Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Nelson Maxey, a deputy sheriff and appointed constable of the precinct, was attempting to preserve order in the courtroom of Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace J. W. McCowan in Washington-on-the-Brazos. Robert (Bob) Gooden and James Shapard pulled six-shooters and killed the lawman and attempted to kill the judge. Both men escaped. Military authorities attempted to locate them. Very little information is known about the incident or the disposition of the two suspects. Nelson Maxey had been a deputy sheriff at least since 1860.
Deputy Sheriff Nelson Maxey was survived by his wife, two daughters and one son. He was reported by the family to have been buried in Washington County, but no gravesite has been located.
Survivors
Deputy Sheriff Nelson Maxey was survived by his wife, two daughters and one son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-22F52F1C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
157 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Maxey gave the Washington County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Brenham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Nelson Maxey is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Washington County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Nelson Maxey's cause is highlighted.
How Nelson Maxey Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Nelson Maxey is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Washington County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
