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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 163
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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join citizens around the state in celebrating the bicentennial of |
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the birth of the state's first First Lady, Frances Cox Henderson, |
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on July 21, 2020; and |
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WHEREAS, Frances Cox was born in Philadelphia on July 21, |
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1820, and was educated in Europe; she met James Pinckney |
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Henderson in Paris when he was serving as the envoy from the |
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Republic of Texas to the Tuileries Palace, and the couple married |
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in London in 1839; they moved to San Augustine, Texas, the |
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following year; and |
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WHEREAS, James Henderson was elected the first governor of |
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Texas in 1845; during his term, the Texas First Lady worked to |
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establish Episcopal churches in East Texas, and in her efforts, she |
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became the first woman to address the clergy of the diocese; and |
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WHEREAS, The family moved to Marshall, Texas, in 1856, and |
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Mrs. Henderson continued her endeavor to promote the Episcopal |
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Church by establishing the Trinity Episcopal Church in her new |
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hometown; in addition to tirelessly supporting the church, she |
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was an active supporter of women's suffrage; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1857, Mr. Henderson was appointed to fill the |
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seat of United States Senator Thomas J. Rusk, who had died during |
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his term in office; Mr. Henderson's health declined quickly after |
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he took office, and he passed away later that same year; Mrs. |
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Henderson eventually moved to New Jersey, where she spent her |
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remaining years as a community leader in East Orange; she died in |
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her daughter's home on January 25, 1897; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize July 21, 2020, as First Lady |
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Frances Cox Henderson Bicentennial Day in Texas and encourage all |
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Texans to honor the memory of the Lone Star State's first First |
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Lady, Frances Cox Henderson; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day Foundation as a |
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token of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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Zaffirini |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 11, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |