Williamson, Robert McAlpin

(1804-1859) Crippled by disease at 15, with a leg permanently bent at the knee, wore a pegleg which like his two natural legs was covered with his trousers. Hence he was nicknamed "Three-Legged Willie." Settled in Texas in 1827 to practice law. Here at Fort Anahuac in 1832, he made an heroic stand against the commandant, Juan Davis Bradburn, who had jailed his client and friend, Patrick C. Jack, and William Barret Travis (later Alamo commander). Bradburn and associates made a false agreement to exchange Jack and Travis for Mexican soldiers captured earlier by Williamson's men. Following a confrontation, Bradburn at last gave up the Texans, resigned his command, and left Fort Anahuac. But after this betrayal, Williamson took up cause of Texas independence, fighting with words and then with arms at Battle of San Jacinto. A district judge and a justice of first supreme court of the Republic (1836-39), he also served as a lawmaker, 5th throug 9th congresses (1840-45). In a noted episode, a ruffian is said to have drawn a Bowie knife, saying, "This is the law," but Judge williamson covered it with his pistol, declaring, "This is the constitution which overrules the law."

Williamson, Robert McAlpin is a historical marker in Anahuac, Chambers County, dedicated in 1972. It is one of 39 historical markers documented in Chambers County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 81 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.7557, -94.6879 near Anahuac. The nearest cataloged historic site is Fort Anahuac (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Travis, William Barret, Bradburn, Juan Davis, and Fort Anahuac.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5071009140. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.