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Thomas Jefferson was attending a theological institute
in New York when he heard that Moses Austin was
taking families to Texas. He joined a group of sixty
people who came by water, eventually landing in
Matagorda Bay, Texas. Pilgrim and three others set out
on foot for Austin's capital eighty miles away. Pilgrim
was the only one who made it.
In 1829, he organized the first Sunday school in Texas
but the Mexican government forced him to close it. In
1838 Pilgrim moved to Gonzales to start a new school.
Thomas and his second wife, Sarah, were among the
nine charter members of the First Baptist Church of
Gonzales. Thomas was the first clerk of the Gonzales
Baptist Association. Sarah Pilgrim purchased the lots
for this house in 1848. Over the next few years, she
and her husband bought and sold several lots in the
area, but in 1877 they built their Greek Revival style
home here. Thomas served on the board of visitors of
Baylor University in 1852-1853, was president of the
board of trustees of the Gonzales College chartered in
1852, was county treasurer and also served three terms
as Justice of the Peace.
The home is owned by Rob and Lisa Brown.
T.J. PILGRIM
HOUSE
223 St. James Street
FACING PAGE LOWER LEFT – Backyard has been beautifully landscaped
including lush tropical foliage surrounding a sparkling pool.
FACING PAGE LOWER RIGHT – Front Foyer retains the original finely carved
walnut Victorian staircase.
Photographs by Peggie Schultz
