The Angel of Goliad has been recognized as a Mexican heroine of the Texas Revolution for her compassionate actions in 1836.

The Angel of Goliad was Francesca Alavez and the story of her life was presented by Patsy Light at the Bayside Historical Society meeting on Saturday, Feb. 6.

A statue of Alavez as the Angel of Goliad was erected between the Goliad Presidio and the Fannin Memorial. The Texas Historical Commission will dedicate an historical marker to Alavez on Sunday March 28, during the Reenactment Weekend at the Goliad Presidio.

Light is also preparing a book on the story of Francesca Alavez, due out later this year.

Light conducted extensive research of primary sources to uncover what is known about Alavez, following her trail while contending with various renditions of her name, like Alvarez and Alavesco.

Her true surname, place and date of birth are not known, but she entered Texas at the port of Copano in March 1836. She was accompanying Capt. Telesforo Alavez who was serving under Gen. Jose Urrea.

Francesca was taken to be his wife, but Telesforo already had a wife whom he abandoned in 1834. She began to minister to Texian soldiers at Copano with the captured Natchez volunteers. She later successfully intervened to exclude this group from the Goliad Massacre.

The night before the massacre, she entered the Presidio and was able to spirit out several Texians.

She is credited with saving the lives of Texians in the Goliad Massacre. Dr. Joseph Bernard and Dr. John Shackelford, both present at La Bahia, testified to her saintly behavior, thus the title, the Angel of Goliad.

Alvarez intervened for and ministered to captured and injured Texian soldiers at Copano, Agua Dulce, Victoria, Matamoros and La Bahia (Goliad).

She departed Texas with Capt. Alavez later in 1836 after the Battle of San Jacinto. In Matamoros, she ministered to Texian soldiers being held captive there.

She traveled with Capt. Alavez to Mexico City, where he abandoned her. Returning to Matamoros, she was befriended by Texans who had learned of her compassionate actions. She lived to an old age in Texas with her children in the Rio Grande Valley.

The next meeting of the Bayside Historical Society will be Saturday May 8, at 2 p.m. in Bayside and will deal with Indian stone points and flint knapping.

Call Herndon Williams at 316-529-8944 for more information.