"Legends" is right, most of them recent.

There is no evidence, only repeated speculative claims, that "The Yellow Rose of Texas" dates to 1836 or has anything to do with the Texas War of Independence.

Its first appearance in print was anonymously in the minstrel collection, "Christy's Plantation Melodies" (Phila.: Fisher & Brother, 1851), p.52 (without music). (Wikipedia incorrectly credits the slightly later 2nd edition as the earliest source.)

The first printing of the tune, arranged for the piano by "J.K.," was apparently in 1858.

GUEST is correct about the words. In fact, despite the familiar title, the opening line of the 1851 text is, "There's a yellow girl in Texas."

Mitch Miller and the Gang made the song a pop hit in 1955, making sure there were no racial references.