Maverick, Samuel Augustos

A native of South Carolina; came to San Antonio in 1835; was guide for Ben Milam and other leaders in first attack on San Antonio by Texas Army, Dec. 1835. As Bexar delegate, Maverick signed Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-Brazos, 1836. With Capt. Jack Hays' "Minute Men," he helped make San Antonio safe from Comanche Indian attacks; also joined Hays' expedition which opened California road and claimed Rio Grande as Texas' western boundary. Twice Mayor of San Antonio; he was prisoner-of-war in Perote, Mex., for 7 months after Gen. Adrian Woll's capture of San Antonio in 1842. Was elected as Bexar representative to 7th Congress of Republic (1842) while still a prisoner at Perote. Member of committee which accepted surrender of U.S. troops and forts in Texas without bloodshed in Civil War, 1861. Was Chief Justice of Bexar County during War; served in Texas House, Senate afterwards. He married Mary Ann Adams of Tuscaloosa, Ala. They became parents of 9 children. His famous practice of letting his cattle run about unbranded gave English language the word "maverick," meaning an independent person, as well as unbranded animal. Texas' Maverick County and town were named in his honor. (1967)

Maverick, Samuel Augustos is a historical marker in San Antonio, Bexar County, dedicated in 1967. It is one of 239 historical markers documented in Bexar County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 542 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.4268, -98.4869 near San Antonio. The nearest cataloged historic site is In Re Ricardo Rodriguez (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Alamo Cenotaph, San Antonio US Post Office and Courthouse, and Scottish Rite Cathedral.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5029003262. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.