Barbara Davy

David Crockett, born in 1786, was a prominent American figure known for his roles as a politician, militia officer, and frontiersman. He gained early renown in East Tennessee for his hunting and storytelling prowess. Crockett served in the United States House of Representatives, where he notably opposed President Andrew Jackson's policies, particularly the Indian Removal Act. This opposition led to electoral defeats, prompting his move to Texas. He participated in the Texas Revolution and died at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, with the exact circumstances of his death remaining uncertain.

Throughout his life and even after his death, Crockett became a legendary figure, popularized through stage plays and almanacs. His larger-than-life exploits contributed to his status as an American folk hero, further cemented by 20th-century media portrayals. His family history traces back to French Huguenot and Scotch-Irish ancestry, with ancestors migrating from Ireland to the Americas. Crockett's early life involved numerous family moves due to financial struggles and his own independent spirit, leading him to work from a young age and undertake various journeys across Virginia and West Virginia.

David Crockett's lineage included French, Scotch-Irish, and English heritage. His paternal ancestors, the de Crocketagnes, had French Huguenot origins before settling in Ireland and adopting the surname Crockett. His great-grandfather Joseph Louis Crockett and his wife Sarah Stewart emigrated from Ulster, Ireland, to New York, where their son William David was born. This line continued through William's son David, Davy Crockett's paternal grandfather, who was born in Pennsylvania. Davy's father, John Crockett, was born in Virginia and the family later moved to North Carolina and then Tennessee. John Crockett fought in the American Revolutionary War and his parents were killed by Native American tribes. John married Rebecca Hawkins, and David, nicknamed Davy, was their son, born August 17, 1786.

Crockett's childhood was marked by his family's financial instability, leading to frequent moves and his early involvement in work. At age 12, he was indentured to help his father's debts, tending cattle on a long journey to Virginia. Despite being treated well, he returned home. His father attempted to send him to school, but David left after a conflict and again took on jobs, including cattle drives and work for teamsters and farmers in Virginia and West Virginia. He eventually apprenticed with a hatter for four years. At 13, he ran away from home due to unspecified problems. He returned to Tennessee in 1802 and worked to pay off his father's debts, first to Abraham Wilson and then to John Canady. After these debts were settled, he continued working for Canady for four years.

Crockett's first marriage attempt was to Margaret Elder, but she married another man. He later married Polly Finley in 1806. They settled near her parents and had three children: John Wesley, William Finley, and Margaret Finley. Polly died in March 1815. He then married Elizabeth Patton, a widow with two children, and they had three more children: Robert Patton, Rebecca Elvira, and Matilda. Crockett first enlisted in the Tennessee militia in 1813 as a scout during the Creek War, serving for 90 days and participating in fighting in Alabama. He hunted game for the soldiers. He re-enlisted in 1814 during the War of 1812, serving as a sergeant in the Tennessee Mounted Gunmen. His unit saw limited action, primarily foraging for food, and he returned home in December 1814.