Archives

JOHN McNEEL PLANTATION; ELLERSLIE PLANTATION; JOHN GREENVILLE McNEEL; JOHN MARION HUNNINGTON PLASANT GROVE PLANTATION; LEANDER H. McNEEL SUGAR PLANTATION OF PLESANT D. McNEEL (MAGNOLIA) By James Smith

John McNeel, one of Stephen F. Austin�s Old Three Hundred colonists, moved to Texas from Arkansas in ~1822 with his wife, five sons, and two daughters settling in the Nacogdoches area. He and four of his sons received title to several leagues of land in the lower part of Brazoria in August 1824. The family initially settled on John McNeel�s league located on the east side of the San Bernard River below the town of Brazoria. [PDF]

JOSIAH H. BELL; THADDEUS C. & JAMES H BELL; JOHN W. BROOKS; WILLIAM ROSE PLANTATION By James Smith

As a member of Stephen F. Austin�s Original 300 Families Josiah H. Bell brought his family to Brazoria County in 1824 receiving 1� leagues of land on the west side of the Brazos River. At a point on the river which was navigable from the Gulf of Mexico he laid out the towns of Marion and Columbia. [PDF]

JOSEPH MIMS-JAMES WALKER FANNIN; JAMES CALVIN McNEILL PLANTATION By James Smith

One of Stephen F. Austin�s Original 300 Families Joseph Mims and his second wife Sarah Weekley, of Alabama, came to Texas in ~1824 and settled on a league of land west of the town of Brazoria where they would raise a large family. Mims entered into a contract with James Walker Fannin Jr., an African slave trader, in January 1836 in which they would be equal partners in the Mims cotton plantation. [PDF]

JOSEPH REESE; CHARLES KELLER REESE; STEPHEN P. WINSTON; FOUNTAIN WINSTON; LAFAYETTE WINSTON; ASA E. STRATTON WOODLAWN; PLANTATONS By James Smith

John McCroskey received title to his one league of land in Brazoria County, Texas bordering on the east bank of Cedar Lake and west of the San Bernard River in 1824. It is doubtful that he ever did more than the minimum to obtain the property as his interests were in other parts of Stephen F. Austin�s colony. [PDF]

OROZIMBO PLANTATION By James Smith

Arriving on board the Lively in 1822 Doctor James Aeanas Enos Phelps was a member of Stephen F. Austin�s original 300 colonists. He received title to a sitio or league of land on the west bank of the Brazos River above Bell�s Landing (East Columbia) August 1824. In 1826 his household included his wife Rosetta Abilene Yerby, two sons, and two daughters. He continued to move his family back and forth to Mississippi where his first four children were born until~1832 establishing Orozimbo Plantation on his one league grant. [PDF]

RETRIVE PLANTATION By James Smith

The Retrieve Plantation in Brazoria County, Texas began in the hopes and dreams of two enterprising often debt ridden men, Abner Jackson and James Hamilton. The name Retrieve was most probably selected by the desires of both men wanting to retrieve their lost fortunes in the new Republic of Texas. [PDF]

Brazoria County Prison Retrive, Former Texas Inmate Ol Racehoss- [PDF]

BYNUM PLANTATION By James Smith

Wade H. Bynum sold a 1000 acre cotton plantation out the Samuel Carter League east of the Brazos River in the Bailey�s Prairie area to Robert and David G. Mills in October 1837. From Kentucky, the Mills brothers under the style of R. & D. G. Mills of Galveston, Texas would make this the nucleus for what would finally become a 3280 acre sugar plantation. [PDF]

DURANZO PLANTATION By James Smith

Emily Austin Perry inherited a large portion of Stephen F. Austin�s 7 1/3 League grant west of the Brazos River on gulf prairie after the death of her brother Stephen F. Austin in December 1836. In 1840 only six miles from the Gulf of Mexico William Joel Bryan established the Durazno Plantation[1] on a portion of this property. [PDF]

ELI MANADUE JUSTICE JOHN H. JONES PLANTATION By James Smith

John H. Jones came to Brazoria County in the 1850�s from possibly the California gold rush. He initially bought 300 acres of land on Oyster Creek above Columbia in the John Bradley League in 1852 and started a cotton plantation. Through the 1850�s he bought additional tracts of land in the John Bradley and William T. Roberts Leagues until he owned well over 900 acres of land. [PDF]

ALEXANDER JOHN W. COMPTON-LOUIS MARTIN STROBEL PLANTATION By James Smith

The Alexander Compton Plantation located above the town of Columbia on the east of the Brazos River on the east side of Oyster Creek was formed from lands taken from John W. Hall League 11. Warren D. C. Hall who owned a major portion both 10 & 11 leagues after purchasing them from his brother John W. Hall sold ~830 acres from League 11 in November 1842 to Alexander Compton from Louisiana. [PDF]

ISAAC T. TINLEY WILLIAM B. ALDRIDGE DT. ANTHONEY T. MORRIS PLANTATION By James Smith

Henry W. Johnson, Thomas Walker, and Thomas Henry Borden received title to one league of land west of the San Bernard River July 29, 1824. Thomas H. Borden became the principal owner of the league though he never actually tried to live on the property. October 1836, Borden sold 600 acres out of his league to Isaac Turner Tinsley. He moved to the property and built a cotton plantation. In 1841 Tinsley sold the plantation to William Burrell Aldridge of Virginia for $6000. [PDF]

ANDREW ROBINSON LEAGUE By James Smith

Warren H. Manadue purchased two tracts of land above Columbia east of the Brazos River out of the Andrew Robinson league in 1846 and 1847 to build his cotton plantation and raise his family. In 1850 Warren H. Manadue died leaving his wife Ann E. Compton Manadue and at least two small children along with children from a previous marriage. [PDF]

VELASCO FILES By James Smith

Captain Jeremiah Brown Residence, ca. 1838, Block 13, Lot 10 [PDF]

Archer House- Herndon Beach Home, ca. 1838, Block 13, Lots 4, 5, 6, and 7 [PDF]

Alexander Calvit-John H. Herndon Plantation [PDF]

VELASCO MERCHANT, JOHN SHARP By James Smith

According to Stephen F. Austin�s Register of Families John Sharp, a single man from Scotland entered Texas in 1833.[1] John Sharp settled in Brazoria located on the west bank of the Brazos River about 18 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. There he went into the mercantile business with Davis R. Mims in the Exchange building. By October of 1834 the partnership of Mims & Sharp broke apart while Sharp continued the business. [PDF]

BELL GROVE PLANTATION By James Smith

Being a member of Stephen F. Austin�s original 300 families, Thomas Westall brought his family from Tennessee in 1825 and settled near San Felipe de Austin. He made arrangements through Henry Austin to buy land in Brazoria County on the west side of the Brazos River in the lower part of the Stephen F. Austin 7 1/3 League and moved there ~1828, building a cotton plantation. [PDF]

ANN D. W. SPLANE JUDGE ROBERT J. TOWNES PEACH LAKE DR. HENRY W VAN PLANTATION ..DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY'S ..HARRIS RESEVOIR By James Smith

William Parker received title to one league of land east of the Brazos River on both sides of Oyster Creek above the town of Columbia July 8, 1824. He had only a minor presence in Brazoria County and after his death his league was sold by his estate. Ann D. W. Splane (widow Capt. Peyton R. Splane) bought a tract of land in 1839 and started a plantation on the property. Robert J. Townes bought the SW corner of the league in 1845. [PDF]

CHINA GROVE PLANTATION By James Smith

Arriving in Texas in 1828 Warren D. C. Hall with his wife would eventually settle on land in his brother John W. Hall�s league 10 east of the Brazos River in the northern part of Brazoria County establishing China Grove plantation. [PDF]

CEDAR BRAKE PLANTATION By James Smith

In 1848 James H. Dance and his 1st cousin James Watkins Dance came to Texas on horseback from Alabama. They made several trips back home to persuade the rest of the family to move to Texas. By the later part of November 1850, according to the census, several males of the family were living with John Sweeney west of Columbia and probably preparing land and a home for the rest of the family: [PDF]

HIRAM G. & HENRY "HAL" G. RUNNELS, PETER BERTRAND, THOMAS J. COFFEE, ARRON COFFEE, JAMES H. AND HARRISON TANKERSLEY PLANTATIONS By James Smith

Andrew Robinson received 1 � leagues of land in Brazoria County east of the Brazos River and stretching across both sides of Oyster Creek, July 10, 1824, making him one of Stephen F. Austin original 300 families. Robinson maintained his residence in the northern part of Austin�s colony and after the Texas Revolution sold out his holdings in Brazoria County. Peter G. Bertrand obtained acreage on the east side of Oyster Creek while Hal G. Runnels bought property on the west side of the creek. [PDF]

THE JAIL BREAK OF OTTO COOPER AND CHARLES DELANEY

Some high points and an outline of story of the �Jail Break� of Otto Cooper and Charles Delaney in Angleton, Texas, in September or October, 1909, follows, as from the memory of Joe Jamison, the writer. [PDF]

THOMAS GILBERT MASTERSON-THOMAS WASHINGTON MASTERSON, EUREKA PLANTATION By James Smith

Thomas G. Masterson was born inKnoxville, Tennessee December 16, 1812. His father, Thomas Masterson, had died shortly before his birth. His father�s death left his wife Sarah Gray Washington, who was pregnant at the time, and their son William Washington Masterson. Thomas G. Masterson graduated from law school in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1832 he moved to Texas and became a merchant for a short time before returning to Tennessee. On July 3, 1834 Thomas G. Masterson married Christiana Irby Roane in Nashville, Tennessee. Thomas G. Masterson moved his family to the port of Velasco on the east side of the mouth of the Brazos River. [PDF]

THOMAS PHILLIP CROSBY-THOMAS MURRAY CROSBY PLANTATION-CROSBY'S LANDING By James Smith

Nine miles below Brazoria was an important plantation landing on the Brazos River. Thomas Phillips Crosby aged 26 years and his wife aged 20 years, the former Clementina Murray, lived in Philadelphia before moving to Texas in ~1830 along with their two children and an orphaned young man, Sidney Whitehead aged 18 years. [PDF]

FRANCIS BINGHAM-JAMES P. BINGHAM, NEW BOWLING GREEN-PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS. By James Smith

Francis Bingham came to Texas from Monroe, Perry County, Mississippi ~ 1823 and became one of Stephen F. Austin�s original three hundred. Returning to the United States to take care of his business affairs in 1824, he did not bring his family to Texas until the later part of 1827 to establish his New Bowling Green plantation east of the Brazos in what is now the northern part of Brazoria County. [PDF]

RICHMONDCHAMPION PLANTATION By James Smith

Preferring to settle at the mouth of the Brazos River after Asa Mitchell had received his league of land May 7, 1824 he sold it to his brother Eli Mitchell. Eli Mitchell sold the � league which was in the lower part of the upper half of the league to Edwin Waller in 1836. Edwin Waller would make this his homestead. [PDF]

Daniel B. McNeel/Dr. Elias Stephens/Hennell Stevens Cedar Grove Plantation By James Smirh

Daniel McNeel, born on an island off Scotland, was one of Stephen F. Austin�s original 300 colonists.He petitioned Stephen F. Austin for a league of land and received that league west of the San Bernard River near Columbia August 3, 1824. He brought his wife Mary H. McNeel and their children to Texas before 1826. [PDF]

Durango Plantation or Copes Place By James Smith

Dr. James Wilson Copes established Durango Plantation after returning to Brazoria County after 1848. The plantation was carved out of land his wife Elizabeth Lucinda Bell would receive as part of her inheritance from the estate of her father Josiah H. Bell. [PDF]

Bridge south of HWY 35 over the Brazos River at Columbia, Texas was for cars only. This was not a railroad.

BRAZORIA-COUNTY-WATER-USE-FOR-RICE-1902. [PDF]

Brazoria County Insurance Company [PDF]

Brazoria County Cemeteries [PDF]

Archives for Texas as Republic

[April 21, 1836 to December 29, 1845]

HOW DID THE TEXANS WIN INDEPENDENCE ?

Names of battles and their outcomes on the way to victory. [PDF]

TEXAS HISTORY TIMELINE

Key Events in Early Texas [PDF]

CLASS DESIGNATIONS FOR SETTLERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS

During the period of the Republic of Texas, the Texas government granted over 50 million acres of public land to attract new settlers. The amount of land and the conditions of the grants were based primarily on the settler's "class", which was determined by their date of arrival in Texas. [PDF]

DISTANCE AND AREA MEASUREMENTS USED IN EARLY TEXAS.

Land measurements used in early Texas were based on the Spanish system of the period. They were keyed to two primary units of distance: a vara and a league. [PDF]

COMPROMISE OF 9 TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1850.

During its early years of statehood, Texas claimed territory about fifty percent larger than its present boundary, including parts of the present states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. [PDF]

The Shape of the Republic of Texas as it would appear on a modern map of the United States, [Compliments of Bruce Grethen, member of the Fort Bend County Historical Commission in the year 2015] [PDF]

TEXAS AS A NATION 1836 TO 1845

In the fall of 1835 many Texans, both Anglo-American colonists and Tejanos, concluded that liberalism and republicanism in Mexico, as reflected in its Constitution of 1824, were dead. The dictatorship of President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, supported by rich landowners, had seized control of the governments and subverted the constitution. As dissension and discord mounted in Texas, both on the military front and at the seat of the provisional government of the Consultation at San Felipe, the colonists agreed that another popular assembly was needed to chart a course of action. [PDF]

TEXAS 1840 [A BOOK BY GEORGE W. BONNELL]

Published in AUSTIN, TEXAS by Clark, Wing and Brown. 1840. Includes an account of the Indian tribes. [PDF]

SKETCHES-OF-TEXAS-1840 [A BOOK BY FISHER]

The writer takes pleasure in presenting before the public the following favorable notice of his work, by Rev. P. Ackeres, well known in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev. Dr. McNeill, of this city: Having examined Rev. O. Fisher's "Sketches Of Texas," we take pleasure in recommending it to the public generally, and to anyone who may wish to emigrate to that interesting part of the world in particular, as a very useful and constructive manual concerning that rising republic. P. AKERS, FRANCIS A. McNEILL Springfield, Ill. Jan 18, 1841. [PDF]

TEXAS 1841 [A BOOK BY AUTHOR IKIN, TEXIAN CONSUL]

Designed for the use of the British Merchant and as a guide to emigrants. [PDF]

1845 TEXAS [A BOOK BY RICHARD S. HUNT AND JESSE F. RANDEL- HOUSTON, TEXAS ]

A new guide to Texas. [PDF]

A HISTORY of TEXAS and TEXANS, by Frank W. Johnson. Ed. and brought to date by Eugene C. Barker with the assistance of Ernest William Winkler. To which are added historical, statistical and descriptive matter pertaining to the important local divisions of the State, and biographical accounts of the leaders and representative men of the state.

[WEB SITE]

A GAZETTER of TEXAS, by Henry Gannett. . Gannett, Henry, 1846-1914.

[WEB SITE]

Home Life Yesterday Floods E-mail

Archives for Fort Bend County History

A bookshelf of online articles and books

GLIMPSES OF OUR HISTORY Mona Fenn

THE SCANLAN FAMILY

HISTORY of FORT BEND COUNTY. by Wharton, Clarence, 1873-1941. Published 1950

HISTORY of FORT BEND COUNTY, : containing biographical sketches of many noted characters by Sowell, A. J. 1848-1921. Published 1964 [WEB SITE]

Archives for Brazoria County History

[WEB SITE]