Damon

Samuel Damon, pioneer and participant in the Texas Revolution , was born in North Reading, Massachusetts, on May 7, 1808, the son of Daniel and Sally (Eaton) Damon. In 1831 he left his carpentry work in Massachusetts to settle in Texas. When his ship arrived at the mouth of the Brazos, he was told that Mexican officials would not allow any more Americans to enter Texas. Damon swam ashore undetected, made his way inland, and eventually found shelter in the home of Abraham Darst, one of Stephen F. Austin 's colonists. After working for Darst for several months helping him construct his home, Damon traveled to San Felipe and obtained permission from Mexican authorities to operate a freight line between Columbia and San Antonio. On September 18, 1834, he married Darst's eldest daughter, Lorena; the Damons had four sons and two daughters. Between 1834 and 1836 Damon built a home on a small rise known as Damon's Mound on a part of Darst's land. In the fall of 1835 he was assigned the duty of transporting military supplies to the Texas forces commanded by Edward Burleson near San Antonio de B?xar. After delivering the supplies, Damon took part in the siege of Bexar and the capture of Gen. Mart?n Perfecto de Cos