1843 Republic of Texas Treasury Warrant Samuel Whiting Chas Mason James Shaw

Description

1843 Republic of Texas Treasury Warrant Samuel Whiting Chas Mason James Shaw.
This January 23, 1843 Republic of Texas Treasury Warrant for .29 was issued to Samuel Whiting for printing services. Interestingly, it was not issued from Austin, but from Washington on the Brazos…most likely because of the “Archives War!” It was signed by Charles Mason, Auditor and James B. Shaw, Comptroller. It is endorsed on the back by Samuel Whiting. We did not write in pencil on the upper right of the warrant, but we were hesitant to try to erase it from 178 year old paper.
Samuel Whiting (1799-1863) was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He came to Texas in 1825, settling at Liberty on the bank of the Trinity River. He attended the Convention of 1833 as the representative from Liberty. Whiting served as secretary of the Consultation of 1835…see photo of article from the “Telegraph and Texas Register” San Felipe de Austin, 10/17/1835. He fought, along with about 90 others, under James Bowie and James Fannin in the Battle of Concepcion, October, 1835, which was considered the opening conflict in the “Siege of Bexar.” He is cited as killing a Mexican soldier who was attempting to spike the cannon that the Texans wanted seize. See excerpt from the book “History of Texas” Volume I page 376 by H. Yoakum, Esq. published 1855.
During the Revolution, Whiting served as “loan officer” of the Texas Navy. He was also in the Texas Cavalry and achieved the rank of colonel. He was appointed Public Printer of the Republic of Texas and served 4 years. He was the publisher of several newspapers: the Houston “National Intelligencer” 1838-39, the “Austin City Gazette” 1839 and the Austin “Daily Bulletin” 1841-42 (see photo from that paper 12/7/1841).
Whiting was a great supporter of Sam Houston until the “Archives War,” when he turned against him. His extreme criticism of Houston put him out of favor around the politicos in Austin, so he felt compelled to move to New York. 1843, he married for the second time after arriving there. His first marriage ended after 2 years upon his wife’s death about 1840. Whiting had at least three children with his second wife. He became a successful businessman in the clothing industry. He died in 1863 and is buried in the Old North Cemetery, Hartford, Connecticut.
Charles Mason (1810-1882?) was born in Augusta, Georgia. He traveled to Texas sometime in 1834 and enlisted in the Texas Army in 1835. Mason fought in the Battle of Gonzales in October, 1835. He also fought in the “Siege of Bexar.” At the Battle of San Jacinto, he fought under Captain Andrew Briscoe, Company A. He became the chief clerk for the Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas in 1837. From 1838-39, he was acting Secretary of War and he was appointed the first Auditor of the Republic of Texas in 1839. Charles married Evaline DeWitt (1817-1891) in 1838. She was the daughter of Texas Impresario Green DeWitt. They had at least two children. Charles and Evaline are buried in the Gonzales Masonic Cemetery, Gonzales County.
James B. Shaw (1818-1889) was born in Ireland. He came to Texas in 1837. He served the Republic of Texas as Comptroller from 1839-1859! As part of his job, he represented Texas in Washington, D. C. in 1850 to collect ,000,000 as payment for land given up to become parts of New Mexico and Colorado in the Compromise of 1850. James married Mary Bonnycastle in Washington, D. C. in 1859. He had built a two-story Greek Revival mansion in west Austin on 365 acres. But when his young wife and daughter died in 1859, he sold the home to Governor Elisha Pease. He tried to leave Texas at the beginning of the Civil War and got as far as New Orleans, where he was captured by General Butler. In 1862, he was allowed to sail to Europe. By 1870, he was back living in Galveston. James owned many acres of land in Atascosa, Henderson, Montgomery, Jefferson and other counties. He had traveled north for his health and was staying in the Westminster Hotel in New York when he died in 1889. He and Mary are buried in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky.
7 X 3 3/4 inches, sepia color. Condition is used. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail and insurance.