R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas
 1-2     is pleased to honor the memory of Major Benjamin Franklin Bryant,
 1-3     an able and courageous forefather possessed of great leadership
 1-4     ability who helped Texas win its independence at the Battle of San
 1-5     Jacinto and succeed as a nation; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, A native of Wilkes County, Georgia, Major Bryant was
 1-7     born March 15, 1800; he moved to Texas, along with his wife,
 1-8     Roxanna, and their children, in November 1834, settling first in
 1-9     Shelby County and later relocating on the banks of Little River in
1-10     western Milam County; and
1-11           WHEREAS, When the war for Texas independence broke out, and
1-12     Sam Houston called on all Texans to fight, Major Bryant took up
1-13     arms and recruited 42 Sabine volunteers; on March 31, 1836, the
1-14     group joined Sam Houston's main army at Groces Plantation on the
1-15     Brazos River; and
1-16           WHEREAS, For his service during the Battle of San Jacinto on
1-17     April 21, 1836, as commander of the Seventh Company, Second
1-18     Regiment of the Texian Volunteers under Colonel Sidney Sherman,
1-19     Major Bryant received 640 acres from the secretary of war of the
1-20     Texas Republic on June 9, 1838; he later received another 640 acres
1-21     for his service as a Texas Ranger and as an Indian agent; and
1-22           WHEREAS, After Texas gained its independence, Major Bryant
1-23     continued to help lead the new nation; at the request of Sam
1-24     Houston, he and his family moved to Milam County on the banks of
 2-1     the Little River and established a private fort known as Bryant
 2-2     Station; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Major Bryant became a key figure in the dealings
 2-4     between Texas citizens and the Indians; while leading a company of
 2-5     settlers, he was wounded in a battle with Chief Jose Maria, an
 2-6     event that is now commemorated with a historical marker located on
 2-7     State Highway 6 near Marlin; Major Bryant later negotiated a treaty
 2-8     and smoked a peace pipe with Chief Maria; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Major Bryant's contributions to Texas have also been
2-10     honored on the Memorial for San Jacinto Veterans of Sabine County,
2-11     in Hemphill, Texas, on the San Jacinto Monument, and on Republic
2-12     Hill in the Texas State Cemetery; and
2-13           WHEREAS, This pioneer soldier and Texas Ranger passed away on
2-14     March 24, 1857, and his wife, Roxanna, died years later on November
2-15     10, 1871; buried first at Bryant Station, Benjamin Franklin and
2-16     Roxanna Bryant were reinterred in the State Cemetery at Austin in
2-17     1931, at which time Governor Pat Neff delivered a tribute speech in
2-18     honor of these two eminent Texans; and
2-19           WHEREAS, The descendants of Major Bryant have honored his
2-20     memory by continuing to work for the betterment of Texas; Denton
2-21     Bryant, the great-great-great-grandson of Major Benjamin Franklin
2-22     Bryant, resides in Houston and currently serves as president of the
2-23     San Jacinto Chapter 1 of the Sons of the Republic of Texas; and
2-24           WHEREAS, Major Bryant's service as a frontiersman, Indian
2-25     fighter, and peacemaker is well documented in Texas history, and
2-26     our state owes much to this Texas patriot and the men and women of
2-27     his era, who through their boldness, ambition, and strength, made
 3-1     Texas the great state it is today; now, therefore, be it
 3-2           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 3-3     Legislature hereby honor the memory of Major Benjamin Franklin
 3-4     Bryant on the 201st anniversary of his birth and extend a warm
 3-5     welcome to Denton Bryant, his family, the Sons of the Republic of
 3-6     Texas, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the San Jacinto
 3-7     descendants on the occasion of their visit to the State Capitol;
 3-8     and, be it further
 3-9           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared to
3-10     celebrate the life of this true Texas hero.
                                                                      Hamric
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 510 was adopted by the House on March
         15, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House