn fence enclosing the ground. The old homestead was bought by Samuel Norvell about 50 years since, and was afterwards subdivided into small lots, and now covered with dwellings.
There is no need for me to explain to you the injustices Done to the indigenous peoples of not only Texas, but the entire North America. Make no mistake when the newcomers tried to settle Texas it was war.
