Sarah Seely DeWitt (1789–1854)

Early Life and Background

Sarah Seely DeWitt was born on June 27, 1789, in Beech Bottom, Virginia (in present-day Brooke County, West Virginia) (DeWitt, Sarah Seely (1789–1854) - TSHA). She was the third of six daughters of Jonas Seely and Elizabeth (Quick) Seely (DeWitt, Sarah Seely (1789–1854) - TSHA). The Seely family was quite prosperous, providing Sarah with a comfortable upbringing (Green DeWitt - Wikipedia). This affluent background would later enable her to support ambitious ventures in the Texas frontier.

Marriage to Green DeWitt

In 1808, Sarah Seely married Green DeWitt in St. Louis, Missouri (Sarah Seely DeWitt's petition for a Mexican land grant). Green DeWitt (born 1787) was an aspiring empresario (colonization agent) with plans to settle American families in Mexican Texas. The young couple started a family in Missouri, eventually having six children. During the early 1820s, Green sought permission from Mexico to establish a colony in Texas. Sarah proved to be an essential partner in these efforts: she sold some of her property in Missouri to help finance her husband’s colonization project.

Founding and Development of Gonzales, Texas

In 1826, Sarah DeWitt journeyed to Mexican Texas with her husband and five of their children (the eldest daughter had married and remained behind) (Sarah Seely De Witt - The Historical Marker Database). They settled along the Guadalupe River at a site that became the town of Gonzales, the capital of DeWitt’s Colony. As an empresario’s wife and a pioneer, Sarah played a crucial role in the colony’s founding. She helped establish a home and community in Gonzales, providing food, medical care, and stability for her family and other settlers in the rugged frontier environment. Her financial contributions and administrative support had already laid the groundwork for the colony’s creation, and on site she continued to be a steady partner in building the settlement.

Life in Gonzales was difficult in the early years. In July 1826, not long after the first settlers arrived, the town was attacked by hostile Native Americans, forcing most residents – including Sarah and her children – to flee temporarily (Green DeWitt - Wikipedia). The DeWitts and others took refuge at a makeshift camp on the Lavaca River (a place they called "Old Station") until it was safe to return (Green DeWitt - Wikipedia). Despite these setbacks, Sarah and her family persevered. By late 1827, Gonzales was reoccupied and growing. Sarah’s presence helped anchor the community during this fragile period. By 1830, DeWitt’s Colony had attracted hundreds of settlers, and Gonzales became a modest but important frontier town.

Texas Revolution and the "Come and Take It" Cannon

A modern reproduction of the Gonzales “Come and Take It” flag, the banner that Sarah DeWitt helped create in October 1835. It features a lone star and a cannon with the defiant slogan “Come and Take It,” symbolizing the Texian settlers’ refusal to surrender their cannon to Mexican troops.

By 1835, tensions between Texas colonists and the Mexican government had reached a boiling point. Green DeWitt fell ill and died in Mexico in May 1835, leaving Sarah a widow on the eve of the Texas Revolution (Green DeWitt - Wikipedia). That October, Gonzales became the flashpoint of the revolution. Mexican authorities demanded that the settlers of Gonzales return a small cannon that had been provided years earlier for defense against Indian raids. Rather than surrender the weapon, the Texans chose to resist. Sarah DeWitt participated in an act of bold defiance that would make Texas history. Along with her young daughter (often identified as Evaline or Naomi DeWitt), she helped fashion a makeshift flag to display the colonists’ resolve (Green DeWitt - Wikipedia). They cut up a dress – according to legend, a wedding dress belonging to Naomi – to create a white banner emblazoned with a black five-point star, a silhouette of the cannon, and the daring motto “COME AND TAKE IT” (Green DeWitt - Wikipedia) (The story behind the co-opting of 'Come and Take It').

On October 2, 1835, this “Come and Take It” flag flew above the cannon as about 18 Gonzales settlers faced off against a detachment of Mexican soldiers (Come and take it - Wikipedia). The confrontation, later known as the Battle of Gonzales, ended with the Mexicans withdrawing – a minor skirmish, but the first armed clash of the Texas Revolution. The flag that Sarah DeWitt and her daughter helped create became an immediate symbol of Texian tenacity and courage. This moment – with Gonzales residents refusing to give up their cannon – is often likened to the “Lexington” of Texas, marking the point of no return in the fight for independence. Sarah’s contribution of the flag vividly demonstrated how Texas colonists, including women, actively supported the cause of liberty. The flag itself has since become legendary in Texas history, remembered as the first battle flag of Texas independence (Sarah Seely De Witt - The Historical Marker Database).

(During the war that followed, Gonzales was burned and its families, including Sarah and her children, evacuated eastward in the Runaway Scrape of 1836. Texas won its independence later that year, allowing survivors like Sarah to eventually return home.)

Later Life and Family Legacy

After Texas won independence from Mexico, Sarah DeWitt returned to rebuild her life in the new Republic of Texas. As the matriarch of the DeWitt family, she managed her household and land in the Gonzales area during the republic and early statehood period. She was granted a league of land in Texas – a parcel that came to be known as the Sarah Seely League – in recognition of her status as an early settler (Sarah Seely De Witt - The Historical Marker Database). Sarah never remarried; instead, she focused on raising her children and sustaining the legacy that she and Green had begun. Their six children grew to adulthood, and the DeWitt family remained prominent in the region. Many of Sarah’s descendants settled in Gonzales County and nearby areas, helping to populate and develop the community that she helped found.

Sarah Seely DeWitt lived to see Texas annexed by the United States in 1845 and the dawn of a prospering Texas state. She died in late November 1854 at around age 65 (Sarah Seely De Witt - The Historical Marker Database). According to historical records, she passed away on November 28, 1854, and was laid to rest on her own land (the Sarah Seely League) near Gonzales (Sarah Seely De Witt - The Historical Marker Database). Her burial site became the DeWitt family cemetery, where numerous descendants would also be interred over the years (Empresario Green DeWitt & Major James Kerr).

Impact on Texas History

Sarah DeWitt’s life and deeds left a lasting imprint on Texas history. As a pioneer colonist, her financial resources and determination were indispensable to the success of DeWitt’s Colony – widely regarded as one of the most successful Anglo-American settlements in Texas.

Beyond the flag, Sarah’s legacy is tied to the broader contributions of frontier women in Texas. She exemplified the courage, sacrifice, and resourcefulness that were crucial to building new communities in hostile territory. Her willingness to support colonization efforts, endure hardships, and stand up to oppression (albeit indirectly, through the flag) highlights the often overlooked role of women in the Texas Independence movement. In 1936, during the Texas Centennial celebrations, the state honored Sarah and her husband by erecting a monument at their gravesite, recognizing their importance to Texas history (Sarah Seely De Witt - The Historical Marker Database). DeWitt County, Texas (established in 1846) was named after Green DeWitt, indirectly honoring the family name that Sarah carried into Texas (Green DeWitt - Wikipedia).

Today, Sarah DeWitt is remembered as a pioneer of Gonzales and a patriot of early Texas. Her story – from selling her lands to fund a colony, to crafting the slogan that sparked a revolution – underscores her significant impact. Through her practical efforts and steadfast spirit, Sarah Seely DeWitt helped lay the foundations of Texas as we know it, earning her a distinguished place among the founding figures of the state.