Thomas J. Pilgrim

Thomas Jefferson Pilgrim (December 14, 1804 – October 30, 1877) started the first school in Texas. The town of Pilgrim, Texas is named for Thomas J. Pilgrim. Thomas was born to Thomas and Dorcas Pilgrim, in East Haddam, Connecticut. Thomas attended the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institute at Colgate University. In 1828, Pilgrim heard about the settlements in Texas and left school in New York to travel to Texas in the company of approximately sixty men. The pilgrimage (npi) was led by Elias R. Wightman. Pilgrim arrived at Matagorda, Texas. Soon thereafter, Pilgrim served the Austin Colony as a Spanish interpreter. Pilgrim was also a close friend of Stephen F. Austin.

...
Wikipedia