William Templeton Millican
Millican, Brazos County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Old Three Hundred Colonist William T. Millican was born in South Carolina about 1780 and came to Texas with his parents and siblings in 1821. They joined Stephen F. Austin's first colony and were granted land in this area on which to make their home. The community that grew up around their land became known as Millican. W. T. Millican's property was granted in 1824, and in the 1826 census he was listed as a farmer and stock raiser. Just prior to the outbreak of the Texas Revolution, he served as a delegate to the consultation at San Felipe in 1835, which endorsed the establishment of a provisional government for the colonists. The Millican family fled their home in 1836 as part of the Runaway Scrape, as news spread of Sam Houston's retreat eastward from Mexican general Santa Anna. Millican's father, Robert Hemphill Millican, died during the flight. By the time the rest of the family reached Liberty, victory had been won at San Jacinto and they returned to their home. From April until July 1836, W. T. Millican served in the Republic Of Texas army to guard the frontier and posthumously was awarded land at this site from Sam Houston for his service. During the years of the Republic, Millican served as a public official in several capacities, including Justice of the Peace and a member of the committee appointed to select a county seat for Brazos County (first called Navasota County) upon its establishment in 1841. He died two years later and was buried in the Weaver Cemetery in Millican. (2002)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
William T. Millican came to Texas in 1821 as part of Stephen F. Austin's first colony — the famed "Old Three Hundred" — and received a land grant in 1824 in the area that took his family's name. As revolution loomed, he served as a delegate to the 1835 Consultation at San Felipe, then fled with his family in the 1836 Runaway Scrape, losing his father along the way before San Jacinto secured Texas independence. He went on to serve the young Republic as a soldier and public official, helping choose the seat of Brazos County.
Why it matters
Millican's life traces the founding arc of Anglo Texas — from Austin's colonists through the Revolution to the institutions of the Republic — the story of how Americans settled and self-governed a new frontier.
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Related people
- · William Templeton Millican
- · Stephen F. Austin
- · Sam Houston
- · Robert Hemphill Millican
Related events
- · Texas Revolution
- · Runaway Scrape
- · Battle of San Jacinto
Themes & tags
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