Sterling C. Robertson
Encyclopedia
Sterling Clack Robertson (1785–1842) was an empresario
from Tennessee
, during Mexican Texas
. He introduced 600 families into Robertson's Colony
. Robertson was also an elected delegate to the Washington-on-the-Brazos
convention, signing both the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. He became a Senator during the first two sessions of the Congress of the Republic of Texas
.
. Robertson received a private education through his family connections. His father was Captain Elijah Robertson, who left Brunswick County, Virginia
in the 18th Century to join family members and other early white settlers in Tennessee. Sterling's mother was Sarah Maclin Robertson. His paternal uncle James Robertson was an explorer known as the Father of Tennessee. His descendants were accomplished persons. Son Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson
became a Colonel in the Republic of Texas
militia, and built a plantation in Salado, Texas
. Robertson's great-great-granddaughter was author Liz Carpenter
, who was a press spokesperson for both President Lyndon B. Johnson
and later for Ladybird Johnson. Robertson was a gray-eyed, sandy-haired man who stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m). He was known to be a hot-tempered ladies man who dressed in expensive tailored clothes. As a youth, Robertson was convicted of manslaughter of one of his cousins in Tennessee, but did not serve his five-month sentence until April 6 to September 1, 1832.
, Robertson received an empresario
contract to settle 800 families in Texas.
. He signed both the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. He was also a Senator at the first two sessions of the Congress of the Republic of Texas
Senator Robertson got legislation passed that acknowledged both sons as his legitimate issue, and legally entitled to inherit his estate. The legislation was signed into law by Republic President Sam Houston
:
Sterling Clack Robertson died in Robertson County on March 4, 1842, as a result of pneumonia
. His remains were removed to Austin and reinterred in the State Cemetery on December 29, 1935.
Empresario
An empresario was a person who, in the early years of the settlement of Texas, had been granted the right to settle on Mexican land in exchange for recruiting and taking responsibility for new settlers. The word is Spanish for entrepreneur.- Background :...
from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, during Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...
. He introduced 600 families into Robertson's Colony
Robertson's Colony
Robertson's Colony was an empresario colonization effort during the Mexican Texas period. It is named after Sterling C. Robertson, but had previously been known by other names...
. Robertson was also an elected delegate to the Washington-on-the-Brazos
Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas
Washington-on-the-Brazos is an unincorporated area along the Brazos River in Washington County, Texas, United States. It was founded when Texas was still a part of Mexico, and the settlement became the site of the Convention of 1836 and the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
convention, signing both the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. He became a Senator during the first two sessions of the Congress of the Republic of Texas
Congress of the Republic of Texas
The Congress of the Republic of Texas was the national legislature of the Republic of Texas established by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in 1836. It was a bicameral legislature based on the model of the United States Congress...
.
Early life in Tennessee
Sterling Clack Robertson was born one of five children on October 2, 1785, into a wealthy and influential slave-holding family in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Robertson received a private education through his family connections. His father was Captain Elijah Robertson, who left Brunswick County, Virginia
Brunswick County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,419 people, 6,277 households, and 4,312 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,541 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
in the 18th Century to join family members and other early white settlers in Tennessee. Sterling's mother was Sarah Maclin Robertson. His paternal uncle James Robertson was an explorer known as the Father of Tennessee. His descendants were accomplished persons. Son Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson
Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson
Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson was an early white settler in Robertson's Colony in Texas. His father was the colony's founder Sterling C. Robertson. Brought to Texas to learn the Spanish language, he translated for both Robertson's Colony and later the Texas General Land Office. He practiced law...
became a Colonel in the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
militia, and built a plantation in Salado, Texas
Salado, Texas
Salado is a village in Bell County, Texas, United States. Salado was first incorporated in 1867 for the sole purpose of building a bridge across the Salado Creek...
. Robertson's great-great-granddaughter was author Liz Carpenter
Liz Carpenter
Mary Elizabeth "Liz" Sutherland Carpenter was a writer, feminist, former reporter, media advisor, speechwriter, political humorist, and public relations expert....
, who was a press spokesperson for both President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and later for Ladybird Johnson. Robertson was a gray-eyed, sandy-haired man who stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m). He was known to be a hot-tempered ladies man who dressed in expensive tailored clothes. As a youth, Robertson was convicted of manslaughter of one of his cousins in Tennessee, but did not serve his five-month sentence until April 6 to September 1, 1832.
Robertson's colony
Under Mexican TexasMexican Texas
Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...
, Robertson received an empresario
Empresario
An empresario was a person who, in the early years of the settlement of Texas, had been granted the right to settle on Mexican land in exchange for recruiting and taking responsibility for new settlers. The word is Spanish for entrepreneur.- Background :...
contract to settle 800 families in Texas.
Texas Rangers and public service
In 1835, empresario Robertson formed his own rangers company to deal with Indian depredations at Robertson's Colony. Robertson was a delegate to the convention at Washington-on-the-BrazosWashington-on-the-Brazos, Texas
Washington-on-the-Brazos is an unincorporated area along the Brazos River in Washington County, Texas, United States. It was founded when Texas was still a part of Mexico, and the settlement became the site of the Convention of 1836 and the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
. He signed both the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. He was also a Senator at the first two sessions of the Congress of the Republic of Texas
Congress of the Republic of Texas
The Congress of the Republic of Texas was the national legislature of the Republic of Texas established by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in 1836. It was a bicameral legislature based on the model of the United States Congress...
Personal life and death
According to his descendants, Robertson never married. However, he sired two sons by two different women. In addition to Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson with Frances King, he also fathered James Maclin Robertson with Rachael Smith. On December 18, 1837, Republic of TexasRepublic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
Senator Robertson got legislation passed that acknowledged both sons as his legitimate issue, and legally entitled to inherit his estate. The legislation was signed into law by Republic President Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
:
Sterling Clack Robertson died in Robertson County on March 4, 1842, as a result of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. His remains were removed to Austin and reinterred in the State Cemetery on December 29, 1935.