A severe illness at the age of fifteen left R. M. Williamson crippled for life. As a result of the illness, his right leg was drawn back at the knee. To compensate, he wore an artificial limb from the knee down, which led to his widely used nickname of "Three-Legged Willie." An early proponent of self-rule for Texas, Williamson attended the Consultation in 1835. He rode with a cavalry company at the Battle of San Jacinto. After independence was won, he became a district court judge and a member of the Texas Supreme Court. DS, signed 'R. M. Williamson,' three pages both sides, 8 x 13, September 21, 1839. Petition to the courts to have a madman confined. Williamson had been threatened by a man with a loaded musket at a distance of ten or twelve paces. The man, one John Nesbit, was subject to fits of insanity and Williamson wanted him put away. Document is also signed by John T. Mills, Henderson C. Hudson and John Hemphill. Mills held the judgeship of three different districts and a county was named for him. Hudson was appointed second judge of Austin by the provisional government in 1835 and in 1836 was made comptroller of the treasury. Hemphill was an important judicial figure and was elected to the U. S. Senate to succeed Sam Houston. In good condition, with several moderate separations to very fragile document folds, light overall toning, some light show through from text on reverse and some mild edge wear. RRAuction COA.
