William C. Dyches was born June 22, 1798 in South Carolina, probably in Abbeville District, and died August 10, 1854 in Bell County, TX. He was buried in Dyches Cemetery in Bartlett, Bell County, TX.  He was the son of Josiah Dyches and Lucinda Taliaferro?.

He married Jane ? before 1829 in Louisiana. She was born about 1801 in South Carolina. William Dyches was murdered in Bell County, TX in 1854 by a neighbor, Thomas P. Thompson. Jane lived at least until 1880 as she was enumerated on that year’s census in Bell County, TX where she lived with her son Elias P. Dyches.

In the 1860 census, Jane is listed with the last name of Meeks, but no husband is listed. This would seem to imply that some time in the six years following William’s death, she was married again. No record of such a marriage has yet been found; but a will and a deed have been found that show her name as Jane Meek without the “s”. The will proclaims that she was formerly “Jane Dyches.” It is possible, but highly unlikey, that she reverted to her maiden name after William’s death. Otherwise, she was married after 1854 to someone with the last name of Meek and the marriage terminated by death of her husband or some other reason.

William and Jane’s second daughter, Jerusha Jane Dyches Bass, died a couple of weeks after giving birth to a daughter, Elizabeth Jane Bass.  The fate of her husband Isaac Bass is unknown, but Jane ended up raising her.  Elizabeth (and her husband John Wesley Kile) accompanied her aunt Lavica Dyches Bingham when she applied for Confederate pension in August of 1899, and both signed as witnesses.

A descendant of Nancy Ann Dyches Fish that has researched this line for many years found that William is one of 10 people that are buried at the Dyches Cemetery, which is on private property in Bartlett, TX.  One of Williams stones that is harder to read quotes scripture at the bottom, saying:
“There remaineth a
rest to the people
of God.
Hebrews 5 – 9”
The passage is found in Heb 4:9 in the King James version today and also contains the word “therefore” (which would be difficult to fit the stone), but this was made in 1854. So it makes one wonder, was the chapter reference of “5” just a mistake, from another version, or what? Not a significant error, but a curiosity.  But we would do well to remember that fewer people were privileged to own a copy of the entire Bible in the early 1800s.

Children of WILLIAM C. DYCHES and JANE ?

ELIAS PRESTON DYCHES	b. July 1,1829 in Washington Parish, LA, died Feb 18, 1901.
LAVICA ANN DYCHES	b. December 08, 1831 in Washington Parish, LA; d. January 03, 1910 in Junction, Kimble County, TX.
JERUSHA JANE DYCHES	b. Jan. 3, 1835 probably in Jefferson County, Texas, and died Feb. 9, 1853 in Bell County, TX.
LUCINDA “Lucinderella” DYCHES	b. Nov 17, 1840 in Jefferson County, TX and died Sep 2, 1915 in Coleman County, Texas.
MARY ELIZABETH DYCHES	b. Nov. 1845, in Jefferson County, TX, and died Oct 1911.

Genealogical Sources

• 1830 Census Washington Parish, Louisiana
• 1840 Census of the Republic of Texas
• Texas Tax List 1840, Jefferson County
• 1846 Republic of Texas Poll Lists
• Deed references in Jefferson and Bell counties, TX (below)
• 1850 Census Williamson County, TX
• 1860 Bell County Census
• 1870 Census Bell County, Texas
• 1880 Census Bell County, Texas

Jefferson County, Texas Deeds

Jefferson County Deed Book H, page 78.

On March 25, 1836, Wesley Burgoyne Dyches gave power of attorney to George W. Glasscock to sell 2,391 acres on Pine Island Bayou for $1,000. Witnesses were Joseph P. Pulsifer, Joseph Josiah Dyches, William C. Dyches, J. B. Brown and John C. Read. On page 80, the sale of the same land by Mr. Glasscock to Thomas Huling was recorded May 21, 1850 for $1,000.

Jefferson County Deed Book E, page 70

On March 8, 1843 Joseph Josiah Dyches sold 117 acres from the Josiah Dyches Survey to Daniel Lowe for $100. It stated that the land “joins Bird’s land on the east and William Dyches land on the north.” Alexander Calder and James Armstrong were witnesses.

GLO Abstract # 112

Dec 15, 1845 1107 acres, Jefferson County, TX, Abstract 112, Patent #14, Vol. 5, File #32, Certificate 108. William C. Dyches, grantee.

Bell County, Texas Deeds Book P page 736

Know all men by these presents, that I Jane Meek for the consideration of the sum of one hundred and six and six ($106.66 2/3/100) dollars and sixty six two thirds cents to me in hand paid by EP Dyches the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain sell convey and confirm to him the said EP Dyches his heirs or legal representatives all of my tract or parcel of land described as follows, to wit: being situate & lying across Indian Creek, a branch of Donahoe’s Creek, in the County of Bell and State of Texas and bounded on the East by a 106 2/3 acre tract of land owned by Elizabeth J Duggins, and on the west by a 106 2/3 acre tract of land owned by the said E.P. Dyches said described tract of land containing 106 2/3 acres of land more or less being the same on which I am now living. Together with all and singular the right title and appurtenances thereto belonging or in anywise appertaining.

To have and to hold the said premises to the said E.P. Dyches his heirs and legal representatives forever and I do hereby bind myself my heirs or legal representatives to warrant and forever defend the said premises to the said E.P. Dyches his heirs or legal representatives against any person whomsoever claiming the same or any part thereof at the same time reserving to myself full and complete permission and all right to free use of the above described premises as I may will or desire so long as I live. And after my death the above and foregoing deed of transfer of the said premises is to be in full force and effect.
Witness my hand this Jan. the 27th 1872.
her
Jane x Meek
mark
Attest DH McFadin

Jane Meek Deed to Elizabeth Jane Bass

Be it known that I Jane Meek formerly Jane Dyches for various good considerations and particularly the love and affection which I have for my child by adoption and Grand child Elizabeth Jane Bass, hereby relinquish all my right to the said Elizabeth Jane of and with cattle and horses branded JU, and being the same given to her by her grand father William C. Dyches and also being the same which her mother Jerusha Jane Bass claimed in her life time, and I appoint David H. McFadden and Josiah Dyches to take charge of the said Elizabeth Jane Bass, and her property after my death.

In testimony hereof I have hereto let my hand and scrawl for seal this twenty fifth of January A. D. 1859.
her
Jane x Meek
mark
Witness
John W. Scott
M. W. Dawson