Histories

William Benjamin McKaughan was in Nacogdoches in the Republic of Texas by 1837, when he acquired a land certificate. He served with Capt J Snively's Mounted Rangers out of Nacogdoches, 14 Sep 1838 to 13 Dec 1838. In 1852 he married a widow with one child, Charlotte Clarenda Spencer (Dugger), also living in Nacogdoches. By 1860 they had two living sons and a daughter who had died in early childhood. He was a successful merchant. In the following eight years they had two additional daughters and a son. During the Civil War he served in Inf Co, Williamson City, 27th Brigade. He survived the war. He died violently 5 May 1868. No one knows the full story. Some say his brother-in-law killed him over a "family matter" while others say his wife killed him "and her brother took the rap." He had a short life, but he lived it fully as a true Texan.

Pvt with Capt J Snively's Mounted Rangers 1838 (Texas, Muster Roll Index Cards, 1838-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011).
Land Certificate Nacogdoches County 1837 (http://www.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/1/0/6/2/1062295.pdf)
Cond Land Cert Nacogdoches Co April 5, 1839 made Unconditional Dec 2, 1843 (http://www.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/1/0/6/2/1062320.pdf)