Winter 2016

TEXAS LAND / Lifestyle Issue
• Jane refused to leave Bolivar—all because she
promised James she’d be there when he got back.
• Jane was the one who dined (sans husband) with the
pirate Laffite in an attempt to entice him to finance Long’s
obsession. Laffite entertained her royally, but refused her
request.
• Jane designed a flag featuring what she called “the
lone star” for her husband to carry—perhaps the first
Texas “lone star” flag. She said the “lone star” referred to
her husband.
• Jane finally left Bolivar Peninsula when word came
James had been captured, taken to Mexico and shot.
• To assist Stephen F. Austin, Jane entertained Mexican
officials, representatives of Spain, at the Brazoria-area
hotel she operated. Some say she hid the Texas fighters’
arms in her barn.
• Jane organized a ball at her hotel when Stephen F.
Austin was freed from a Mexican prison. At this ball, Austin
gave his first speech calling for Texas Independence from
Mexico, setting off the Texas Revolution.
• Some say the Texas revolutionaries would sneak
away from Jane’s soirées for Mexican officials, change
into disreputable clothing and steal the Mexicans’ guns
and ammo, which they also hid in Jane’s barns. Then
they’d change back into their fancy duds and return to
Jane’s parties.
• We know that during the famous “Runaway Scape,”
Jane left Brazoria and fled back to Bolivar just ahead
of the Mexican Army. She took with her the papers of
Mirabeau B. Lamar (later the second President of the
Republic of Texas), including his original history of Texas.
• Jane also saved personal effects of other notable
Texas fighters, contributing greatly to Texas historical
records so highly valued today.
Jane was said to have been courted by many of the
revolutionaries, including Travis, Austin, Ben Milam, Sam
Houston and particularly, Mirabeau B. Lamar, who interviewed
her many times for his writings. But she never remarried;
perhaps her love for James Long was too great.
In addition to operating her hotel, Jane owned and ran
a plantation as one of the “Old Three Hundred” families in
Stephen F. Austin’s original grant. She became an honorary
member of the Texas Veterans Association (Republic of
Texas) and is revered as a “conspirator and revolutionary” in
Texas’ War for Independence. It is
from her incredible bravery during
her period on Bolivar Peninsula that
she became known as the “Mother
of Texas.”
* * *
Bolivar Peninsula residents were
already building a tradition of
honoring Jane Long when, in 2008,
Hurricane Ike’s 20-foot storm surges
swept vast sections—businesses,
homes and all—into East Bay.
Afterwards, during the recovery
period that is still in progress, the
annual Jane Long Festival took on
a new, deeper significance. Jane
became even more of a symbol of
strength, bravery and determination
to overcome adversity.
Now Bolivar residents have an
even greater impetus to their original
goal of putting the “Mother of Texas”
into a much bigger spotlight. Already
members of the Jane Long Society
have:
• Had Texas State Highway
87—which runs the length of
the Bolivar Peninsula from the
Bolivar Ferry Landing to High
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