Women of the Alamo

The list includes Concepción Charlé Losoya, Andrea Castañon de Villanueva, Juana Navarro Pérez Alsbury, Gertrudis Navarro, Ana Salazar Castro Esparza, Juana Francisca Losoya Melton and Susanna Wilkerson Dickerson. At least seven children also survived.

Concepción Charlé Losoya (1794-1860) became a member of the Losoya family by her marriage to Ventura (or Bentura) Losoya. They were the parents of José Toribio Losoya and Juana Francisca Losoya. Concepción was residing with her son José and his family in or near the Alamo when the battle began. The Losoya family had been granted land on the north and west sides of Plaza de Valero. Losoya Street now runs a north and south for several blocks, due west of the Alamo. At East Houston Street, it becomes Broadway. Losoya’s son Toribio perished in the Alamo. Before becoming married to Losoya, she had been married to Ignacio Miguel Gortari who had been killed by Comanches in 1802.

María Andrea Castañón de Villanueva, also known as Madam Candelaria (1803-1899) was said to be in or near the Alamo during the battle. She is believed to not speak English and her translated accounts were recorded. Her background and her accounts are sometimes called into question.

Juana Gertrudis Navarro Pérez Alsbury (1812-1888) was an older sister of Maria Gertrudis Navarro (1812-1888). They were both the daughters of José Ángel Navarro. Juana’s first husband (Pérez) had died some time earlier and she had married Dr. Horace A. Alsbury. Dr. Alsbury was not at the Alamo during the battle presumably at the request of Jim Bowie, on a mission to raise reinforcements if possible. Both Juana and Gertrudis were cousins of Bowie’s late wife, Ursula Veramindi. Juana and Gertrudis were also nieces of José Antonio Navarro but had been raised by the Veramindi family. Juana’s husband, Dr. Alsbury, survived various engagements of the Texas Revolution, but lost his life around 1847 in Mexico during the Mexican-American War.

Maria Gertrudis Navarro (1817-1895) was a single woman at the time of the Alamo battle. Some accounts tell of the sisters surviving narrow escapes during the battle. On one occasion, they were saved by an Anglo and a Tejano soldier who later died by bayonet before them. Another time, they were led outside their shelter by one Mexican soldier but rescued by another Mexican soldier who may have been the brother of Juana’s first husband.

Ana Salazar Castro de Esparza (?-1847) was the wife of José María Esparza who perished at the Alamo. She, her two sons and possibly a daughter survived. Her husband, believed to be Gregorio Esparza, perished at the Alamo.

Juana Francisca Losoya Melton (1816-possibly after 1853) was married to Lt. Eliel Melton who perished at the Alamo. She was the daughter of Concepción Losoya. Juana largely disappears from history after the battle.

Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson (1813-1883) was the wife of Almeron Dickinson, who perished in the Alamo. She is usually one of the first persons listed as being a survivor of the Alamo battle, along with her daughter Angelina.

The generally accepted accounts of the battle are the blending of the individual accounts of these women and some of the children who were a bit older when the battle occurred.

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Sources include “Women and the Texas Revolution,” edited by Mary L. Scheer.

These dates are usually key dates associated with the Texas Revolution:

• October 2, 1835 – Battle of Gonzales.
• December 5, 1835 – Siege of Béxar.
• Feb. 23, 1836 – Battle of the Alamo begins.
• March 2, 1836 – Convention of 1836.
• March 6, 1836 – Fall of the Alamo.
• March 27, 1836 – Goliad Massacre.
• April 21, 1836 – Battle of San Jacinto.

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