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Did David” Davy” Crockett Survive the Alamo?
Colonel (COL) David “Davy” Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was a larger-than-life character, even dubbed “The King of the Wild Frontier”. He was a House of Representative member for the state of Tennessee, officer in the Tennessee militia during the War of 1812 under the command of COL John Coffee and then future US President General Andrew Jackson in present day Alabama taking part in the Creek War, while in pursuit of the Creek Indians.
Crockett and his men were used mainly as scouts and for hunting wild game. Crockett was mostly opposed of the as he felt senseless killing of the Creek warriors. During this time though he seen very little actual combat as often they were our hunting and not typically located with the main fighting element. In 1815 with time remaining on his enlistment, he paid a young man to fulfill his remaining time owed in service.
In 1817 Crockett was appointed the Lawrence County justice of the peace, and elected lieutenant colonel of the 5-7th Regiment of the Tennessee militia. Around 1819 Crockett owned several business ventures and was a busy man. Eventually obligations to the public service he was holding was to much on him, his businesses and family, leading to him respectfully resigned as justice of the peace and his position in the regiment.
In 1821 Crockett ran for and was elected to Tennessee General Assembly as a representative for both Lawrence and Hickman Counties. He supported legislation to assist the poor, and them losing their land to the rich due to Tennessee’s ever-changing systems of land grants that only favored the wealthy. During this time a massive flooding destroyed his business’s leaving him with a mountain of debt. Crockett was gifted around 800 or so acres from his wife’s father that he sold most of to pay off his debts. He now moves him and his to Carroll County, Tennessee.
In 1823, he won a seat in the General Assembly representing the counties of Carroll, Humphreys, Perry, Henderson and Madison. In 1825 he ran for and lost an election for a U.S. House of Representative seat. Not one to be defeated easily Crockett ran again and won winning in the next two election and serving as a representative from 1827-1831 where he lost election in 1831, but once again one the following election serving as a representative from 1833-1835. During this time, he was initiated into Free Masonry eventually becoming a Master Mason (mdmasons.org 2025).
During his terms he created many waves in the political landscape. He was as a constant spokesperson for the poor or underdog. He campaigned for closing West Point Military Academy citing it does nothing more than promoted the sons of the rich. Crockett actively went against his former commander now President Andrew Jackson’s 1830 Indian Removal Act. His position on the bill caused a major falling out within the district he represented and ultimately became his political downfall. Crockett went on later to say in a book about himself he helped co-author “I told the people of my district that I would serve them as faithfully as I had done; but if not, they might go to hell, and I would go to Texas”.
Following his fallout with politics Crockett moved to Texas in 1835. In January 1836 he along with 65 other men enlisted in support of the war of Texan Independence, with each man being promised 4,600 acres of land each for the service. On Feb 8th, 1836, the arrived at an old Spanish Mission known as the Alamo. On Feb 23rd after being surprised and surround by the Mexican Army commanded by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. With a brief battle taking place. On March 3rd Crockett along with a few other men were sent out of the Alamo to find the reinforcement soldiers. Upon finding them Crocket and about half broke through the Mexican line and returned to the Alamo the following day with the other half being driven away by the Mexican forces. The final Battle of the Alamo came on the morning attack on March 6th. The 90-minute battle ended with all the Alamo defender’s being killed. And that’s where the story or question of did Crockett really die in the Alamo begins.
It is important to know up until the time Crockett is killed at the Alamo is considered to all be concrete factual evidence. So here are some of the interesting theories of questions is you will on if he really dies at the Alamo. Most of what is known to of happened at the Alamo was by survivor Susannah Dickinson. However, as you will soon learn here reports/account differs from that of Mexican accounts. Some reports by Dickson say she seen him lay dead alongside his “unique” hat. Some reports say he was one of last remaining survivors and was captured and later killed by a bayonet, others by firing squad and others by swords. With so many conflicting accounts its hard to know what the actual truth is. But here are a few theories to support Crockett was alive after the Battle of the Alamo.
Theories Crockett Survived
One theory is when Crockett left to find the reinforcement soldier, he was part of the group driven off, and he never returned. With only one source being Dickson stating he returned and was seen lying dead it is plausible as a theory. He certainly could have never returned to the Alamo.
Another common theory is that Crockett was captured alive and in a last-ditch effort gave a secret Mason signal to GEN Santa Anna who was a Scottish Rite Mason in Mexico. As I previously stated Crockett was also a Mason himself. Could this have led to Crockett being spared. Again, it is plausible because it’s also suspected that later in battle Santa Anna was captured and his life spared by Gen Sam Houston also a known Mason. It’s rumored that Santa Anna sent Crockett to work in a mine in Mexico. This claim is supported by a news article in the Austin City Gazette which posted a letter written by and given by Crockett after his alleged death at the Alamo, given to William White that he was alive and enslaved in a Mexican mine. The story was so believed and written in a way Crockett’s own son John knew it was written by his dad, and he went to Mexico to look for him.
In the Cincinnati Whig newspaper on April 18th, 1836, that states Davy Crockett was alive with a head wound and a bullet to the shoulder but survived the Alamo.
One of the biggest claims is that Crockett survived and moved back to Alabama to same area he fought in the Creek Wars. There is a land deed signed by President Buchanan also a known Mason, with presidential seal on it granting land to a David Crockett in 1859 some 23 after the Alamo. The letter land grant was registered at local courthouse as well. The letter was validated and found to be legit as well as the President’s signature and seal. What handwriting experts cannot say with 100% certainty is that the signature of David Crockett is the same David Crockett. Numerous handwriting experts agree that part of his signature is a match. But that the D in David is not. So, does this offer proof or not. Crockett was 49 when he allegedly died at the Alamo. If he were alive at the time and was the David Crockett that signed the land grant, he would have been 72 years old, which was old for the time. Handwriting experts all agree that all signatures change over time especially in the elder years. Furthermore, if he suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder it would certainly make changes to a signature. To further support this claim, I previously mention a promise of 4600-acre land grant for service promised to those that enlisted to defend Texas.
My Thoughts
I have mixed emotions while I’d like to believe he survived the Alamo. It a hard pill to swallow as the numerous eyewitness accounts all say none of the defenders were spared upon Santa Anna’s order of “No Quarters Given” or no prisoners, kill them all. However, the documents do raise an interesting question. If the signature of David Crockett on the land grant been a confirmed match, I’d be all aboard with saying he survived. But its likely someone else could have been named after David Crockett as well after 23 years of his death is certainly a noble thought.
Knowing what I know of the Mason Brotherhood it certainly would be possible that he had communicated to Santa Anna he was a fellow Mason he might have been spared. However, for this to happen you must believe that Crockett survived the battle, was in fact captured alive, a Mexican soldier disobeying a “no quarters given” order by Santa Anna, and finally Crockett being in front of the Commanding General Santa Anna for his signals to be given and his life spared. With 23 years in the US Army myself, you follow all legal and moral orders given by your leaders. I feel they most likely followed those orders, and no one was spared.
I feel he was killed in the Alamo while how he died is up for debate be it killed in action, taken as a prisoner and later killed by sword, bayonet or firing squad does not matter. All the claims from Dickson and Mexican Officers say no defender survived. The bigger than life persona he had, the political and polarizing person as he was, I do not think he could have remained silent and out of the public spotlight. I feel someone would have known him and brought it up to the public. Currently I have found no supporting claims to support this. So, in summary I feel David “Davy” Crocket died on March 6th, 1836, at the Alamo alongside his fellow defenders. Let us not forget to “Remember the Alamo”.
