Joseph and Rachel Rabb Newman

Joseph and Rachel Rabb Newman Joseph (c. 1787-1831) and Rachel Rabb (1790-1872) Newman were married in 1806 in Ohio. Following Joseph's service in the War of 1812 in Illinois, they lived in Arkansas Territory on the Red River before moving into Texas in 1820. In 1823, they left the Red River area to join Rachel's parents, William and Mary Smalley Rabb, as members of Stephen F. Austin's "Old 300" colony. As pioneers in this colony, the Newmans received land grant no. 59 from Mexico - a league and a labor of land in what became Wharton County, including this site. An early census listed Joseph Newman as a farmer and stock raiser. They had ten children-Mary, William, Louisa, Minerva, Sarah (known in Texas history as Sally Scull), Elizabeth, Thomas, Ali, Joseph, Jr., and Andrew-and experienced firsthand the austerity of the Texas frontier. Upon Joseph's death in February 1831, he was buried at a now-unknown location on his league of land. Four years after Joseph's death, Rachel gave her interest in the Newman lands to her children, but continued living on her original homesite. She also inherited Rabb property in Matagorda County from her parents. By 1854, the entire Newman League had been sold out of the family. Rachel moved to Dewitt County, where she married again. She is buried in the Salt Creek Cemetery on the Dewitt-Karnes County line. Joseph and Rachel Newman's children lived on to serve their state and country in a variety of ways. As Texas pioneers, the Newmans helped settle a new land and built a foundation for those who came after them. (2002)

Joseph and Rachel Rabb Newman is a historical marker in Egypt, Wharton County, dedicated in 2002. It is one of 44 historical markers documented in Wharton County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 128 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.4392, -96.2559 near Egypt. The nearest cataloged historic site is Mt. Gilead- Sand Ridge Baptist (cemetery), about 1.5 miles away. Others within a short drive include Heard Cemetery, Egypt Plantation Cemetery, and Heard, William Jones Elliot, and Egypt Plantation.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5481012787. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.