Antebellum Jefferson, Texas: Everyday Life in an East Texas Town

4. Townsite

43 Ferry A ferry was in operation across Cypress Bayou at the foot of Houston Street for years before Jefferson came into existence and for years afterward, even after it was replaced by a bridge as the major mode of conveyance. A ferry was simply a means of conveying men, animals, produce, and equipment across a waterbody. Its existence indicates that people were traveling from one place to another. Thus, a ferry operation needs to be understood in the context of the overland route of which it was a part. The earliest history of Jefferson, which appears in the September 1, 1876, Daily Jimplecute, says that the first person to live within the boundaries of what was to become Jefferson was Berry Durham in 1840, with the land then being in Paschal County, and that “He built his cabin on the bank of the river near where the Marshall road so long crossed by ferry and bridges, under an arrangement or lease with Allen Urquhart, for the purpose of establishing a ferry at that point.” The comment concerning Paschal County in 1840 cannot be correct, because it did not come into existence until January 1841; but the year 1840 is probably correct for the building of the cabin and 1841 and Paschal County for the beginning of the operation of the ferry. Urquhart conducted a survey of the property that was to become Jefferson in November 1841. The inset map accompanying this survey shows a northwest-southeast tending road crossing Cypress Bayou 4. Townsite 44 Antebellum Jefferson, Texas through the survey at the right place. The existence of the road on the map indicates the existence of a ferry. This road was not in existence on October 24, 1840, when a map of Harrison County now in the General Land Office was prepared for Chief Surveyor Richard Hooper. The ferry probably was established after Urquhart’s survey of the contiguous Humphries tract in June 1839, which apparently gave rise to the selection of the property that was to become Jefferson, and after William Hamilton set the corners for Urquhart’s property on November 9, 1840. The road to Jefferson, implying the existence of a ferry, was mentioned by Urquhart in his May 26, 1841, survey of the Burrell Parker headright. Durham does not appear in the Red River County tax rolls completed in July 1840, but does appear in the 1841 rolls completed in July, with a notation that he was in the Paschal County division. It can be assumed that Durham began operating the ferry for Urquhart between November 1840 and May 1841, apparently building his cabin in late 1840 and beginning operation of the ferry in early 1841. In order to operate a ferry, it was necessary to construct a boat and facilities, to own or lease the landing area on both sides of the bayou, and to secure the privilege of operating the ferry from the county commissioners courts, because the commissioners were responsible for transportation facility licensing and road maintenance. Unfortunately, the commissioners court minutes for Red River and Bowie counties are not available for these early years, and the commissioners court minutes for Harrison County (the other side of the bayou) do not begin until July 1843. Thus, it is necessary to turn to the deed records for evidence , with the recognition that some early deeds were not filed and others have been lost. The first documentation of a ferry occurs in a February 3, 1842, bond for title from Urquhart to Durham, with Urquhart acting as part owner and agent of the Jefferson Town Company and lease administrator of the Jefferson ferry. Durham is to have half interest in the ferry and a lease for six years to cultivate the 30 acres contiguous to the ferry and to remove timber for building or fencing. It is apparent from this document that Durham had already been operating the ferry for Urquhart and that he was securing a new or renewed proprietary interest in the boat. 45 Townsite A new agreement was signed on October 2, 1842, nullifying the former. Urquhart transferred ownership of the boat to Durham, with the stipulation that it not be sold for five years; and Durham would have the privilege of operating the ferry for two years from the previous June, apparently with Urquhart retaining some interest in the revenues generated by the ferry operation. This agreement does not...