Death of Robert Cayle

     The day before yesterday, Robert Cayle, a Mexican War veteran, and an old citizen of San Antonio, was upon our streets. He had been drinking to excess and at last accounts was observed in a very intoxicated condition. During the evening he fell upon the sidewalk, sustaining injuries which soon resulted in his death. His funeral will occur at 3 o’clock this evening from his residence in the fourth ward.

     Robert Cayle was an Englishman by birth, and the son of a Presbyterian minister of Darlington, England. When a mere boy, he ran away from home, stowed himself away in the hold of a vessel, and eventually landed in America. Finding his way to Texas when a republic, he linked his labors with those who struggled for the independence of this country, and won the honors of a brave soldier. After the war had ended, he married a Spanish lady and settled in San Antonio. A few days ago he was informed that a letter from his old English home was in the hands of one of our citizens, to be opened and [r…….] conditions. Upon receiving this news, Cayle concluded that he had inherited a fortune, either from his father, or an uncle, both of whom were very wealthy. In an elated state of mind however, and before he had an opportunity to realize his anticipations, he took to drink and [l..] his end is reached.

San Antonio Daily Express, 12 January 1879

The death notice above refers to a marriage between Robert Cayle (Caile) and “a Spanish lady.”  That lady was Dolores San Miguel based on the 1880 census and baptismal records of their children. Baptismal records have been found in the records of San Fernando Church for five children. These include Robert William born 25 May 1859 (baptized 6 August 1859), William James born 20 July 1861 (baptized 21 October 1861), Carolina born 30 December 1865 (baptized 4 May 1866), Dolores Adela born 14 December 1869 (baptized 30 November 1870), and Ana Elena born 17 January 1872 (baptized 30 April 1872). According to City of San Antonio death records William died of spinal meningitis on 6 February 1882, and Lola (Dolores Adela) died of pneumonia on 23 March 1891.

As noted above Robert passed in 1879. Afterward, in 1894, Lola sold their house on East Nueva Street to Jacob Hotz. The family appears to have moved to Galveston where she ran a boarding house. This is based on the 1900 census where Lola Caile, a widow, and twenty-five year old daughter, Mary J [?], whose father was born in England, are living.

During the Civil War Robert served as a private in Company B of the Texas Reserve Corps until he was paroled on 1 September 1865.

The Caile House, 526 East Nueva, was probably built shortly after Robert purchased the property, lots 7 and 8, in 1857 for a total of $360. The house was expanded later. For a very good history of the property see An Archaeological Assessment of the Alderete House Property published by the Center for Archaeological Research (UTSA) in 1978. Annual tax records (1837 to 1910) are available in the Texana/Genealogy department of the San Antonio Public Library. Deeds are available online from the Bexar County Clerk’s website.

An interesting sidelight comes from Beadle’s Dime Library, volume 1, number 3. The issue by Major S. S. Hall (Buckskin Sam) is entitled Kit Carson, Jr., The Crack Shot of the West: A Romance of the Lone Star State and includes several references to Caile. (The one above is from page 5.) Part of the story’s action takes place in San Antonio. Among the references are the following. On page six “…but I met Bob Caile, Shipley, and Bill Rodgers agoin’ to the lake,…” Also, on page nine “… Clown had been huntin’ with Bob Caile, Shipley, and Bill Rodgers.”

According to the burial record, 61 year old, Robert Caile was buried in City Cemetery Number 1 in grave number 71. Unfortunately, he apparently had no gravestone, and we do not know where early burials by number, instead of section and lot numbers, may have been located.