Wagon Train to Texas

This list was made by searching the 1850 Census of Caroline County, Virginia, the 1860 Census of Burleson County, Texas, and the Cemetery Records of Burleson County, Texas to compile this list of probable members of that 1854 wagon train. Some may have died during the trip and some may have joined the wagon train after it left Caroline County, Virginia.

Additional members & middle/maiden names/info added by Will James

On the advice of his friend Lewis Chiles, Andrew brought the train all the way south to New Orleans, so that they could use the larger (and safer) barges to cross the Mississippi, out of concern for the women & children. Those barges brought them north for some distance, possably up the Red River to Natachitoches, Louisiana, and they finished the journey using the Old San Antonio Road. This list was made by searching the 1850 Census of Caroline County, Virginia, the 1860 Census of Burleson County, Texas, and the Cemetery Records of Burleson County, Texas to compile this list of probable members of that 1854 wagon train. Some may have died during the trip and some may have joined the wagon train after it left Caroline County, Virginia. Andrew Sidney Broaddus led the group, possibly by virtue of his many relatives (at least 38) involved. He brought his wife, their thirteen children, one or two sons-in-law, and six grandchildren, as well as his sister-in-law and ten members of her two son's families. - Narris Braly & Will James

[These folks are grouped by families where applicable. Gina]

A sight, novel and interesting, was witnessed by many of our citizens on Wednesday last. A train of wagons, numbering 28 in all, accompanied by about 75 persons, male and female, old and young, passed through our city, on their way to Texas. The train was one-fourth of a mile in length, and with the large company, numerous guns, dogs, and other paraphernalia, for a long journey, formed a sight of no little interest. Upon inquiry we learned that the party consisted of 10 or more families, from the neighborhood of Sparta, Carolina County, who had united for the purpose of forming a settlement in Texas, and trying their fortunes in a fertile region of that new portion of our confederacy. The company we learn, embraced the families of Andrew S. Broaddus (with thirteen interesting children), John W. Sale, Widow Thomas Sale, N. B. Farmer, Claiborne Houston, Lunsford Houston, Mrs. Harriet Sale, John Longwell, Samuel J. Murray, Mrs. Smoot, and perhaps others. They intend making the entire journey by land, and have ample preparations for a comfortable and economical trip. They have started with a liberal amount of the "creature comforts," have fine camp equipage, for their accommodation at night and meal hours; and a social material which ensures the long journey to be one of pleasure more than fatigue. While it is a matter of regret to see so many of our good citizens leaving the Old Dominion, the homes of their fathers and the scenes of many endearing associations, we part with them with our earnest wishes for their health, happiness and prosperity in the distant place selected for their future homes. They go, we learn, to homes already selected. Like wise men, in the first place, they commissioned Mr. Broaddus, a gentleman of intelligence, to visit Texas and select an advantageous location for a "Caroline settlement." Now, they go there at an auspicious season to commence farming and to prepare for the next crops.