TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Organization of Collection
Restrictions
Index Terms
Administrative Information
Description of Series
New Washington Association, 1835-1850
Other Business Dealings, 1833-1841
Texas Revolution, 1836
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A Guide to the James Morgan Papers, 1833-1850
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Creator: |
Morgan, James. |
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Title: |
James Morgan Papers |
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Dates: | 1833-1850 |
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Creator Abstract: |
James Morgan (1787-1866) was a Texas pioneer, merchant, land speculator and Commander at Galveston during the Texas Revolution (1835-1836). He first came to Texas in 1830. In 1834, during the feverish era of speculation just prior to the Texas Revolution, Morgan organized an ambitious land venture called the New Washington Association. |
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Content Abstract: |
The collection is comprised of twenty-eight documents and letters. All but two of the documents were written before 1841. Most of the documents are related to Morgan and the establishment of the New Washington Association. Many of the documents bear Morgan’s own notes and docketing; some of them are his drafts or retaining copies. |
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Identification: |
MS 278 |
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Extent: |
0.5 linear feet |
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Language: |
Materials are in English. |
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Repository: |
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections |
James Morgan (1787-1866) was a Texas pioneer, merchant, land speculator and Commander at Galveston during the Texas Revolution (1835-1836). He first came to Texas in 1830. An empire builder and visionary, Morgan recognized the vast potential of Texas and cast his lot with speculators in New York City and Mexico City, who made it their business to wrest Texas from Mexico and annex it to the United States, while simultaneously hoping to realize large profits from the sale of land. In 1834, during the feverish era of speculation just prior to the Texas Revolution, Morgan organized an ambitious land venture called the New Washington Association. Other members of the venture included New Yorkers Samuel Swartwout, James Treat, James Watson Webb, Thomas E. Davis, John B. Austin, John S. Bartlett, Stephen Sicard, and Walter Mead, and from Mexico City, Lorenzo de Zavala.
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The collection is comprised of twenty-eight documents and letters. All but two of the documents were written before 1841. Most of the documents are related to Morgan and the establishment of the New Washington Association. Many of the documents bear Morgan’s own notes and docketing; some of them are his drafts or retaining copies.
This unpublished archive contains manuscripts on the Texas Revolution, including signed proclamations issued by President David G. Burnet following the Battle of San Jacinto. Included in this collection are manuscripts relating to Santa Ana’s incarceration in Texas as a prisoner of war. Republic Era manuscripts in include two letters written by Sam Houston to Colonel James Morgan.
The collection is organized into three series: New Washington Association; Other Business Dealings' and Texas Revolution. New Washington Association includes all documents related to the organization and devleopment of the association. Other Business Dealings is comprised of Morgan's other business dealings - incluing hist personal relationship with Sam Houston. Texas Revolution includes historical documents related to the Texas Revolution.
Selected material in this collection has been digitized and is available in our digital collections.
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Organization of Collection |
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Documents are in chronological order within each series. |
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New Washington Association |
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Other Business Dealings |
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Texas Revolution |
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Access Restrictions
This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.
Use Restrictions
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
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Personal Names |
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Morgan, James, 1787-1866. |
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Burnet, David Gouverneur, 1789-1870. |
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Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794?-1876. |
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Houston, Sam, 1793-1863. |
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Organizations |
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New Washington Association (Texas), 1834-1852. |
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Locations |
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New Washington (Tex.)--History |
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Texas--History--1836-1846. |
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Texas--History--Republic, 1836-1846. |
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Texas--History--Revolution, 1835-1836. |
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Genres/Formats |
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Correspondence. |
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Local Subjects |
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Business |
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Texas History |
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[Identification of item], James Morgan Papers, MS 278, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections
The collection was purchased at auction from Dorothy Sloan-Rare Books, Inc., in April 1997. According to its description at auction, the collection has been in private hands since the nineteenth century. A former owner of the manuscripts, J. C. Terrell, Jr., of the Fort Worth area, passed the collections to his heirs, where it remained until it was offered for sale. Terrell is a descendent of Capt. J. C. Terrell, lawyer, business-man, Civil War officer, and author of Reminiscences of the Early Days of Fort Worth (1906).
The collection was processed by Dennis Medina, Special Collections Librarian and Jose Faz, student intern.
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New Washington Association, 1835-1850 |
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Materials are arranged in chronological order. |
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Andrews, Edmund,20 April 1835 |
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Letter, signed to James Morgan. Brazoria, April 20,l 1835. Wreck and damage of a vessel belonging to the New Washington Association. |
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2 |
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Unknown,23 October 1835 |
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Manuscript, entitled, "Articles of Association 1835 NWA." New York, October 23, 1835. Twelve articles with confirmed signatures of all board members. |
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3 |
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Treat, James,13 November 1835 |
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Manuscript, signed. New York, November 13, 1835. Two extracts from the minutes of meetings held in October by “The Galveston Bay & Morgan Association.” |
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Unknown,30 August 1836 |
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Manuscript entitled, “Proceedings at a Meeting of the New Washington Assn.” New York, August 30, 1836. |
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Treat, James,September 1836 |
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Letter, signed twice, to James Morgan. New York, September 10, 1836, plus long postscript dated September 14. Report of the meeting of the NWA shareholders. |
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Baker, Moseley,14 January 1840 |
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Letter, signed, to James Morgan. Evergreen [Goose Creek, Harris County], January 13, 1840. Baker sends money to Morgan and asks him to look for his wines in the warehouse at New Washington. |
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Morgan, James,26 July 1841 |
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Manuscript, signed, to NWA, July 26, 1841. Report on NWA discussing financial problems, assets, loss of the schooner Flash, etc. |
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7 |
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Unknown,circa 1841 |
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Manuscript, with Morgan’s corrections, “List of Lands in Texas Owned by the N. Washington Association for which There are Deeds Obtained by the Agent J. Morgan.” |
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8 |
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Unknown,circa 1841 |
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Manuscript, with Morgan’s corrections,: “List of Lands Secured by Title Bonds, Contracts, etc.” |
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Morgan, James, 22 April 1850 |
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Letter to M. Rockwell. New Washington, Galveston Bay, April 22, 1850. Regarding organization of materials for substantiating the NWA claim against the Mexican government. |
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Patrick, George M., 26 June 1850 |
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Certified copy of deposition. Harris County, June 26, 1850. Made to substantiate the NWA claim for damages during the Texas Revolution. |
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Other Business Dealings, 1833-1841 |
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Materials are arranged in chronological order. |
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Morgan, James,1833-1837 |
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Four documents in Morgan’s own hand recording business transactions between Morgan and Dr. Nicholas Labadie. All dated at Anahuac, 1833-1837. |
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19 |
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Selby, A. B., 28 January 1841 |
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Letter, signed, to James Morgan. January 28, 1841. Shelby, a district judge, gives an opinion on what the structure of the government of the Republic of Texas should be, including its proper obligations. |
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23 |
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Houston, Sam,29 May 1841 |
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Letter, signed, to James Morgan. May 29, 1841. Houston asks Morgan to collect funds due him from Mr. Lee [Lea?], etc. |
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Kissam, Jacob, 24 June 1841 |
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Letter, signed, to James Morgan. New York, June 24, 1841. Revealing Morgan’s straits due to financial support rendered Texas during the Revolution and formation of the Republic. |
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24 |
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Houston, Sam, 30 July 1841 |
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Letter, signed, to James Morgan. July 30, 1841. The letter relates to Houston’s bitter 1841 presidential campaign against David G. Burnet. |
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Texas Revolution, 1836 |
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Materials are arranged in chronological order. |
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Barlow, L., 26 August 1835 |
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Letter, to L.H. Young, bookseller. Norfolk, August 26, 1835. Regarding immigration to Texas. |
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Texas (Republic). Army,6 June 1836 |
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Manuscript muster rolls of troops returned to Camp Travis [Galveston Island]. June 6, 1836. |
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Santa Anna, Antonio Lopéz de9 June 1936 |
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Manuscript, contemporary translation into English of Santa Anna’s protest to President David Burnet regarding his treatment while a prisoner of war following his capture after the Battle of San Jacinto. [Quintana or Velasco], June 9, 1836. |
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Burnet, David G., 10 June 1836 |
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Manuscript, contemporary copy of Burnet’s reply to Santa Anna’s protest (preceding). Velasco, June 10, 1836. |
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Burnet, David G., 11 June 1836 |
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Manuscript address, signed. Velasco, June 11, 1836. This document relates to the conduct of the New Orleans Volunteers and other citizens who became extremely exasperated with what they perceived to be their government’s temperate treatment of Santa Anna. |
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Unknown, 14 June 1836 |
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Treaty of Velasco. Contemporary copy or draft of the original treaty, misdated June 14 (rather than May 14), 1836. |
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Somervell, Alexander and David G. Burnet, 14 June 1836 |
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Manuscript written in the hand of Somervell, signed by both. Velasco, July 14, 1836. Proclamation revoking commissions issued to officers not then in actual service. |
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Texas (Republic). Army,20-26 July 1836 |
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Manuscript, contemporary copy of two orders (on reverse sides). Velasco, July 20, 1836, and Quintana, July 26, 1836. |
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