Estate document for Samuel A. Burton

Collection

Identifier: MS 0087

Staff Only

Finding aid note: Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

The document is an instrument entered in the records of Houston County, Texas, authorizing that all the personal property belonging to one Samuel A. Burton and all the property real and personal owned jointly by David L. and Samuel A. Burton be sold to the highest bidder at a public sale to take place on June 3, 1851, at the courthouse door in Crockett, Texas. Content on the first of the two pages ends with a statement that John I. Burton did sell, at the specified time and place, to the highest bidder, “the following described property belonging to said estate: viz.”

The second of the two pages lists property, including 430 acres of land, eleven enslaved persons (identified by name, age, and gender), fifty head of hogs, and various pieces of equipment. The document concludes with the statement that the listed property was bought by David L. Burton for $3500.

Dates

Creation: 1851

Creator

Burton, Samuel A. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish information from the Estate Document for Samuel A. Burton, 1851 must be facilitated through the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Biographical / Historical

Samuel A. Burton was a property owner and enslaver in Houston County, Texas, the first county established by the Republic of Texas. The document authorizing public sale of his property was filed on April 14, 1849, in the county courthouse in the town of Crockett (the county seat).

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 document)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The first page is the legal instrument authorizing public sale of the property of one Samuel A. Burton, deceased. Page two includes a list of enslaved persons including their first names, genders, and ages. It ends with detail of when the sale took place. The second page lists the property that was sold to the highest bidder, one David A. Burton, and its purchase price, $3500.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This document was purchased at auction.

Processing Information

This finding aid was reviewed for harmful, offensive, and aggrandizing language in August 2021. Published titles and names of organizations with this language are not edited. Legacy finding aids are available by request. If you have suggestions, please email woodson@rice.edu.