1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 445
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     honor the memory of Major Benjamin Franklin Bryant, an able and
 1-5     courageous forefather possessed of great leadership ability who
 1-6     helped Texas win its independence at the Battle of San Jacinto and
 1-7     succeed as a nation; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, A native of Wilkes County, Georgia, Major Bryant
 1-9     was born March 15, 1800; he moved to Texas, along with his wife,
1-10     Roxanna, and their children, in November, 1834, settling first in
1-11     Shelby County and later relocating on the banks of Little River
1-12     in western Milam County; and
1-13           WHEREAS, When the war for Texas independence broke out, and
1-14     Sam Houston called on all Texans to fight, Major Bryant took up
1-15     arms and recruited 42 Sabine volunteers; on March 31, 1836, the
1-16     group joined Sam Houston's main army at Groces Plantation
1-17     on the Brazos River; and
1-18           WHEREAS, For his service during the Battle of San Jacinto
1-19     on April 21, 1836, as commander of the Seventh Company, Second
1-20     Regiment of the Texian Volunteers under Colonel Sidney Sherman,
1-21     Major Bryant received 640 acres from the Secretary of War of the
1-22     Texas Republic on June 9, 1838; he later received another 640 acres
 2-1     for his service as a Texas Ranger and as an Indian Agent; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, After Texas gained its independence, Major Bryant
 2-3     continued to help lead the new nation; at the request of Sam Houston,
 2-4     he and his family moved to Milam County on the banks of the Little
 2-5     River and established a private fort known as Bryant Station; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Major Bryant became a key figure in the dealings
 2-7     between Texas citizens and the Indians; while leading a company
 2-8     of settlers, he was wounded in a battle with Chief Jose Maria, an
 2-9     event which is now commemorated with an historical marker located
2-10     on State Highway 6 near Marlin; Major Bryant later negotiated a
2-11     treaty and smoked a peace pipe with Chief Maria; and
2-12           WHEREAS, Major Bryant's contributions to Texas have
2-13     also been honored on the memorial for San Jacinto Veterans of
2-14     Sabine County, in Hemphill, Texas, on the San Jacinto Monument,
2-15     and on Republic Hill in the Texas State Cemetery; and
2-16           WHEREAS, This pioneer soldier and Texas Ranger passed
2-17     away on March 24, 1857, and his wife, Roxanna, died years
2-18     later on November 10, 1871; buried first at Bryant Station,
2-19     Benjamin Franklin and Roxanna Bryant were reinterred in the
2-20     State Cemetery at Austin in 1931, at which time Governor Pat Neff
2-21     delivered a tribute speech in honor of these two eminent Texans;
2-22     and
2-23           WHEREAS, The descendants of Major Bryant have honored
 3-1     his memory by continuing to work for the betterment of
 3-2     Texas; Denton Bryant, the great-great-great-grandson of
 3-3     Major Benjamin Franklin Bryant, resides in Houston and
 3-4     currently serves as President of the San Jacinto Chapter 1
 3-5     of the Sons of the Republic of Texas; and
 3-6           WHEREAS, Major Bryant's service as a frontiersman, Indian
 3-7     fighter, and peacemaker is well documented in Texas history, and
 3-8     our state owes much to this Texas patriot and the men and women of
 3-9     his era, who through their boldness, ambition, and strength, made
3-10     Texas the great state it is today; now, therefore, be it
3-11           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-12     77th Legislature, hereby honor the memory of
3-13     Major Benjamin Franklin Bryant on his 201st birthday and
3-14     extend a warm welcome to Denton Bryant, his family, the
3-15     Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the Republic
3-16     of Texas, and the San Jacinto descendants on the occasion of
3-17     their visit to the State Capitol; and, be it further
3-18           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to
3-19     celebrate the life of this true Texas hero.
3-20                                                                 Lindsay
3-21                                  ______________________________________
3-22                                          President of the Senate
3-23                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-24                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-25                                  on March 15, 2001.
3-26                                  ______________________________________
3-27                                          Secretary of the Senate
 4-1                                  ______________________________________
 4-2                                           Member, Texas Senate