Description:

Houston Sam 1793 - 1863 Important Sam Houston land grant to Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway Co., the first Texas RR


Land grant certificate No. 729, Vol. 4 boldly signed by Texas governor Sam Houston and by Commissioner of the General Land Office Francis M. White. Partly handwritten and printed on cream paper embossed with General Land Office State of Texas seal lower left corner and State of Texas seal center bottom. In very fine condition, the "S" of "Sam" having a little less ink than the rest of the signature. Isolated toning to paper edges, expected fold marks, and light pencil inscriptions appear near printed braid border surrounding document. Docketted verso. Small white stars stud black block letters of title flanking lone star at center. Document measures 14.75" x 12.5".

Governor Sam Houston grants fifty-two acres of land in northeastern Texas to J.T. Nelms of the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway Company on November 19, 1860 from the city of Austin, TX. The land grant defines the boundaries of Nelms's new lands "In Grayson County on Shannon's Creek a Tributary of Choctaw Bayou about 4 miles N40E from Sherman by virtue of Land Serip No. 6 3/2" using both geographical coordinates and natural landmarks like elms and black walnut trees. A brief history of this particular land parcel's ownership is also given in the document.

The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railroad Company was the first operating railroad in Texas, running between 1853 and 1868. The railroad had three objectives: first, it would connect Harrisburg, TX with the Colorado and Brazos River valleys located to the southeast; second, it would open trade up with Galveston, TX; and third, it would bypass Harrisburg's rival city Houston, TX. After the Civil War, the firm was reincorporated into the Harrisburg, Galveston, and San Antonio Railroad.

Sam Houston (1793-1863) became intensely involved in the Texan independence movement. He signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in March 1836 and routed Santa Ana's forces in an almost bloodless 18-minute-long battle at San Jacinto about one month later. Houston later served as president of the Republic of Texas, a state senator, and finally governor. He aspired to run as a major party presidential candidate around the time he signed this document.

A very interesting document relating to mid-nineteenth-century railroads that symbolized the domestication of the West.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000