TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview
Agency History
Scope and Contents of the Records
Arrangement of the Records
Restrictions
Index Terms
Related Material
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Jefferson County Commissioners Court ferry records, 1838-1881, undated, bulk 1847-1876,
|
Jefferson County (Tex.) Commissioners Court:
An Inventory of Jefferson County Commissioners Court Ferry Records at the
Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, Texas State Archives, 1838-1881, undated,
bulk 1847-1876
|
|
|
|
|
Creator: |
Jefferson County (Tex.) Commissioners
Court. |
|
Title: |
Jefferson County Commissioners Court
ferry records |
|
Dates: | 1838-1881, undated |
|
Dates (Bulk): | bulk 1847-1876 |
|
Abstract: |
Jefferson County Commissioners Court
ferry records document the board of commissioners' or commissioners court's issuance
of licenses for ferry boat operations on the Neches and Sabine Rivers in Jefferson
County, Texas. The records include petitions and bonds filed by individuals for
ferry licenses, ferry licenses granted by the commissioners court, a set of minutes
from an 1838 county commissioners meeting with agenda items pertaining to ferry
operations, and receipts signed by the tax assessor-collector for payment for ferry
licenses. The records date from 1838 to 1881 and undated, with the bulk dating 1847
to 1876. |
|
Quantity: |
0.2 cubic ft. |
|
Location: |
These records are housed at the Sam Houston Regional Library & Research Center, P.O. Box 310,
Liberty, Texas 77575, 936-336-8821. |
|
Language: |
These materials are in English. |
|
Repository: |
Texas State Archives |
|
Sponsor: |
This EAD finding aid was created in cooperation with
Texas Archival Resources Online. |
The Congress of the Republic of Texas created Jefferson County in 1836, and it was
organized the following year. A town of the same name originally served as the
county seat and had been named in honor of Thomas Jefferson. Beaumont became the
county seat in 1838. Jefferson County is situated in the Coastal Plain region of
southeastern Texas, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the south and surrounded by
Orange, Hardin, Liberty, and Chambers counties. According to the 2010 census, the
county's population was 252,273.
In Texas, county administration has been performed by various official entities since
the Republic. Prior to 1845, the chief governing body was the county board, composed
of the chief justice of the county court and the justices of the peace of the
county. Under the constitutions of 1845, 1861, and 1866, it was composed of the
chief justice and four elective commissioners; under the 1869 Constitution, it was
made up of any three of the five justices of the peace of the county. Under the
Constitution of 1876, the county commissioners' court or county board was composed
of the county judge, as presiding officer, and four commissioners elected from
precincts for two-year terms. A constitutional amendment adopted in 1954 changed the
term of office to four years.
The commissioners' court's duties include establishment of a courthouse and jail,
appointment of numerous minor officials such as the county health officer, filling
vacancies in the county offices, letting contracts in the name of the county,
building and maintenance of roads and bridges, administration of the county's public
welfare services, numerous duties regarding elections, setting the county tax rate,
issuance of bonds, adoption of the county budget, issuing licenses for operation of
ferry boats, and serving as a board of equalization for tax assessments.
(Sources include: Smith, Dick. "County Commissioners' Court" and
"County Organization"; and Kleiner, Diana
J. "Jefferson County," Handbook of Texas Online, all accessed March 6,
2017.)
Return to the Table of Contents
These records document the board of commissioners' or commissioners court's issuance
of licenses for ferry boat operations on the Neches and Sabine Rivers in Jefferson
County, Texas. They include petitions and bonds filed by individuals for ferry
licenses, ferry licenses granted by the commissioners court, a set of minutes from
an 1838 county commissioners meeting with agenda items pertaining to ferry
operations, and receipts signed by the tax assessor-collector for payment for ferry
licenses. The records date from 1838 to 1881 and undated, with the bulk dating 1847
to 1876.
The records include names and locations of ferries on the Neches and Sabine Rivers in
Jefferson County and rates charged for ferry transportation. They document the
activities of numerous early citizens of the Jefferson County area, including
William Ashworth, a free African-American who operated a ferry on Lake Sabine and
the Neches River; Nancy Tevis Hutchinson, one of the first Anglo settlers of
Jefferson County and one of the founders of Beaumont, Texas; and the Collier family
(John, Parsons, and Parsons' wife Ellen), who operated Collier's ferry on the Neches
River for many years. The records also document the operation of ferries in
Jefferson County by several women, including Nancy Hutchinson, Ellen Collier, and
Thirza Chessher (wife of James Chessher).
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
Arrangement of the Records |
|
The records have been arranged in seven groups by document type: petitions and
applications for ferry licenses; application for approval of a wharf extension;
bonds; ferry licenses; minutes of the county commissioners pertaining to ferry
operations; power of attorney; and receipts. Within these groups, records are
arranged alphabetically by surname. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Restrictions on Access
Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the Sam Houston Regional Library and
Research Center reading room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to
storage by staff members.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas county agencies are not copyrighted. County records
also include materials received by, not created by, county agencies. Copyright
remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S.
Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Technical Requirements
Some materials are too fragile to be photocopied. Please see Archives staff for
assistance.
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The
terms can be used to find similar or related records. |
|
Subjects (Persons): |
|
|
Ashworth, William,
1793?-1864. |
|
|
Collier, Ellen R.,
1808-1890. |
|
|
Collier, John, Sr.,
1802-1857. |
|
|
Collier, Parsons,
1801-1867. |
|
|
Hutchinson, Nancy,
1795-1863. |
|
Subjects: |
|
|
African Americans--Texas,
East--History. |
|
|
Rivers--Texas--Navigation. |
|
|
Transportation--Texas--Beaumont--History. |
|
|
Women--Texas--History--19th
century. |
|
Places: |
|
|
Jefferson County
(Tex.)--History. |
|
|
Neches River Region (Tex.)--History,
Local. |
|
|
Sabine River (Tex. and
La.)--Navigation. |
|
Document Types: |
|
|
Bonds (legal
records)--Texas. |
|
|
Licenses--Texas. |
|
|
Minutes (administrative
records)--Texas. |
|
|
Petitions--Texas. |
|
|
Powers of attorney--Texas. |
|
|
Receipts (financial
records)--Texas. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents
(Identify the item), Jefferson County Commissioners Court ferry records, Sam
Houston Regional Library and Research Center, Texas State Library and Archives
Commission.
Accession number: 1981.049
These records were transferred to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research
Center by the County Clerk of Jefferson County on November 16, 1981.
Processed by Sam Houston Center staff, date unknown
Updated by Lisa Meisch, March-April 2016
EAD encoding by Caitlin Burhans, December 2016
Return to the Table of Contents
An index of all geographic names, corporate names and surnames referenced in the
finding aid tying names to document numbers is available in the Sam Houston Center
reading room. Copies are available upon request. Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jefferson County Commissioners Court ferry records, 1838-1881, undated, bulk 1847-1876,
0.2 cubic ft. |
| Box |
Folder-Item |
| 1981.049-1 |
|
|
Petitions and applications for ferry
licenses |
|
1-1 |
|
|
Petition of William Ashworth and William C. Beard to permit
Beard to join Ashworth in the operation of his ferry on the Neches
River, June 9,
1845 |
|
1-2 |
|
|
Application of T.C. Chaisser (Chessher) for renewal of her
license to operate Chaisser's (Chessher's) ferry across Pine Island
Bayou, February 1,
1866 |
|
1-3 |
|
|
Application of James Chessher to establish a public road from
Beaumont to the county line in the direction of Town Bluff on the
Neches River and for a license for a ferry at the crossing of Pine
Island Bayou on said road, May 10,
1847 |
|
1-4 |
|
|
Petition of James Chessher for a license for a ferry on and
across Pine Island Bayou on the route leading from Beaumont to
Brown's ferry on Village Creek and at the place now in his
possession, November 17,
1847 |
|
1-5 |
|
|
Petition of Thirza Chessher for renewal of her license to
keep a ferry across Pine Island Bayou on the Woodville Road from
Beaumont, February 15,
1864 |
|
1-6 |
|
|
Application of Thirza Chessher for renewal of her ferry
license, February 8,
1867 |
|
1-7 |
|
|
Application of Thirza Chessher for renewal of her license for
the Chessher ferry, April 4,
1868 |
|
1-8 |
|
|
Application and bond of Thirza Chessher for renewal of her
license for her ferry on Pine Island Bayou opposite the town of
Concord, signed by Chessher, A.J. Tevis and Margaret
Tevis, January 1,
1872 |
|
1-9 |
|
|
Petition of E.R. Collier for renewal of her license for a
ferry across the Neches River at Collier's ferry, September 26,
1870 |
|
|
|
|
|
2-1 |
|
|
Application of E.R. Collier for a ferry on the Neches
River, January 17,
1876 |
|
2-2 |
|
|
Application of Ellen R. Collier for renewal of her license
for Collier's ferry, January 4,
1869 |
|
2-3 |
|
|
Application of John Collier for a license for a ferry at
Grigsby's Bluff above Beaumont on the Neches River, May 17,
1852 |
|
2-4 |
|
|
Petition of Parsons Collier for a renewal of his license for
a ferry across the Neches River at Collier's Ferry, February 15,
1864 |
|
2-5 |
|
|
Application of Elon (Ellen) R. Collier, administrator of the
estate of John Collier, deceased, for renewal of the license for
Collier's Ferry, January 4,
1868 |
|
2-6 |
|
|
Application of Benjamin Granger for a license for the Sabine
Pass ferry at Sabine Pass, October 20,
1876 |
|
2-7 |
|
|
Petition of Ursan Guidry for a license for Ballew's ferry on
the Sabine River, previously owned and operated by Richard Ballew
and Andrew R. Jones, signed by Benjamin C. Franklin as attorney for
the petitioner, November 17,
1851 |
|
2-8 |
|
|
Petition of Ursan Guidry for a license for a ferry across the
Sabine River at Ballew Crossing, May 12,
1851 |
|
2-9 |
|
|
Petition of Nancy Hutchinson for renewal of her license for a
ferry on the Neches River near the northwestern end of the town of
Beaumont, January 11,
1847 |
|
2-10 |
|
|
Petition of Nancy Hutchinson requesting the commissioners to
order William Ashworth and William C. Beard to cease the operation
of their ferry at the same location as petitioner's ferry (across
the Neches River at the upper or northwestern end of
Beaumont), July 12,
1847 |
|
|
|
|
|
3-1 |
|
|
Petition of Nancy Hutchinson for renewal of her license for
her ferry on the Neches River at the north end of the town of
Beaumont, August 14, 1852 |
|
3-2 |
|
|
Application of John C. Kucher for a ferry over Cow
Bayou, December 16, 1850 |
|
3-3 |
|
|
Petition of Henry Millard for a license for a ferry located
opposite Grigsby's on Pine Bluff, on the east side of the Neches
River about four or five miles above the town of Beaumont, "for the convenience and benefit of
travelers on a road direct from Beaumont to Grant's Bluff in
Jasper County," December 29, 1841 |
|
3-4 |
|
|
Petition of John and Augustin Montez (Monte) for a license
for a ferry on the east bank of the Neches River opposite Grigsby's
Bluff, June 28, 1842 |
|
3-5 |
|
|
Petition of John and Augustin Monte for a license for a ferry
on the Neches River near their residence and near the mouth of
Allen's Bayou and the place known as Allen's Landing, January 5, 1846 |
|
3-6 |
|
|
Petition of John and Augustin Monte requesting the county
court to appoint persons to view a road to cross the Neches River at
the mouth of George Allen's Bayou and the residence of the
petitioner, November 6, 1867 |
|
|
|
|
[Petitioner suggests John Turner, George Allen,
Stephen L. Smith and John Monte as viewers.] |
|
3-7 |
|
|
Petition of F.W. Ogden for a license for a ferry across
Village Creek near John Houston's, formerly known as Brown's
Ferry, May 21, 1849 |
|
3-8 |
|
|
Application of George Pominoy and Benjamin Granger for a
ferry across Sabine Pass from Lots No. 6, 7, 8, and 9 in Block One
(1), ___ One (1), May 15, 1871 |
|
|
|
|
[Signed by their attorneys, Likens and O'Brien.
Application also signed by J.W. Dorman, James McCall, T.B.
Whiting, Wesley Garner, N.S. Greenwood, William Allison, Sidney
Sweet, J.G.D. Murray, N. McGaffey. F.C.M. Reynolds, G.W. Hawley,
and T.R. Buford.] |
|
3-9 |
|
|
Petition of James H. Robbins, signed by F.W. Ogden, for a
license for a ferry across the Neches River at Grigsby's Pine Bluff
at "Montie's" (Monte's?) old
crossing, January 10, 1868 |
|
3-10 |
|
|
Application of John Sparks for a license for a ferry across
Taylor's Bayou, February 27, 1847 |
|
|
|
|
|
4-1 |
|
|
Petition of John Sparks requesting that the license for his
ferry across Taylor's Bayou (at the place where the public road
leading from Beaumont to Sabine Pass crosses said Bayou) be
rescinded and that he be released from his bond, May 20, 1850 |
|
4-2 |
|
|
Application of Andrew J. Tevis requesting the county court to
revoke the ferry license of L.T. Yates (who died on February 2,
1869) at Pine Island Bayou and grant the same to
petitioner, April 5, 1869 |
|
4-3 |
|
|
Application of Lemuel T. Yates for a license for a ferry over
Pine Island Bayou at the place now known as Goodins Ferry near the
mouth of said bayou, January 14, 1869 |
|
|
|
|
[R.H. Leonard signed for the
applicant.] |
|
|
|
Application for approval of a wharf
extension |
|
5-1 |
|
|
Application of A.B. Chamberlin, M.D., for extension of a
wharf in front of a quarantine station so that the station and
hospital can be used during low water, undated |
|
|
|
Bonds |
|
6-1 |
|
|
Bond of James Chessher for renewal of his license for a ferry
on the Beaumont and Woodville public road across the Pine Island
Bayou, June 8, 1839 |
|
|
|
|
[G. Landrum and L. O'Bryan,
sureties.] |
|
6-2 |
|
|
Bond of James Chessher for a license for a ferry across Pine
Island Bayou on the public road leading from Beaumont to Brown's
Ferry on Village Creek, January 10, 1848 |
|
|
|
|
[William Armstrong and David Burrell,
sureties.] |
|
6-3 |
|
|
Bond of James Chessher for renewal of his license for a ferry
across Pine Island Bayou at the Woodville Road, July 8, 1857 |
|
6-4 |
|
|
Bond of James Chessher for renewal of his license for
Chessher's ferry across Pine Island Bayou on the train road from
Beaumont to Woodville, October 8, 1860 |
|
|
|
|
[John W. Patridge and J.K. Robertson,
sureties.] |
|
6-5 |
|
|
Bond of Thirza Chessher for a license for a ferry across Pine
Island Bayou where the public road from Beaumont to Woodville
crosses the stream, June 24, 1867 |
|
|
|
|
[P.D. Bullock and Isaiah Junker,
sureties.] |
|
6-6 |
|
|
Bond of Thirza Chessher for a license for a ferry across Pine
Island Bayou where the public road from Beaumont to Woodville
crosses the stream, June 1868 |
|
|
|
|
[______ Bulloch and Isaiah Junker,
sureties.] |
|
|
|
|
|
7-1 |
|
|
Bond of E.R. Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River four miles north of Beaumont, known and licensed as
Collier's ferry, January 1872 |
|
|
|
|
[Starling Collier, L.T. Ogden, and J.B.
Langham, sureties.] |
|
7-2 |
|
|
Bond of E.R. Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River four miles north of Beaumont, known and licensed as
Collier's ferry, March 31, 1873 |
|
|
|
|
[J.B. Langham, E.C. Ogden, Starling Collier,
and A.R. McLain, sureties.] |
|
7-3 |
|
|
Bond of E.R. Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River four miles north of Beaumont, known and licensed as
Collier's ferry, July 22, 1874 |
|
|
|
|
[Starling Collier, A.R. McLain, and W.F.
Gilbert, sureties.] |
|
7-4 |
|
|
Bond of E.R. Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River four miles north of Beaumont, known and licensed as
Collier's ferry, January 1, 1875 |
|
|
|
|
[John Collier, L. Ogden, and Mark Wiez (?),
sureties.] |
|
7-5 |
|
|
Bond of E.R. Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River four miles above the town of Beaumont, known and
licensed as Collier's ferry, February 5, 1876 |
|
|
|
|
[G.W. O'Brien, John Collier, and R.L. Adcock,
sureties.] |
|
7-6 |
|
|
Bond of E.R. Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River at the place known and licensed as Collier's
ferry, January 1878 |
|
|
|
|
[A.R. McLain and George W. O'Brien,
sureties.] |
|
7-7 |
|
|
Bond of Ellen R. Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River, licensed as Collier's ferry, on the road leading from
Beaumont to Wiess Bluff, February 14, 1881 |
|
|
|
|
[C.C. Cantwell, H.E. Simpson, and R.L. Adcock,
sureties.] |
|
7-8 |
|
|
Bond of John Collier for a license for a ferry across the
Neches River about five miles above the town of Beaumont at the
place known as Grigsby's Bluff, May 18, 1852 |
|
|
|
|
[Worthy Patridge and Daniel Spillars,
sureties.] |
|
7-9 |
|
|
Bond of John Collier for renewal of his license for a ferry
across the Neches River about five miles above the town of
Beaumont, February 18, 1857 |
|
|
|
|
[John W. Patridge and John K. Robertson,
sureties.] |
|
7-10 |
|
|
Bond of Joseph and Nancy Hutchinson of one part, and William
Ashworth and William C. Beard of the other part, to submit their
lawsuit to arbitrators and abide by their decision, January 24, 1846 |
|
|
|
|
[Charles Williams and Nathan Holbert,
arbitrators.] |
|
|
|
|
|
8-1 |
|
|
Bond of Nancy Hutchinson for a ferry across the Neches River
at Beaumont, September 7, 1838 |
|
|
|
|
[Noah Tevis and A.J. Tevis,
sureties.] |
|
8-2 |
|
|
Bond of Nancy Hutchinson for a ferry on the Neches River
opposite the northwest end of Beaumont and on the road from Beaumont
to Ballew's Ferry on the Sabine River, January 13, 1847 |
|
|
|
|
[David Burrell and J.P. Pulsifer,
sureties.] |
|
8-3 |
|
|
Bond of Nancy Hutchinson for a ferry on the Neches River at
the point where the main road crosses from Wolf Point to Ballew's
Ferry on the Sabine River, July 10, 1848 |
|
|
|
|
[Joseph P. Pulsifer and George W. Tevis,
sureties.] |
|
8-4 |
|
|
Bond of Nancy Hutchinson for a ferry across the Neches River
at the north end of the town of Beaumont where the public road
leading from Ballew's old Ferry on the Sabine River to the town of
Liberty crosses said river, August 20, 1850 |
|
|
|
|
[Andrew J. Tevis, George Burrell, and Worthy
Patridge, sureties.] |
|
8-5 |
|
|
Bond of Nancy Hutchinson for a ferry across the Neches at the
north end of the town of Beaumont where the public road leading from
Ballew's old Ferry on the Sabine River to the town of Liberty
crosses said river, August 18, 1851 |
|
|
|
|
[D.J. Otho Millard and Andrew J. Tevis,
sureties.] |
|
8-6 |
|
|
Bond of Nancy Hutchinson for renewal of her license for her
ferry across the Neches River at the north or upper end of the town
of Beaumont, November 11, 1854 |
|
|
|
|
[Andrew J. Tevis and G.W. Tevis,
sureties.] |
|
8-7 |
|
|
Bond of Nancy Hutchinson for renewal of her license for her
ferry across the Neches River at the north end of Beaumont on the
road leading from Ballew's Old Ferry on the Sabine River to
Liberty, February 18, 1857 |
|
|
|
|
[Andrew J. Tevis and Noah Tevis,
sureties.] |
|
8-8 |
|
|
Bond of A.R. Jones for a ferry across the Sabine River at
Ballew's Old Crossing, November 17, 1851 |
|
8-9 |
|
|
Bond of John C. Kucher for a ferry at Cow Bayou, November 20, 1848 |
|
|
|
|
[Abraham Winfree and William Lewis,
sureties.] |
|
8-10 |
|
|
Bond of John C. Kucher for a ferry at Cow Bayou, August 22, 1849 |
|
|
|
|
[Larkin R. Thomas, security.] |
|
|
|
|
|
9-1 |
|
|
Bond of A. McClurg for a ferry across the Pine Island Bayou
opposite the town of Concord, formerly known as Chessher's
Ferry, June 15, 1876 |
|
|
|
|
[I.M.H. Fant, George W. O’Brien, R.H. Leonard,
O.P. Gilder, and W.J. Givin, sureties.] |
|
9-2 |
|
|
Bond of John Monty (Monte?) and Augustus Monty (Monte?) for a
ferry across the Neches River at Smith's Bluff, February 18, 1851 |
|
|
|
|
[Worthy Patridge and John A. Beaumont,
sureties.] |
|
9-3 |
|
|
Bond of F.W. Ogden for a ferry across Village Creek on the
public road from Town Bluff to Beaumont at the place formerly known
as Brown's Ferry, February 20, 1850 |
|
|
|
|
[Cave Johnson and Worthy Patridge,
sureties.] |
|
9-4 |
|
|
Bond of Andrew J. Tevis for a ferry across the Neches River
at the mouth of Pine Island Bayou, May 27, 1871 |
|
|
|
|
[H.C. Smith and Henry J. Jones,
sureties.] |
|
9-5 |
|
|
Bond of F.C. Womack for a ferry across Pine Island at the
place heretofore licensed as Chessher's Ferry, January 1, 1878 |
|
|
|
|
[F.A. LeBleu and I.G. Womack,
sureties.] |
|
9-6 |
|
|
Bond of Frank Womack for a ferry on Pine Island Bayou on the
road leading from Beaumont to Hardin, January 8, 1881 |
|
|
|
|
[C.C. Canwell and L.G. Womack,
sureties.] |
|
|
|
Ferry licenses |
|
10-1 |
|
|
License granted to William Ashworth for a ferry over the two
bayous and the Neches River, March 1, 1838 |
|
10-2 |
|
|
License granted to James Chessher for a ferry across Pine
Island Bayou on the road from Beaumont to Woodville at the place
known as Chessher's Ferry, March 5, 1862 |
|
10-3 |
|
|
License granted to Parsons Collier for a ferry across the
Neches River at the place formerly known as Grigsby's Bluff five
miles north of Beaumont, March 24, 1860 |
|
|
|
Minutes of the County Commissioners
pertaining to ferry operations |
|
11-1 |
|
|
Minutes recording the county commissioners' approval of Nancy
Tevis' ferry license petition and their approval of ferry charges
requested by William Ashworth, February 27, 1838 |
|
|
|
|
[Henry Millard, president of the commissioners;
Clark Beach, J.C. Read, G.A. Pattillo, and William H. Ireon (?),
members.] |
|
|
|
Power of attorney |
|
12-1 |
|
|
Power of attorney to George Bryan from Henry Millard,
appointing Bryan to sign Millard's name and affix his seal to any
instrument required by the county court and give any security
necessary to receive a license to keep a ferry across the Neches
River, December 30, 1841 |
|
|
|
Receipts |
|
13-1 |
|
|
Receipt to Parsons Collier from John W. Patridge, assessor
and collector, for payment of $12.50 for a ferry license in
Jefferson County for one year, February 20, 1862 |
|
13-2 |
|
|
Receipt to G.W. O'Bryan for James Chessher from John W.
Patridge, assessor and collector, for payment of $12.50 for a ferry
license in Jefferson County for one year, March 11, 1862 |
|
13-3 |
|
|
Receipt to H.E. Simpson for Mrs. "Hutchisin" (probably Nancy Tevis Hutchinson), from John
W. Patridge, assessor and collector, for payment of $12.50 for a
ferry license in Jefferson County for one year, February 24, 1862 |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
