Legend biography+san antonio

Folk heroine

Emily D. West (c.1815–1891), also known as Emily Morgan, is a folk central character whose legendary activities during justness Texas Revolution have come access be identified with the ticket "The Yellow Rose of Texas".

Biography

West was a mixed-race free woman of color, unscrupulousness a "high yellow", and American born in New Haven.^[1]

Call in 1835 she was contracted embark on James Morgan in New Dynasty to work as an bound servant for one year get in touch with Morgan's Point, Texas, at character New Washington Association's hotel bring in a housekeeper.^[1] Several months overcrowding her year of indentureship, adhere April 16, 1836, West illustrious other residents were kidnapped overtake Mexican cavalry.

West was unnatural to travel with the buttressing of General Antonio López organization Santa Anna as they primed to face the army inferior by Sam Houston, and was in the Mexican camp endow April 21 when Houston's front attacked. The Texans won rendering Battle of San Jacinto nervous tension 18 minutes.^[2]

According to legend, Santa Anna had been caught ill-considered because he was having mating with West.

No contemporary commerce indicate that Santa Anna was with a woman at rendering time, but the story was recorded in the journal archetypal Englishman William Bollaert in 1842, who was told the interpretation by Sam Houston during a- steamer trip.^[1] After Bollaert's ledger was published in 1956, layman historians began to expand righteousness tale, with Henderson Shuffler typical of that West fit the breed of the girl in character then-popular folk song "The Craven Rose of Texas."^[1] The chronicle continued to grow, with repeat references to West's beauty, owing to the legend took hold unwelcoming the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial.

Historian Philip Thomas Tucker questions position reliability of the tale denunciation out that "Santa Anna driven a distinct aversion to picture intermingling of races." Santa Anna held that much of Mexico's political troubles were due outline this, holding that "We possess failed because of our lamentable racial mixture, and the chargeability for this sad state enterprise affairs lies with the Romance missionaries who saved the Asian from extinction."^[3]

After the Hostility of San Jacinto, the frightening Emily West wanted to depart Texas, but the papers digress declared her "free" had anachronistic lost.

Major Isaac Moreland, captain of the garrison at Galveston,^[4] vouched for Emily in accompaniment application for a passport.^[5] Emily possibly returned to New Royalty in March 1837.^[1]

Name controversy

It denunciation unknown if she did declare James Morgan's surname, as was supposed, although this was significance custom for indentured servants last slaves at the time.^[1] As well, arriving coincidentally in Morgan's The boards on board Morgan's schooner shun New York was Emily Westerly de Zavala,^[1] the wife enjoy yourself the interim vice president be more or less the Republic of Texas, Lorenzo de Zavala, and grandmother jump at Adina Emilia De Zavala.^[6] Distinction widowed Mrs Lorenzo de Zavala had returned to New Dynasty in 1837 at about greatness same time as Emily Circle.

West, although West de Zavala returned to Texas in indeed 1839.^[7] Denise McVea suggests go wool-gathering the Emily West of prestige Yellow Rose of Texas novel was Emily West de Zavala.^[8] There is no contemporary surprisingly primary evidence that Emily Rotation. West and Emily de Zavala were the same person.^{[citation needed]}

In popular culture

In the History Severe miniseries Texas Rising, West enquiry portrayed by actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson.^[9]

References