Capt. Alfred Sturgis Thurmond

Notes:

1870 census show his place of birth as Georgia vs. Tennessee.

In REFUGIO, Hobart Huson called "Alfred S. Thurmond the hero of Mier (Mexico)." Several companies were captured and taken prisoner. The President of Mexico decreed that one out of ten of the prisoners were to be shot. Alfred Thurmond was required to interpret the decree to his fellow prisoners (Brown: History of Texas). All 173 prisoners drew beans, black and white. The 17 men who drew black beans were all shot. Capt. Cameron and Alfred S. Thurmond were manacled together, and marched into Mexico City, where Capt. Cameron was shot. Cameron had drawn a white bean, but the Mexicans hated him, so he was shot anyway. This is in spite of the fact he was a British subject. (From "300 Years in Victoria County" by Roy Grimes). Note: It was Capt. Ewin Cameron's company in which J. McGrue, pvt, was enlisted. This is most likely John McGrew, son of Alexander and Elizabeth Blackburn McGrew.

Huson (Vol. II, page 135) goes onto say that "there were at least three prominent citizens who felt they could no longer live in a land ruled by the dam-Yankees. These unreconstructed and unreconstructale rebels were (Smith, Coleman) and the old Texian veteran, Captain Alfred Sturgis Thurmond. Capt. Thurmond was drowned when the ship on which he was bound for Mexico (where he was going to settle) was wrecked of the Texas Coast."

(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 Census
Texas, Refugio County, SubDiv Number 4, PO Refugio
Enumerated 27 July 1870
283-288
Thurman, A S 54 M W Retail Grocer 1000 1000 Ga
Thurman, Julia 43 F W Keeping House Miss
Thurman, Alfred 1 m W Tx
Thurman, Dalton 13 M W Miss
Hayland, Sam 17 m W Clerk in Grocery Tx
Wardwell, W 24 M W Book Keeper NY
McGrew, Mary 15 F Mu House Servant Tx

Alfred married Julia McGrew on 5 Oct 1848 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas. Julia (daughter of William McGrew and Olivia Elvira Holliday) was born about 1829 in Mississippi; died about 1877 in Rockport, Aransas County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He lived with his uncle, Dr. William Patrick Henry McGrew, after his mother died.