 |
| Robert Clay Allison Born Sept.2, 1841 Waynesboro, Tn. Died July 1, 1887 Pecos, Texas |
| Clay Allison was born on a farm near Waynsboro, Tn. in 1841. Very little is known about Clay's years as a young man growing up on a farm virtually nothing showed on his record until He inlisted in the Tn. Light Artillery on Oct. 15, 1861. Clay was eager to serve in the Confederacy as most young southern men, but was dischared on Jan. 10, 1862 for a unique mental ailment called thusly. "Emotional or physical exictement produces a partly elepiteptic and partly" Maniacal" behavior."I bet He was a Tennessee Football fan. Anyway word had it that He tried to kill his commanding officer when they had the Yanks on the run and the officer called a cease fire. Clay wanted to run them down and kill all of them himself. Late 1860 found Allison in New Mexico working for Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight two legendary Texes cattlemen.(The movie Lonsome Dove was based on these two men) Chunk Colbert was a known gunslinger in New Mexico at that time and was looking to add another name to his list. Rumor's had it that He had already killed seven men. For some reason he looked up Allison maybe an old grudge or just wanted to kill him. The two spent most of the day together drinking and gambling on horse races. |
| That night Colbert invited Allison to have dinner with him and Allison accepted, knowing there was going to be trouble Clay was very cautious. When they were seated it was said that Colbert laid his gun in his lap and Allison laid his gun on the table. After the meal was finished, during a conversation Colbert suddenly went for his gun and lunged over the table to grab Allison's hand. Colberts own gun hit the table hanging up.Allison shot him in the head killing him instantly. Later Allison was asked why He had accepted to have a meal with him and answered, I didn't want to send him to hell on an empty stomach. Late spring of 1875 Allison was involved in a stand up gunfight with Franciso "Pancho" Griego at the St. James Hotel in Cimmaron City. Clay who was a farmer, and Pancho who worked for the cattle rancher's as an enforcer met in the hallway and drew guns Pancho was killed. Dec.21, 1876 Clay shot and killed a Deputy named Charles Faber in a wild shoot out, Faber it was said came to the saloon and saw Clay was drunk. Afraid of him, He left and got two Deputy's and a shotgun. Returning He burst thru the door and cut loose. Clay drawed, killed him and chased the Deptuy's down the street. Later He was tried for the killing but was aquitted because Faber had come at him firing. Later Clay was in Lincoln County Texas, then on to Hemphill County where He was married. Clay would father two daughters one named Patsy an the other Clay Pearl named after him. She was born after Clay's untimely death which came July 3, 1887. Clay fell off a wagon and broke his neck. |
| A Few Facts About Clay Allison Some True And Some Not so true. |
| Clay's grave stone reads: He never killed a man that didn't need killing.( T ) He shot himself in the foot while trying to steal a pair of mules.( T) Had a toothache, the dentist pulled the wrong tooth Clay made the dentist get in the chair where He proceeded to pull one of the dentist teeth, only after the screaming of the dentist brought help did Clay stop. He was starting on the second tooth.( ? ) Clay was a very heavy drinker sometimes staying drunk for day's.( T ) John, Clay's brother was wounded in the gunfight with Charles Faber.(T) Clay, after helping to lynch a man( Charles Kennedy) cut his head off and carried it to a saloon where He put it on display.( F ) Helped to lynch a man (Cruz Vega) then tied the rope around his neck and dragged him out into the desert where the body was left to rot.(F ) Killed over 20 men who really knows for sure? |
| Anyone with facts that concerning this page please send me an Email. |
| Robert Clay Allison |
 |
| Edited by:G.Reynolds |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Tennessee |
 |
|
|
 |
 |