Land Lease for Tyler Courthouse, April 1854 - Page 1 |
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Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | Land Lease for Tyler Courthouse, April 1854 |
| Subject |
Correspondence Land Law & legal affairs |
| Description | Land lease from William Davenport, Tyler, Texas, to U.S. government for use of house as a courthouse. Handwritten. |
| Date | 1854-04 |
| Identifier | A126, Box3, Folder5 |
| Collection |
Watts Family Papers |
| Biographical Note | John Watts, a son of Arthur Watts, was born about 1752 in Virginia. A participant in the American Revolution, he enlisted in the Virginia Dragoons as a Cornet on June 17, 1776. By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Captain. Later he served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Light Dragoons, U.S. Army, from January 8, 1799 until June 8, 1800. According to descendant Jessie Watts Roberts, John Watts was a personal friend of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. John Watts was awarded 4,944 acres in Bedford County, Virginia for his military service. John Watts married Elizabeth (Betsy) Roberts and according to John's will, they had two sons and a daughter still living in 1830: Arthur (1809-1866), William W. Watts (d. ca. 1846), and Elizabeth R. Watts Scott. Another daughter, Sarah C., probably died prior to 1830. The William W. Watts family lived in Liberty, Virginia; Delaware Springs, Ohio; and Columbus, Mississippi. William W. Watts traveled frequently to arrange for the collection of debts, in and out of court, for which he received a commission. William W. Watts' son John Leyburn Watts was born about 1824 in Virginia. He married Mary Frances Garner (b. 1837; d. 1896) and they lived the remainder of their lives on a farm in San Augustine. According to census records, they had at least four sons and three daughters. In 1855 John was appointed a Deputy US Marshall by Marshall Ben McCulloch. (Watts Family Papers, East Texas Research Center, Ralph W. Steen Library, Stephen F. Austin State University). |
| Scope and Content Note | The Watts Family Papers contain original correspondence, land documents, legal and financial papers pertaining to several generations of the Watts family. The geographic range of the collection includes Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, and Texas, with special emphasis on San Augustine County, Texas. Notable items in the collection from an historical perspective are the letters of James Pinckney Henderson, dating from 1843 to 1857. As a lawyer friend residing in San Augustine, Henderson advised William W. Watts about the debt collection business. At least three of the letters relate to Henderson's initially secret mission to negotiate a treaty of annexation between the United States and Texas in 1844. Henderson was inaugurated Governor of Texas in February 1846. The collection also contains teaching certificates authorizing John to teach second grade in San Augustine County in 1881 and 1882. |
| Associated Dates |
1850-1859 |
| Type | Financial & Legal Records |
| Language | English |
| Repository | East Texas Research Center |
| Repository Link | http://library.sfasu.edu/etrc/ |
| Transcript | United States of America District and State of Texas This indenture made and entered into on this the 20th of April A.D. 1854. by and between William Davenport of Tyler Smith County Texas, of the first part and the United States of America of the Second part Witnesseth: That the party of the first part of the consideration of Seven hundred and fifty dollars per annum to be paid to him quarterly by the party of the Second part to Wit, One hundred and eighty seven dollars and fifty cents, on the first day of August, 1854. and the like Sum on the first day of November 1854 and the like sum on the first day of February 1855 and the like Sum on the first day of May 1855. Grants bargains and leases by these presents to the party of the Second part a certain wooden framed building. Situated in the Town of Tyler, Smith County, Texas, for the Term of One Year from this date. Said building being of the following dimensions, and discription (sic). forty five feet in length by thirty five in breadth, and two stories high, containing on the lower floor, One large room, - and in the upper story, three rooms, with a pasage (sic) way, the house being built upon Lot No 3 In block no five in the said Town of Tyler, and Only One year old, And the party of the first part also agrees and binds himself for the consideration aforesaid to finish and fit with the necessary fixtures the lower Room of said house, before the first day of April next, for a court room for the District Court of the United States, held at said Town of Tyler To wit a stand and desk of the Judge, a railing for the bar, with the necessary Tables, and desk for the accommodation of the attorneys, and clerk of said Court. Also four benches of sufficient size to accommodate thirty six men, for Jury seats, all of these fixtures to be made of good pine, or cedar lumber, well seasoned, and finished in a workmanlike manner to the satisfaction of the United States Marshall for this District And the said party for the first part, also binds himself to fit the other three rooms in said house for Jury rooms, for the Grand and Petit Jurys (sic), in attendance on Said Court, with benches and a table for each room. It being understood that, that other necessary furniture is to be furnished by the party of the Second part to wit, the Chairs for the Judge, Bar and clerk, with cloth necessary to cover the desks and tables with the carpeting for the inside of the Bar, and curtains for the windows The party of the first part agreeing when they are furnished, to have the curtains hung the desks and tables covered, and the carpeting laid down. The party of the first part covenants with the party of the Second part, that the house and ground on which it Stands is his own property, and the he will not sell, or dispose of it in any way, so long as the party of the Second part chooses to rent the Same for a Court house, he also covenants, and agrees to keep the house and premises, in good repair, So long as the party of the Second part rents the Same and pays the quarterly rent above mentioned This contract to have an end on the destruction of Said house of fire. In Witness of all which the parties, the party of the Second part acting by Ben McCulloch United States Marshal for the time being for said District have hereunto Set their hands and affixed their Seals at Tyler this the 20the day of April A.D. 1854 Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Wm Davenport Test I M Clough } Ben McCulloch J. F Walker } United States |
| Rights | This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is available for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the East Texas Research Center at asketrc@sfasu.edu. |
Description
| Title | Land Lease for Tyler Courthouse, April 1854 - Page 1 |
| Repository | East Texas Research Center |
| Repository Link | http://library.sfasu.edu/etrc/ |
| Rights | This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is available for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the East Texas Research Center at asketrc@sfasu.edu. |
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