----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 11:09
AM
Subject: James Bowie
Dale:
I read with interest the articles on the Bowie knife. I have heard
several "experts" speak about that, and they all are fairly close in their
descriptions and origins of the man and the knife.
You might be interested to know that James Bowie married into the family
of some of my ancestors. When he settled in San Antonio, TX he
eventually married Ursula Veramendi and had 2 children with her.
Ursula's mother,Dona Veramendi, was part of the Navarro family, an old Texas
family. I am descended from the Navarros.
Two of the Navarros, Juanna Navarro Perez Alsbury and her baby, Alejo
Perez (youngest survivor of the battle of the Alamo) were at the Alamo
under the protection of James Bowie, a family in-law. Juanna's first
husband, Alejo Perez Sr. died in a cholera epidemic (and did Bowie's two
children and his wife, Ursula). Her second husband, Horace Alsbury, was
off recruiting fighters for the battle.
Juanna grew up in the Veramendi household, as she and her sisters were
essentially orphaned at a young age. Therefore, Juanna was a cousin to
Ursula, but also a "sister." She was part of the household when Bowie
was courting Ursula and they apparently had some familial affection for each
other.
Martha Haydel