Silvestre De León was born 1802 in Texas. He served as third alcalde and with his brother-in-law Plácido Benavides was a captain of the militia defense against hostile Karankawas, Tonkawas, and Comanches. Silvestre joined his brother Fernando De León, brothers-in-law Plácido Benavides and José M. J. Carbajal, and John J. Linn in gathering local support for the Texas revolt against Antonio López de Santa Anna. De León contributed provisions, livestock, and military equipment to the Texas army and joined Benavides’s company of thirty Mexican rancheros who participated in the Siege of Béxar in December 1835. Upon the occupation of Guadalupe Victoria by Gen. José de Urrea, De León was arrested by the Mexican army as a traitor; he was released after the Texan victory at San Jacinto but then fell victim to the severe prejudice directed against all Texans of Mexican descent. Forced to flee with the De León, Carbajal, and Benavides families to Louisiana, he lost his land, livestock, and most possessions to fortune hunters, though he later resettled in Victoria County. While returning from selling horses, mules, and cattle in Louisiana he was ambushed, murdered, and robbed in 1842.
The Siege of Béxar Descendants
The Soldiers and their Descendants
2005 SOBD Meeting
The Siege of Bexar Descendants met for their 20th anniversary, on the 170th anniversary of the Siege of Bexar, at Alamo Hall, the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas December 9-11, 2005. THE SIEGE OF BEXAR DESCENDANTS “The Storming of San Antonio”December 5-10, 1835 HOWDY MEMBERS AND GUESTS Welcome to San Antonio and BexarTo CELEBRATEOur20th ANNIVERSARY 12/9/05 […]
Castoñon, Luis Zertuche
Luis Zertuche Castañon was born on March 18, 1820, to Jesus Castañon, a soldier stationed in Bexar, and Guadalupe Zertuche Castañon. According to 1830 census records, Luis spent his early years at San Jose Mission in San Antonio playing alongside his brother Pedro and sister Maria. Other siblings would come later. By age thirteen he […]
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