MOTTLEY. [Dr.Junius William Mottley is listed as a resident of DeWitt Colony based on
various sources which imply he was in or from Gonzales at one time after coming to Texas.
These sources may be based on the erroneous statement by Dixon and Kemp in Heroes of San
Jacinto that Dr. Mottley was sent from Gonzales municipality to the constitutional convention
at Washington. He was sent from Goliad]

Junius William Mottley, usually referred to as "Dr. Mottley," was born in Virginia in about 1812, and
came to Texas from Kentucky. [Goodrich. Dixon (198) without quoting his authority states
that Dr. Mottley was born April 9, 1812. Mrs. Charles F. Norton, Librarian of Transylvania
College, wrote to the author, January 3, 1940, that the records of the college do not give the
date of Mottley's birth. Mottley received a headright certificate 235 for one third league of land, the amount due a
single man, was issued in his name, but delivered to his heirs, February 22, 1838, by the Milam County Board of Land
Commissioner. File 1157, Milam 1st Class (General Land Office, Austin)]

On April 7, 1931, Mrs. Charles F. Norton, librarian of Transylvania College, formerly Transylvania University, Lexington,
Kentucky, wrote the author:

In regard to Dr. William Mottley of whom you write, I find that Junius William Mottley matriculated as a first year
student in the medical college of Transylvania University in the fall of 1833. His residence is given as Greensburg,
Kentucky, and his preceptor---the physician with whom he "read medicine" at home---is Charles Hay M.D., T.
U. 1829. Charles Hay was the father of the statesman and writer, John Hay. Mottley matriculated again in the fall
of 1834 giving the same place of residence and the same preceptor but his name does not appear in the list of
graduates. Nor is his thesis filed with those of other graduates, nor is his name given in the faculty minutes
recording the examination of graduates. Two years is the usual length of the course so Dr. Mottley must have left
for Texas before March 18, 1835, the date of the conferring of degrees. There were two hundred and fifty nine
matriculates in the medical department that year and eighty-three graduates. Dr. William Welsh of Baltimore said
recently, "Transylvania was the best of the schools." No entry concerning the age or the parents of students is
made. Your spelling of the name is verified by our records.

Residing in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky, in 1912 was Col. Erasmus L. Mottley, related, no doubt, to the subject
of this sketch. Of Erasmus L. Mottley, E. Polk Johnson wrote:

He was born at Greensburg, Green County, Kentucky, on the 3d of September, 1838, and is a son of James D.
and Eliza L. (Hobson) Mottley, the former of whom was born at Amelia Court House, Virginia, and the latter of
whom was a native of Green county, Kentucky. The Mottley family traces its ancestry back to English origin, the
original progenitor in America being one Mottley, who emigrated from Kent county, England, to America in the
year 1600. Mottley of Revolutionary fame was connected with the Ninth Virginia Cavalry. James D. Mottley,
father of Eramus L. Mottley, was an extensive slaveholder and a prominent merchant in the Blue Grass State. He
was the owner of about one hundred slaves prior to the inception of the Civil War. William Hobson, maternal
grandfather of Colonel Mottley, was a Captain in the War of 1812. [E. Polk Johnson, A History of Kentucky and
Kentuckians . . . (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1912), II, 1146]

Dr. Junius William Mottley came to Texas in 1835 to fight for the independence of Texas from Mexico. He was appointed
surgeon for the Post of Goliad January 24, 1836, by General Houston. He furnished the Post of Goliad with surgican
instruments worth at least $125. Approximately 45 votes were cast at one voting box in Goliad Municipality February 1, 1836,
to select two delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Dr. J. William Mottley and Incarnacion Vasquez were elected. Of the
total number of votes, Dr. Mottley received 45; Vasquez, 43; Victor Loupez, 32; Joseph Watson, 30; and Capt. John
Chenoweth, 1. The election judges were Joseph Watson, Roberto Galan and Samuel Williams. Jose Miguel Aldrete was
secretary. Vasquez did not attend the convention. Dr. Mottley left Goliad early for Washington, carrying with him the election
returns and this statement:

Municipality of Goliad. By virtue of the order of Your Excellency of the 18th, the election took place of two
delegates to go to that place for the forming of a new convention on the first of next March. By the computation
inclosed herewith, Your Excellency will be advised of the individuals who have been named Delegates to
represent the rights of this municipality, and I am now making possible their immediate departure, soliciting their
support in order that they may not fail in such an important object. At the same time, I take pleasure in assuring
Your Excellency of my greatest respects. God and Liberty. Town of Goliad, February 4, 1836. His Excellency
the Governor of Jose Miguel Aldrete Texas Secretary.

William Fairfax Gray left San Felipe February 19, expecting to return to the headquarters of Robertson's colony near the falls
of the Brazos. Reaching Colonel Edwards's he was advised not to attempt to make the trip alone on account of possible attack
by Indians. He remained at Edwards's until the 21st when he set out for Washington. On the 19th he recorded in his diary

After breakfast rode as far as Col. Edwards, where I found Mr. Childers [probably George C. Childress].
Waited until after dinner, expecting [Thomas J.] Chambers and [Ira P.] Lewis. They did not come. After night
Chambers arrived, in company with a Dr. Motley, a delegate to the convention from Goliad. They also persuaded
me not to attempt to go to the Falls alone.

On February 21 he wrote:

Left Col. Edwards at half past 8 o'clock with company with Dr. Motley, a member of the Convention from
Goliad, who is going to Washington.

Dr. Mottley was seated at the convention March 18. He did not resign from the army, and when the Convention was dissolved
he hastened to rejoin the military forces. He was aide-de-camp to Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk at San Jacinto, and was
mortally wounded in the engagement. He died on the night of April 21 and was buried on the battlefield, as were seven of the
others who were killed or mortally wounded. Olwyn J. Trask, mortally wounded, was placed on board a boat and taken to
Galveston Island for medical treatment and where he died. On January 1, 1838, William G. Cooke was appointed
administrator of the estate of Dr. Mottley by the Probate Court of Harris County. His heirs evidently could not be located, for
on December 4, 1849, Dr. Mottley's donation certificate was sold at auction on the courthouse steps in Houston to the highest
bidder by the sheriff, David Russell, to satisfy an "execution issued from the office of the clerk of the county court of Harris
County on the eighth day of November 1849, commanding the sheriff of said county to levy the sum of $90.75 on the goods,
chattels, lands and tenements of William Mottley, deceased." The certificate was purchased for fifteen dollars by W. R. Baker.
When Motley (sic) County, Texas, was created August 21, 1876, it was named "in honor of Dr. William Motley (sic), who
was mortally wounded at San Jacinto." From The Signers of the Declaration of Independence by L.W. Kemp, 1944.

The parents of William Junious Motley/Mottley were originally from AmeliaCo, VA. Records in GreenCo, KY indicate his
father John Mottley was there as early as 1813-1814. Dr. Mottley's parents were John Mottley Jr. (1774-bef 1830) and Polly
Williams Elmore (1773-1818) (John Mottley later married Sylvia Wilkinson Hundley, 1785-aft 1850). Dr. Mottley's
grandparents on his maternal side were Thomas Elmore and Liticia Williams of AmeliaCo, VA who later also resided in
GreenCo, KY. James Dunlop Mottley (m. Eliza L. Hobson) described above in Kemp's article was a brother of Dr. William J.
Mottley and probably died prior to 1850. He was a Justice of the Peace and appears in numerous court records. Dr. Mottley
had other brothers and sisters Elizabeth Elmore (Brummal), Thomas Williams, Paschal, Martha Ann (Hite) and Polly Williams.

From "They Also Served" Texas Service Records from Headright Certificates, Edited by Gifford White: WILLIAM
MOTLEY decd by his admr William G. Cooke claims one-third of a league of land. Wm. S. Fisher and Rhodes Fisher
deposeth and says: R. Fisher states he knew the said Motley decd as a member of the Convention of 1836. Have not seen
him since. W.S. Fisher states his first acquaintance was previous to the declaration of independence. Knew him to be in the
Army as also in the battle of San Jacinto. Knew him to be dead. (Above provided by Tiffany Luchetta)

DISTRESSING DEATH OF DR. MOTT [Dr. William Junious Mottley]

Although there were some twenty-three of our men lying wounded on the floor of the hospital, of which Dr. Phelps was
surgeon, yet for three days none of them had had their wounds dressed a second time, except for four or five who had been
attended by their regular surgeon. Dr. Anson Jones, who was attending on Dr. Mott, desired my presence, and I readily
assented. Poor Mott, I never can forget him! It was but a few days I before, while awaiting our chance to cross the bayou on
our first arrival opposite Harrisburgh, that I saw young Mott reclining his head on Rusk's shoulder while seated on the bank. It
reminded me of an affectionate son lying on the bosom of a father. Mott was rarely ever out of sight of the one in whom he
reposed all his hopes. Colonel Rusk appeared equally attached to him.

As I entered the little room where he lay, he cast on me one of those looks of deep distress that too often speak of
despondency to the physician. Extending my hand to him I felt his tremulous grasp, as he said, "Doctor, I am a gone case."
Alas! what could I say? Dr. Jones was by him, doing all that could be done to allay his sufferings, but all was in vain. He had
been shot through the abdomen, and his bowels were so much lacerated that mortification was now taking place, this being the
third day. He was begging constantly for drink, but nothing could remain on his stomach. "O God!" he said. "Do stop my
vomiting!" "My friend," said I, "your time is come! God above can help you, for we cannot." "Must I die?" he said. "It is your lot
now to part from us; but what have you to dread?" "Nothing, nothing, nothing!" said he. The scene was too painful---I turned
away. He scarcely spoke after, and died that night.

MOTTLEY, DR. JUNIUS WILLIAM

Previous Next

Biography:

MOTTLEY, DR. JUNIUS WILLIAM -- Born in Virginia April 9, 1812 and moved to Greensburg, Kentucky where in 1832
he read medicine at the office of Charles Hay, M.D. who had graduated from Transylvania University in 1829. Charles Hay
was the father of the statesman and writer, John Hay, who assistant private secretary to President Lincoln when Lincoln was
assassinated. Mottley matriculated as a first year student in the medical college of Transylvania University in the fall of 1833. He
again matriculated in the fall of 1834 giving Greensburg as his place of residence and Dr. Hay as his preceptor but his name
does not appear in the list of those who graduated March 18, 1835. There were 259 matriculates in the medical department
that year and eighty-three graduates.

Dr. Mottley probably left school to come to Texas. He arrived in 1835 with volunteers to fight for the independence of Texas.
In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 1, preserved in the Archives of the Texas State Library, Austin, the following
information concerning Dr. Mottley is found: He was appointed surgeon of the Post of Goliad January 24, 1836 by General
Houston and served faithfully in that capacity until the meeting of the Constitutional Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos,
March 1st to which he had been elected a delegate from the municipality of Goliad. He furnished the post of Goliad with
surgical instruments worth at least one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

Soldiers of the Army of Texas were entitled to vote for delegates to the convention regardless of how long they had resided in
Texas and Dr. Mottley was elected by the army vote. He was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
The fact that he was in the army of Texas while a member of the army is verified by his heirs on June 5, 1838 receiving Bounty
Certificate No. 3704 for 1920 acres of land for his services from March 1 to April 21, 1836. He had, of course, entered the
army prior to March 1st but this was not stated in the certificate. This was perhaps thought unnecessary since his heirs received
the maximum amount of land a soldier was entitled to receive. The heirs were issued Donation Certificate No. 259 for 640
acres of land May 30, 1838 due Dr. Mottley for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto. That Dr. Mottley was single is
proven by the amount of Headright land his heirs received. Headright Certificate No. 355 for one-third of league was issued to
them February 22, 1838. Single men who had arrived in Texas prior to March 2, 1836 were entitled to receive one third of a
league of land as a Headright regardless of whether or not they had served in the army. In the certificate it is stated that he came
to Texas before March 2, 1836.

Dr. Mottley was aide-de-camp to Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War, at San Jacinto, and was mortally wounded in the
engagement. He died on the night of April 21st and was buried on the battlefield, as were eight of the nine of his comrades who
were killed or mortally wounded. The other who was mortally wounded was placed on board a boat and taken to Galveston
Island for medical treatment and died there. On the joint monument erected in 1881 on San Jacinto battlefield at the grave of
Benjamin Rice Brigham it is stated that the eight others who were killed or mortally wounded were buried nearby, but that is a
mistake.

On January 1, 1838, William G. Cooke was appointed administrator of the estate of Dr. Mottley by the Probate Court of
Harris County. His heirs evidently could not be located, for on December 4, 1849, Dr. Mottley's Donation Certificate was sold
at auction on the court house steps in Houston to the highest bidder by sheriff David Russell to satisfy an "execution issued from
the office of the clerk of the county court of Harris County on the eighth day of November 1849 commanding the sheriff of said
county to levy the sum of $90.75 on the goods, chattels, lands and tenements of William Mottley, deceased." The warrant was
purchased for $15.00 by W.R. Baker (Book G, page 32, Deed Records of Travis County.)

Motley County, Texas, misspelled, was named in honor of Dr. Junius William Mottley.