12. | Robert Newton McCuistion was born on 2 May 1770 in Guilford County, North Carolina (son of Thomas McCuistion and Ann Moody); died on 31 Aug 1851 in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas. Notes:
Robert's mother, Ann Moody McCuistion, gave him the little keg of gold coins because, she said, "he has Texas in his blood and he needs an inheritance that he can take to Texas with him." The gold was a family legacy handed down from the McCuistion ancestors and brought to America by Ann Moody McCuistion. Through Ann's lifetime she never used any of the gold and when she died, in 1819, the keg of coins was passed to her son, Robert. After San Jacinto, the Texas Republic was without funds and its only resource was land. The Texas dollar was worthless. Sam Houston knew his only hope to bolster the economy was to exchange public land for gold. To accomplish his purpose, the hero of San Jacinto invited seventeen men to exchange their gold for seemingly worthless land. Robert McCuistion was one of the seventeen men. By their contributions the value of the Texas dollar rose to almost par value on the world market and the Republic was saved. ..."the ten thousand acres of land accepted in exchange for the McCuistion gold remained worthless but Robert never regretted his gift to Texas."
All of Robert's children were born in Davidson and Bedford Counties, Tennessee.
Robert went to Robertson County, Texas in 1835 and established himself at a strong spring of good water, later known as the McCuistion Headwaters. This is near the present village of Easterly.
Birth:
One source lists the date of birth 12 May whereas the other lists 2 May.
Robert married Charity Dunn on 1 Jul 1799 in Davidson County, Tennessee. Charity was born between 1775 and 1780; died in 1804. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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