Name/Title
Gravestone of Nancy Lacy PierceContext
Nancy "Nannie" Deborah Lacy was born August 11, 1845 near Tidehaven (west of El Maton on the Tres Palacios Creek), Texas. She was the daughter of sarah Bright by her third husband, William Demetrius Lacy. Sarah's parents, Davide and Julia Dinsmore Bright, had come with Austin's "Old 300" from Kentucky to Texas. William was a delegate from Columbus, Texas, to Washington-on-the-Brazos and was a co-signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. Nannie's sisters were Jane Lacy, who married Joseph Pybus of Palacios, and Fanny Lacy, who married Abel Head "Shanghai" Pierce. Her brothers were Richard Lacy and Travis Lacy. Her half-brother was John McCroskey, and her half-sister was Lavinia Hunter Wheeler. Nannie married Jonathan Edward Pierce in 1867. Many descendants bearing these family names are still found in Matagorda County.
Nannie was in a buggy accident and died 9 days later on February 15, 1896 at Rancho Grande, Demings Bridge, Texas. She was buried at the Hawley Cemetery. The original gravestone was replaced by a larger stone "gradle" (a stone which completely covers a grave) to match the gradle on her husband's grave after his death in 1915. The original gravestone was discovered in an abandoned building east of Bay City, being used as a stepping stone to the house. Everett Cordray, chairman (1994-95) of the Matagorda County Historical Commission, discovered the stone and recognized it for what it was. The stone was presented to PAHA on March 28, 1995 by Everett Cordray and Abel and Ruth Pierce.