Edmund Norris

Edmund Norris

Edmund Norris was born about 1767 in St. Mary ,Maryland to Thomas and Susannah Heard Norris . Edmund and his family endured and saw the effects of the American Revolution . The years ahead yielded a life of many hardships and trials . Edmund married Sarah ( Hagar ) ( Rodgers ) about 1788 . Being an adventourous young couple they started out to pursue their dreams of a new life by going to a new land . Their stops included four months in the Mississippi territory( Natchez) and from said Natchez . Edmund went out furnished by Senor Governor Gayoso going to Bayou Boeuf of the dependency of Louisana. There he remained for seven years .The Norris family first entered the jurisdiction of Nacogdoches in 1802. They located on the eastern bank of the Sabine River at Crows Ferry , which was sometimes referred to as the Indian Ford and sometimes as Las Sabinas .An Indian called Pedro Captain and his son-in-law, John Boden had lived there.While Norris lived on the the east bank of the Sabine he was only a tenant . At least he made no claim to this place in Louisana in later years when the land claims were under consideration. Edmund had not found the land that would satisfy his urge that drove him westward until the late year of 1802. That land was purchased from William McWilliams . It was a tractof land lying west of the Attoyac River about 12 miles northeast of the town of Nacogdoches . He moved the Family on the land about 1805 . Edmund built a house for his family and made other improvements upon the land .He called his home " Rancho Naconichi " . Edmund knew a few years of hard work , happy family life and some material progress and the peaceful possesion of his land . The prosperity was hindered when Edmund found out that his title to his land was not clear .Therefore in April 1810 , when the Spanish Governor was in Nacogdoches . Edmund applied for the application of his grant of four leagues of Land . It is stated in his petition that the sale from McWilliams had gone to San Fernado Bexar where he had commited some offence , and from that he fled to Natchitoches . Edmund considered that his grant had now been made . He thought that his title to the rancho was then complete .But all the precedures of the Spanish method of granting the title had not been carried out . The Govenor took the documents with him to San Fernando de Bexar to the Viceroy of New Spain for confirmation . But all procedures of the Spanish method of granting titles had not yet been carried out . The Govenor took the documents with him to San Fernado Bexar to forward to the Viceroy of New Spain for confirmation .Before the formalities were completed and Edmund received had received the offical copy of his title , his peaceful possesion of the rancho was interrrupted by the dangers of the Mexican Revolution . Edmund sympathized with both the Americans and the Mexicans , but witnesses testifies that Edmund never raised arms against Spain .In 1813 the Norris fled across the Sabine River to Nuetral ground .Edmund return to his home in 1820 . James Taylor Gaines , Edmund's son-in-law went to Mexico to try to clear the title but the authority was never fully recognized . This caused Edmund to lose most of his property . Edmund Norris is buried in the Old Spanish Cemetery in Nacogdoches County , Texas . Edmund's beloved spouse's burial place is unknown . Edmund & Sarah's children are :

1 .Samuel Norris
b. Abt. 1785 > d. Abt. 1850

2. Nathaniel Norris
b.Abt.1789
d.10-9-1853

3. Maria Juliana Norris
b. Abt. 1793 > d. 1832

4. Thomas Norris
   b.Abt. 1796

5. Susannah Norris
   b. Abt .September 10,
   1798 > d. 1850-1855

6. John Norris
b.Nov.22,1800
d.Mar.10, 1881

Homeplace of Edmund Norris)

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