 |
|
Sam Houston Research Collection |
Military Payment Voucher Sam Houston to George W. Hockley
The document on display, dated March 4, 1843, is a memento of the Texas Heritage. Immediately recognizable is the distinctive signature of Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto and first elected president of the Republic of Texas. The document pertains to his second period of service in the presidency after the intervening term of MiraBeau B. Lamar. The brief and relatively informal authorization of the withdrawal of funds from the treasury not only portrays one of Houston’s official acts in the service of Texas, but it also brings forth recollections of other outstanding Texans. George Washington Hockley, the payee, was a long-time friend of whom Houston, when he was a congressman from Tennessee, had first known in Washington.
Payment of the order was actually made to John P. Bordon, who signed the
receipt on
the
reverse side of the document as agent for his brother. With Gail Bordon, Jr.,
John Bordon has come to Texas in 1829, received a grant in Stephen F. Austin’s
second colony, fought in the battle of San Jacinto , laid out the town of
Houston, and served as the first commissioner of the General Land Office. During
his later life John Bordon was attorney and cattleman. On the date of his death,
November 12, 1890, he was the last surviving commissioned officer among the San
Jacinto Vetarans.
|
© Special Collections Division
The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries
For further information:
