Historical Period: Republic of Texas (1836-1845)
Historical Topic: Law & Order, Republic of Texas
Species: Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
County: Colorado
Public Access: No longer applicable; tree is dead
Following the defeat of Santa Anna, people returned to their homes and began a period of reconstruction. There was no place to hold court in Colorado County except under this large live oak, lending the tree a historical importance that continues even in death.
It was under the branches of this majestic live oak that the first term of the Colorado County District Court was convened in April 1837 by the Honorable Robert McAlpin Williamson, called “three-legged Willie” by those unhappy with his verdicts. (Williamson had suffered a crippling disease in his youth that left his right leg permanently bent. To increase his mobility, he wore a wooden leg and covered it and his real legs with trousers that had three legs.)
In May 1839, the first recorded case tried under this tree convicted William Bibbs of grand larceny and sentenced him to 39 lashes on his back and ordered that Bibbs be branded with the letter “T,” which stood for “thief.” His fine was set at $500. “Later, it being made represent to the Court that there was not five hundred dollars west of the Colorado River, that portion of the sentence was remitted and he was discharged from custide [sic].”