Captain John Holliday
Holliday, Archer County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(Dec. 8, 1811 - Aug. 19, 1842) Born Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania; came to Texas about 1835, joined Texian Army, and was one of 24 survivors of the Goliad Massacre, March 27, 1836. Joined Texian-Santa Fe Expedition, and en route to New Mexico, Aug. 4, 1841, carved his name on a tree in this vicinity. After reaching Santa Fe, the party was arrested and marched to Perote Prison near Mexico City. In Aug. 1842, Holliday was released, but he died of yellow fever aboard ship two days from Galveston, and was buried at sea. Nearby Holliday Creek and the town of Holliday were named for the carving on the tree. (1973)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John Holliday came to Texas around 1835 and survived the Goliad Massacre of March 1836, one of only two dozen to escape that infamous killing of Texian prisoners. Joining the ill-fated Texian–Santa Fe Expedition in 1841, he carved his name on a tree near this spot before the party was captured and marched to a Mexican prison. Freed in 1842, he died of yellow fever at sea within sight of Galveston, and the carved tree gave its name to nearby Holliday Creek and the town.
Why it matters
His life compresses the perils of the Republic of Texas era—massacre, imprisonment, and disease—into a single frontier biography still marked on the land.
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Related people
- · John Holliday
Related events
- · Goliad Massacre
- · Texian–Santa Fe Expedition
Themes & tags
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