TOMBSTONE TUESDAY: Hugh Oram Watts

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY (Feb 5, 2025) ... Hugh Oram Watts was born in Maryland in 1804. It’s unknown what brought Hugh to Texas, but a little over a year after Texas became a Republic, Hugh was hired as a Deputy Customs Collector for the Matagorda District, taking his oath on June 21, 1837. In 1839 the district of LaVaca was carved from the Matagorda district and Hugh became the Customs Collector on February 6, 1839 stationed at Linnville, located on Lavaca Bay approximately 3.5 miles north of present day Port Lavaca. Linnville, with a population of about 200 people, was one of the most important ports of entry during the early period of the Republic of Texas. On July 18, 1840, Hugh married Juliet Constance Ewing, who had emigrated from Ireland with her brother William G. Their marriage was short-lived as Hugh was killed during the Commanche Raid on Linnville on August 8, 1840. Most of the townspeople survived by escaping to several boats anchored in Lavaca Bay. Hugh and Juliet gained safety aboard the steamer Mustang, but Hugh discovered he had left behind a gold watch, so he and his wife returned to shore to retrieve it. As they were returning towards the ship, along with other still fleeing residents, the Comanches pursued them into the water, killing Hugh and capturing Juliet. Juliet survived the Comanches' attempt to kill her as they escaped from the Battle of Plum Creek a few days later, but lore has it that the arrow stuck in her corset and saved her life. Hugh was the first burial in what is known today as Ranger Cemetery on Harbor Street in Port Lavaca. The memorial stone reads “In memory of H. Oram Watts a native of Maryland who was killed by the Comanches in the attack upon Linnville, the 8th of August A.D. 1840 in the 36th year of his age. This memorial by his wife”

Tombstone Tuesday is written and compiled each week by Jody Weaver and Sheryl Cuellar of the Calhoun County Historical Commission, sharing the people and stories behind Calhoun County’s history.