TEXAS RANGER SERVICE RECORDS 1838-1846

Description

171 pages - soft cover - alphabetical listing - reprinted 2001 by Mountain Press
The Texas Rangers, according to their lore, were started in about 1823 when Stephen F. Austin hired ten men ... to act as rangers for the common defense... the wages are to be fifteen dollars a month payable in property.  There is some discussion as to the exact date, but most Texas historians give this date as the beginning of the Texas Rangers.  Since that time, the group of lawmen have ranged far and wide across the state to keep the law.  This group was nor formally constituted until 1835.  Stephen F. Austin returned to Texas in 1835 after being imprisoned in Mexico City for a time and helped to form a Provisional Government.  At this time more than sixty men were known as “Rangers”.  Their badges were made from the Mexican peso.  On November 28, 1835, Robert McAlpin Williamson was chosen to be the first Major of the Texas Rangers and within two more years there were as many as 300 men in service.
Examples from this volume:
"CANTER, Nice - Pvt., Comm. Off:  Emberson, J., Capt., Organ:  Texas Rangers, Enlist:  March 16, 1839 in Red River & Fannin Cos., Disc. Sept. 16, 1839, Ranger Muster Roll."
"HOUSTON, Isaac, Pvt., Comm. Off: Emberson, J., Capt., Organ:  Texas Rangers, Enlist: March 16, 1839 in Red River & Fannin Co., Disc. Sept. 16, 1839, Ranger Muster Roll, Substitute for James S. Johnson."
Notes:  "Comm. Off." = Commanding Officer
"Organ." = Organization
"Disc." = Discharged