Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long
Encyclopedia
Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (1798–1880) was born July 23, 1798 in Charles County, Maryland
, the niece of General James Wilkinson
. Around 1811, her family moved from Maryland
to Natchez
, in the Mississippi Territory
. There she married James Long
, a doctor and a native of Virginia
. In 1819, James Long used his own money to raise an unauthorized private army to secure Texas from Spain
for the United States
. Jane Long later followed him to Texas. On December 21, 1821, at Bolivar Peninsula near present-day Galveston
, she gave birth to her third child, Mary James Long. It is often claimed that this was the first child born to an English-speaking woman in Texas
(a myth put forth by Long herself), and while census records from 1807 to 1826 list several children born to Anglo-American mothers in Texas before 1821 the story continues. Because of this Long styled herself to be the "Mother of Texas,” a title that was later given by Sam Houston
to Margaret Theresa Wright, for the majority of histories however Long retains the title due to Mirabeau B. Lamar
, to whom Long gave her own story for the building of a history of Texas.
In 1822 Long's husband died after being captured by Mexican
forces. Stephen Warden gave her grants of loand in Fort Bend
and Waller counties, but instead of farming, she opened a boarding house
in San Felipe, Texas
. She sold part of her land in Fort Bend County, on which the town of Richmond
was built. Long later moved to Richmond, where she opened a boarding house and started a plantation
nearby. She died on December 30, 1880 in Fort Bend County. A marker was erected in her honor in 1936. Jane Long Elementary School located in Freeport, Texas
in the Brazosport Independent School District
is also named for her.
She is a woman who is mostly remembered in the context of World War II because the United States liberty ship SS Jane Long was named in her honor.
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
, the niece of General James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but was twice compelled to resign...
. Around 1811, her family moved from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
to Natchez
Natchez
Natchez may refer to:* Natchez people, a Native American nation* Natchez language, the language of that Native American tribe* Natchez, Mississippi, United States* Natchez, Louisiana, United States* Natchez, Indiana, United States...
, in the Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
. There she married James Long
James Long (filibuster)
James Long led the unsuccessful filibuster Long Expedition to Texas.-Biography:...
, a doctor and a native of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In 1819, James Long used his own money to raise an unauthorized private army to secure Texas from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Jane Long later followed him to Texas. On December 21, 1821, at Bolivar Peninsula near present-day Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, she gave birth to her third child, Mary James Long. It is often claimed that this was the first child born to an English-speaking woman in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(a myth put forth by Long herself), and while census records from 1807 to 1826 list several children born to Anglo-American mothers in Texas before 1821 the story continues. Because of this Long styled herself to be the "Mother of Texas,” a title that was later given by Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
to Margaret Theresa Wright, for the majority of histories however Long retains the title due to Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's...
, to whom Long gave her own story for the building of a history of Texas.
In 1822 Long's husband died after being captured by Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
forces. Stephen Warden gave her grants of loand in Fort Bend
Fort Bend County, Texas
Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 2000 its population was 354,452, while the 2010 U.S...
and Waller counties, but instead of farming, she opened a boarding house
Boarding house
A boarding house, is a house in which lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months and years. The common parts of the house are maintained, and some services, such as laundry and cleaning, may be supplied. They normally provide "bed...
in San Felipe, Texas
San Felipe, Texas
San Felipe, also known as San Felipe de Austin, is a town in Austin County, Texas, United States. The town was the social, economic, and political center of the early Stephen F. Austin colony. The population was 868 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. She sold part of her land in Fort Bend County, on which the town of Richmond
Richmond, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,081 people, 3,413 households, and 2,628 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,975.4 people per square mile . There were 3,595 housing units at an average density of 965.3 per square mile...
was built. Long later moved to Richmond, where she opened a boarding house and started a plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
nearby. She died on December 30, 1880 in Fort Bend County. A marker was erected in her honor in 1936. Jane Long Elementary School located in Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
in the Brazosport Independent School District
Brazosport Independent School District
Brazosport Independent School District is a school district based in Freeport, Texas .The district serves the cities, towns, and villages of Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Lake Jackson, Oyster Creek, Quintana, Richwood, and Surfside Beach...
is also named for her.
She is a woman who is mostly remembered in the context of World War II because the United States liberty ship SS Jane Long was named in her honor.