Individual Details
Rev. William Craig
(13 May 1785 - 25 May 1865)
"William went to Texas and was a popular minister - and useful - of the Methodist church in that state." (Pauline Craig Hughes)
He married REBECCA HORTON b. 13 May 1786, Kershaw Co, SC; d. 28 May 1865, Henderson, Rusk Co, TX; m. WILLIAM CRAIG, 15 Feb 1806, Kershaw Co, SC.
Notes for WILLIAM CRAIG:
William Craig was born in Camden, Kershaw County, South Carolina, on May 13, 1786 and died in Henderson, Texas, May 25, 1865. He was buried in the Henderson City Cemetery west of the Rusk County Courthouse. His grave is now marked with a Texas State Historical Marker, which was erected November 5, 1978, in commemoration of his sixty-two years of service in the Methodist ministry as a circuit rider. William's father was William Craig, Sr., who died September 10, 1820 at the age of eighty-four years, and his mother was (most likely) Martha Craig, who died July 23, 1833 at the age of ninety-two years. William married Rebecca Hortense Horton February 15, 1806, and they lived together for over sixty years, becoming the parents of six children. Rebecca was born March 3, 1786 in Camden, South Carolina and died May 13, 1866 in Marshall, Texas. She was the daughter of John Horton and his wife Elizabeth, and the granddaughter of Amos Horton and Sarah Peebles Horton, who left Brunswick County, Virginia, and moved to Craven County, South Carolina, before the American Revolution. John Horton served in the South Carolina Militia in 1779 and died in Kershaw County in 1813. William and Rebecca's children were: Cynthia Curtis, born November 17, 1807, who married William McClanahan; Elizabeth Izel, born November 19, 1809, who married George Hanzel Wright; John Wesley, born January 6, 1812 and died as a young man; Reuben Terry, born September 9, 1815, who married Margaret Oliver; William De La Fletcher, born July 6, 1817, who married Amanda Jane North; and Usuva Jane, born August 5, 1819, who married Campbell Wright. William Craig was ordained as a minister at an early age and preached in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi before coming to Texas about 1839 or 1840. In 1841 he was appointed to the Nacogdoches District in the Texas Mission Conference, and there he held services in the historic Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches. In 1845 William was sent to Henderson, where he soon organized a building committee and the first Methodist Church was established. He also organized the Church Hill Circuit, which still exists today. Reverend Craig served as pastor for many churches in East Texas, including those in Panola County, Harrison County, Tyler, Salem, and others. One important event in Craig's life occurred in 1857 when he was appointed to serve as Chaplain to the Texas State Senate. He was also one of the earliest members of the Masonic organization in the state. Many famous people called Reverend Craig “friend,” including: Littleton Fowler, Oran M. Roberts, Martin Ruter, Orceneth Fisher, and others. One very good friend, Charles Chevallier, a Nacogdoches merchant, gave him (for a few dollars) a 320-acre farm in Rusk County near Oakland, where he lived and died and where his descendants have homes today. Written by Margaret Brown
He married REBECCA HORTON b. 13 May 1786, Kershaw Co, SC; d. 28 May 1865, Henderson, Rusk Co, TX; m. WILLIAM CRAIG, 15 Feb 1806, Kershaw Co, SC.
Notes for WILLIAM CRAIG:
William Craig was born in Camden, Kershaw County, South Carolina, on May 13, 1786 and died in Henderson, Texas, May 25, 1865. He was buried in the Henderson City Cemetery west of the Rusk County Courthouse. His grave is now marked with a Texas State Historical Marker, which was erected November 5, 1978, in commemoration of his sixty-two years of service in the Methodist ministry as a circuit rider. William's father was William Craig, Sr., who died September 10, 1820 at the age of eighty-four years, and his mother was (most likely) Martha Craig, who died July 23, 1833 at the age of ninety-two years. William married Rebecca Hortense Horton February 15, 1806, and they lived together for over sixty years, becoming the parents of six children. Rebecca was born March 3, 1786 in Camden, South Carolina and died May 13, 1866 in Marshall, Texas. She was the daughter of John Horton and his wife Elizabeth, and the granddaughter of Amos Horton and Sarah Peebles Horton, who left Brunswick County, Virginia, and moved to Craven County, South Carolina, before the American Revolution. John Horton served in the South Carolina Militia in 1779 and died in Kershaw County in 1813. William and Rebecca's children were: Cynthia Curtis, born November 17, 1807, who married William McClanahan; Elizabeth Izel, born November 19, 1809, who married George Hanzel Wright; John Wesley, born January 6, 1812 and died as a young man; Reuben Terry, born September 9, 1815, who married Margaret Oliver; William De La Fletcher, born July 6, 1817, who married Amanda Jane North; and Usuva Jane, born August 5, 1819, who married Campbell Wright. William Craig was ordained as a minister at an early age and preached in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi before coming to Texas about 1839 or 1840. In 1841 he was appointed to the Nacogdoches District in the Texas Mission Conference, and there he held services in the historic Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches. In 1845 William was sent to Henderson, where he soon organized a building committee and the first Methodist Church was established. He also organized the Church Hill Circuit, which still exists today. Reverend Craig served as pastor for many churches in East Texas, including those in Panola County, Harrison County, Tyler, Salem, and others. One important event in Craig's life occurred in 1857 when he was appointed to serve as Chaplain to the Texas State Senate. He was also one of the earliest members of the Masonic organization in the state. Many famous people called Reverend Craig “friend,” including: Littleton Fowler, Oran M. Roberts, Martin Ruter, Orceneth Fisher, and others. One very good friend, Charles Chevallier, a Nacogdoches merchant, gave him (for a few dollars) a 320-acre farm in Rusk County near Oakland, where he lived and died and where his descendants have homes today. Written by Margaret Brown
Events
| Birth | 13 May 1785 | Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina, United States |  | ||
| Marriage | 15 Feb 1806 | Kershaw, South Carolina, United States - Rebecca Hortense Horton | | ||
| Census (family) | 27 Oct 1850 | Rusk District, Rusk, Texas, United States - Rebecca Hortense Horton |  | ||
| Census (family) | 16 Jun 1860 | Henderson P.O., Rusk, Texas, United States - Rebecca Hortense Horton | | | |
| Death | 25 May 1865 | Henderson, Rusk, Texas, United States | | ||
| Burial | Old Henderson City Cemetery, Henderson, Rusk, Texas, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Rebecca Hortense Horton (1786 - 1865) |
| Child | Cynthia Curtis Craig (1807 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth Izel Craig (1809 - 1877) |
| Child | John Wesley Craig (1812 - ) |
| Child | Reuben Terry Craig (1815 - 1884) |
| Child | William De La Fletcher Craig (1817 - ) |
| Child | Usuva Jane Craig (1819 - ) |
| Father | William Cragg \ Craig (1736 - 1820) |
| Mother | Martha (1741 - 1833) |
| Sibling | Sarah Craig (1760 - ) |
| Sibling | Jane Craig (1760 - ) |
| Sibling | Nellie Craig (1760 - ) |
| Sibling | Mary "Polly" Craig (1760 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Craig (1767 - 1823) |
| Sibling | Rev. John Craig Sr. (1772 - 1840) |
Notes
Census (family)
452, 452, William Craig, 62 M, ME Clergyman, 1000, SCRebecca Craig, 62 F, SC
William Craig, 32 M, Farmer 500 SC
Matty Jane Wright, 6/12 F, Texas
Census (family)
187, 194, Wm Craig, 73 M, M.E. Preacher, 1500, 1800, SCRebecca, 73 F, SC
Mattie T Wright, 11, F, Texas
188, 195, R T Craig, 40 M, Farmer, 600, 5050, SC
Ann R, 19 F, MS
George G., 17 M, MS
P.B. 15 M, MS
Julia, 14 F, MS
Emma, 12 F, Texas
Jane, 10 F, Texas
Burial
The Rev. William Craig1785-1865
A Methodist circuit rider, the Rev. William Craig was born in South Carolina and entered the ministry at age 18. He married Rebecca Hortense Horton (1785-1866) and had six children. About 1841, he moved from Mississippi to San Augustine, Texas. In 1849, he establish a home in Oakland community in Rusk County. He served several appointments in East Texas, riding his mule, Tobe, up to 300 miles on one circuit. In Nacogdoches, he conducted services in the old stone fort. He organized Henderson circuit and also served as chaplain for the Texas senate.
Endnotes
1. Descendants of Daniel Horton, Roger H Goeb online [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kithandkin2000/HortonDescofDanielHorton.htm], accessed May 2006.
2. Descendants of Daniel Horton, Roger H Goeb online [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kithandkin2000/HortonDescofDanielHorton.htm], accessed May 2006.
3. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1860 > TEXAS > RUSK > HENDERSON P O Series: M653 Roll: 1304 Page: 206.
4. Descendants of Daniel Horton, Roger H Goeb online [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kithandkin2000/HortonDescofDanielHorton.htm], accessed May 2006.