Arriving in Texas in 1836 but just missing the famous battles of the Texas Revolution, nineteen-year-old Hays soon had Sam Houston urging him to join a new group of Rangers. In doing so, Hays's rangers fought Mexican guerrillas near Veracruz and at such places as Teotihuacán and Sequalteplán. During his presidency, Jackson appointed Coffee as his representative, along with Secretary of War John Eaton, to negotiate treaties with Southeast American Indian tribes to accomplish removal, … John Coffee HAYS, the eldest son of Col. John C. HAYS, married Anna daughter of Captain MCMULLIN, thus uniting the two famous families. / © Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated October 2019. John Coffee Hays helped to forge the legend of what a Texas Ranger was. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hays. accessed April 21, 2021, Hays served in several armed conflicts from 1836–1848, including against the Comanche people in Texas and during the Mexican-American War. Ancestors . January 27, 1817 – April 21, 1883 Col. John Coffee "Jack" Hays (January 28, 1817 – April 21, 1883) was a captain in the Texas Rangers and a military officer of the Republic of Texas. In these battles Hays and his rangers were usually outnumbered, and their effective use of revolvers revolutionized warfare against Texas Indians. John R. Coffee was an Irish-American planter and state militia general in Tennessee. John Coffee " Jack " Hays (January 28, 1817 – April 21, 1883) was an American military officer. : Put new text under old text. All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Jack Hays and the Colt Revolver. The tide clearly began to turn after 1840, when John Coffee Hays joined the Texas Rangers. Controversy between the rangers and the Mexican people still lingers, for they robbed and killed each other off the battlefields. Support the Handbook today. His father, of Scots-Irish descent, fought with Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston in the War of 1812. His father Harmon Hays named his son after longtime family friend and Jackson protégé Colonel John Coffee. The Handbook of Texas is free-to-use thanks to the support of readers like you. A At Sam Houston's suggestion, Hays … In the thirteen years that he lived in Texas, Hays mixed a military career with surveying. His father, of Scots-Irish descent, fought with Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston in the War of 1812. John Coffee Hays was a Tennessean, from the same county as Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston; in fact, his grandfather had sold Jackson the Hermitage estate. Jack Hays was born 28 January 1817 at Cedar Lick in Wilson County, Tennessee. He was one of several children and when he was just 15 years-old both of his parents died and the young man soon moved to Mississippi where he began an apprenticeship as a surveyor. Yet his stature-five feet nine inches-his fair complexion, and his mild manners did not match the looks and actions of the legendary ranger in later popular culture. The Texas six-shooter was first made famous by a Ranger captain named Jack Hays. John Coffee Jack Hays (January 28, 1817 – April 21, 1883) was an American military officer. He was a grandson of English settlers Peter Coffee, Sr. (1716-November 1771) THEORY B: Parents = James Campbell Hays and Unknown. Paperback $17.98 $ 17. By the age of fifteen he had moved to Mississippi and began to learn surveying. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. We use cookies. Hays became the prototypical Texas Ranger officer, and he and his cohorts—John S. (Rip) Ford, Ben McCulloch, and Samuel H. Walker established the ranger tradition. His bravery in these battles earned him the promotion to deputy, and in 1840, he achieved the rank of captain. Settling in San Francisco County, he was elected sheriff in 1850 and became active in politics. Hays died on April 21, 1883, and is buried in California. In 1874, Jones—a distinguished veteran of Texas forces in the Civil … reset. James K. Greer, Colonel Jack Hayes: Texas Frontier Leader and California Builder (New York: Dutton, 1952; rev. Hays was born on Jan. 28, 1817, in a place called Little Cedar Lick, Tennessee. (Last Privacy Policy Update July 2020), Byways & Historic Trails – Great Drives in America, William Alexander Anderson “Bigfoot” Wallace, Bushong Kansas – Faded Railroad Town (LOK), Helen J. Stewart: First Lady Of Las Vegas, Ocate, New Mexico – On the Santa Fe Trail, Pioche, Nevada – Wildest Town in the Silver State. Out of Mexico came a mounted irregular body of rangers celebrated in song and story throughout the United States. When the Civil War broke out the following year, he held a neutral position. He took part in a skirmish with the Mexican Cavalry and assisted in the capture of Juan Sánchez. His father Harmon A. Hays fought in the War of 1812, naming his son for a relative by marriage, Colonel John Coffee. John Coffee Hays helped to forge the legend of what a Texas Ranger was. 1-16 of 25 results for "john coffee hays" Captain Jack: The Story of John Coffee Hays (Texas Legends) Book 2 of 4: Texas Legends | by Gene Shelton | Sep 12, 2020. John was born in Little Cedar Lick, Tennessee on January 28, 1817, to Harmon and Elizabeth (Cage) Hays. John was born in Little Cedar Lick, Tennessee on January 28, 1817, to Harmon and Elizabeth (Cage) Hays. Join TSHA online for the preeminent conference on the Texas Revolution rea. In 1876, he was elected a delegate to the Democratic national convention. John Coffey was an African-American man, approximately 6'8\" ft tall, with a powerful muscular frame. John Coffee Hays. Hays County, Texas, is named in his honor. Though he was neutral during the Civil War, he was prominent in Democratic politics in California; he was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1876. The next year Hays formed another regiment that participated in keeping communication and supply lines open between Veracruz and Mexico City for the troops under the command of Gen. Winfield Scott. In 1849, Jack Hays led a group of Forty-Niners from Texas to California. Font size: Paiute Indians by Thomas Houseworth & Co., 1860s. Hays became the prototypical Texas Ranger officer, and he and his cohorts— John S. (Rip) Ford, Ben … John Coffee “Jack” Hays was a military officer of the Republic of Texas and a captain in the Texas Rangers, in which he served in several armed conflicts from 1836 to 1848, against the Comanche Indians and in the Mexican-American War. by Murray Montgomery I t seems that from the day he was born, John Coffee (Jack) Hays was destined to be a Texas Ranger – when you consider his roots, it shouldn’t have been any other way. No thank you, I am not interested in joining. The TSHA makes every effort to conform to the principles of fair use and to comply with copyright law. This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject. An ambitious man, he soon held interests in real estate, ranching, banking, and utilities. Born in Cedar Lick, Tennessee in 1817, John Coffee Hays was the nephew of American badass and future president Andrew Jackson . ed., Waco: Morrison, 1974). In 1853, he was appointed United States Surveyor General for California. He also was a commander during the Mexican invasion of 1842 … https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hays-john-coffee. Hays died in California on April 21, 1883, and was interred in the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California. Son. Col. John Coffee "Jack" Hays (January 28, 1817 – April 21, 1883) was a Texas Ranger captain and military officer of the Republic of Texas. Col. John Coffee "Jack" Hays (January 28, 1817 - April 21, 1883) was a captain in the Texas Rangers and a military officer of the Republic of Texas. Known for improving discipline and morale, he also armed his men with Paterson Colt five-shot revolvers instead of single-shot guns. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Soldiers and Officers in American History, Your email address will not be published. After the Mexican-American War ended, Hays left the Texas Rangers in 1848 and first traveled to San Antonio, before he followed with thousands of other men to the California Gold Rush. Click here to start a new topic. Get it as soon as Fri, Apr 16. John Coffee Hays (1883 - 1942) John Coffee. Biography A ), first known Jewish resident of Illinois, Sheriff of St. Clair County, Illinois; Indian agent John Coffee Hays (1817–1883), or "Jack" Hays, Texas Ranger, U.S. Army officer, first mayor of Oakland, California John H. Hays (1844–1904), American Civil War recipient of the Medal of Honor He commanded troops under General Andrew Jackson during the Creek Wars and during the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. Colonel John Coffee Hays First Regiment of Texas Mounted Rifle Volunteers , unofficially known as Hay's Texas Rangers , was a United States Volunteer regiment raised in June 1846, with a core of Texas Rangers , for service in the Mexican–American War . Important military actions took place at Plum Creek, Cañón de Ugalde, Salado (against Mexican soldiers under Adrián Woll), and Walker's Creek. was the son of Lieutenant Joshua Coffee (January 26, 1745 – September 8, 1797) and Elizabeth Graves (January 28, 1742 – December 13, 1804). In the years that followed the Mexican War, Hays pioneered trails through the Southwest to California and became a prominent citizen of that state. Our cookies are delicious. By 1836, he had moved west to Texas and joined the Texan army under General Thomas Rusk and was soon appointed as a member of a company of Texas Rangers, where he took part in several armed conflicts including the Indian and the Mexican-American wars. Yes, I would like to begin receiving history-rich content, news, and updates from TSHA. A From 1840 through 1846 Hays, at first a captain, then a major, and his ranger companies, sometimes with Mexican volunteers and such Indian allies as Lipan chief Flacco, engaged the Comanches and Mexican troops in small skirmishes and major battles. Arriving in Texas in 1836 but just missing the famous battles of the Texas Revolution, nineteen-year-old Hays soon had Sam Houston urging him to join a new group of Rangers. Col. John Coffee "Jack" Hays (January 28, 1817 – April 21, 1883) was a captain in the Texas Rangers and a military officer of the Republic of Texas.Hays served in several armed conflicts from 1836–1848, including against the Comanche people in Texas and during the Mexican-American War. Ask questions, get answers. Hays has often been given credit for giving the Rangers’ cohesion and discipline and became a rallying figure to his men. A Jack Hays was born at Little Cedar Lick, Wilson County, Tennessee. John B. Jones. John Coffee “Jack” Hays. After appointment as deputy surveyor of the Bexar District, Hays combined soldiering and surveying for several years. ; New to Wikipedia? In 1850, he was elected Sheriff of San Francisco California, which led him into local politics. reset. By mid-1836 Hays was in Texas where he joined a Ranger company under Erastus "Deaf" Smith. Hays served in several armed conflicts from 1836–1848, including against the Comanche peoplein Texas and during the Mexican-American War. Walter Prescott Webb, The Texas Rangers (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1935; rpt., Austin: University of Texas Press, 1982). “Hays, John Coffee,” To John and Anna two children were born, John C. III, and Harry. William Cage (1745 – March 1811) was an American politician in North Carolina and Tennessee and an early settler in Tennessee. Texas Ranger and surveyor, John Coffee Hays (1817-1883), came to Texas in 1836, in time to participate in the Texas Revolution. Born 5 Jan 1883 in Tulare County, California, United States. From those that he commanded, came a number of celebrated Ranger captains including William Alexander Anderson “Bigfoot” Wallace, Ben and Henry McCulloch, Samuel H. Walker, and Robert Addison “Ad” Gillespie. For the first time, at the Battle of Bandera Pass in 1841, the Indians came up against the "new rangers" and were repelled. John Coffee (Jack) Hays, Texas Ranger extraordinary and Mexican War officer, son of Harmon and Elizabeth (Cage) Hays, was born at Little Cedar Lick, Wilson County, Tennessee, on January 28, 1817. During his reign as captain, Hays was responsible for improving the quality of recruitments and initiating tough training programs for the new Rangers, as well as initiating an “esprit de corps” within his command. His rangers gained a reputation as mounted troops with revolvers and individually styled uniforms, who marched and fought with a noticeable lack of military discipline. Houston advised Hays to join a company of rangers under Erastus (Deaf) Smith for service from San Antonio to the Rio Grande, under the orders of Col. Henry W. Karnes. What still further united the families was the marriage of Betty HAYS to John MUCMULLIN, JR., who was a leading graduate of Princeton College. The more he learned about Indian methods of warfare, the better he protected surveying parties against Indian attacks. Font size: The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. Hays served in several armed conflicts from 1836-1848, including against the Comanche people in Texas and during the Mexican-American War. Required fields are marked *. Ever-expanding, he was one of the founders of the city of Oakland, California and served as the first mayor. John Hays (sheriff) (1770–? Papers consist of the typescript of biographical writings concerning John Coffee Hays (1817-1883), who was employed by the Republic of Texas to make surveys on the frontier, became a captain as a Texas Ranger and Indian fighter, and was a colonel in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. Hays served in several armed conflicts, including the Indian and the Mexican-American War. In the three-way struggle of Anglo colonists, Hispanic settlers, and Indians, Hays proved to be an able leader and fearless fighter (called "Devil Yack"), who gained the respect of the rank and file of the Texas Rangers. In 1836 he traveled to New Orleans and entered Texas at Nacogdoches in time to join the troops under Thomas J. Rusk and bury the remains of victims of the Goliad Massacre. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. Section 107 related to Copyright and “Fair Use” for Non-Profit educational institutions, which permits the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), to utilize copyrighted materials to further scholarship, education, and inform the public. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the John Coffee Hays article. In this role Hays took part in an engagement with Mexican cavalry near Laredo, assisted in the capture of Juan Sánchez, and rose to the rank of sergeant. Hays was named for his father's US Army commander at the battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, General John Coffee. This theory was prevalent for many years and can still be found in many published genealogies. This transformation in fact and fiction started with the formation of the First Regiment, Texas Mounted Riflemen, under Colonel Hays. 4.8 out of 5 stars 10. Frederick Wilkins, The Highly Irregular Irregulars: Texas Rangers in the Mexican War (Austin: Eakin Press, 1990). Your email address will not be published. Described as a man who looked very slender and looking far younger than his age, his manners were unassuming and he was a man of few words. Hays joined the Texas Rangers in the formative years of their role as citizen soldiers. At Sam Houston’s suggestion, Hays … If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Welcome! Roger N. Conger et al., Rangers of Texas (Waco: Texian Press, 1969). He was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (then called the House of Commons) in 1783 and 1784. ; Please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes ( ~~~~). In 1832 when he was 15, Jack Hays' parents died leaving behind Jack and his six siblings. The Texas Rangers gained a national reputation in the Mexican War. In 1860, he re-entered soldiering service when he was called on to lead an expedition during the Paiute War in Nevada which had temporarily shut down the stage and Pony Express service over the western end of the Central Overland Mail route. John Coffee “Jack” Hays was a military officer of the Republic of Texas and a captain in the Texas Rangers, in which he served in several armed conflicts from 1836 to 1848, against the Comanche Indians and in the Mexican-American War. John Coffee (Jack) Hays, Texas Ranger extraordinary and Mexican War officer, son of Harmon and Elizabeth (Cage) Hays, was born at Little Cedar Lick, Wilson County, Tennessee, on January 28, 1817. Discover the latest research into this important period from five of the state's top scholars. Col. John "Jack" Coffee Hays (January 28, 1817–April 21, 1883) was a Texas Ranger who is renowned for hunting down the Comanche people, along with other Native American (Indian) tribes in Texas. He married Susan Calvert in 1847, and they had three daughters and three sons. Hays’ dad was a high ranking American officer who had fought alongside Andy Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812, but both Hays’ dad and mom died of yellow fever when Jack was just 15 years old… leaving Jack and his six siblings parentless. Beside biography of John Coffee Hays, we also provide a lot of biographies of other famous people. of John Caperton Hays and Anna (McMullin) Hays [sibling(s) unknown] Husband of Eva (Harwood) Hays — married 2 Dec 1908 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States At an early age he left home, surveyed lands in Mississippi, attended Davidson Academy at Nashville, and decided to cast his lot with the rebels in the Texas Revolution. In 1848 he tried unsuccessfully to find a route between San Antonio and El Paso, and the following year he received an appointment from the federal government as Indian agent for the Gila River country. Texas Ranger and surveyor, John Coffee Hays (1817-1883), came to Texas in 1836, in time to participate in the Texas Revolution. Harold J. Weiss, Jr., Join TSHA to support quality Texas history programs and receive exclusive benefits. This rough-and-ready image of an irregular force left its imprint on the chronicles of ranger history. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. Capt. In 1853, he was elected surveyor-general for California, and he amassed a … Hays was born on January 28, 1817, in Little Cedar Lick, Tennessee. Handbook of Texas Online, / Serving with the army of Gen. Zachary Taylor, the rangers marched, scouted, and took part in the attack on Monterrey in 1846. Col. John Coffee "Jack" Hays(January 28, 1817 – April 21, 1883) was a captain in the Texas Rangersand a military officer of the Republic of Texas. 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