San Augustine

In January 1833 a committee bought the townsite from Edmund Quirk for $90, the Handbook of Texas says. The tract had passed from Antonio Leal to Pedro Buigas in 1800 or 1801 and then to Quirk. Thomas S. McFarland's plat that year ran to 356 lots on 48 blocks. Ayish Bayou residents had already elected their first alcalde, Nathan Davis, and first sheriff, George English, in 1827. Mexican municipal government followed in 1834 under alcalde Charles S. Taylor, and the town was incorporated on June 5, 1837.

What the plaque says

San Augustine An early eastern gate to Texas, in area claimed in 1600s by both France and Spain. To back her claim, Spain in 1691 chartered from Mexico past this site El Camino Real (The King's Highway) and established nearby in 1717 Mission Dolores de los Aies. Inhabited by Ayish Indians and Spaniards until the late 1790s, when Richard Sims came and was soon followed by John Quinalty, Edmond Quirk and families of Broocks, Cullens, Cartwrights, Hortons, Hustons, Prathers and others. By 1824 the settlement had a water mill to grind corn meal; in 1826, a cotton gin. In the 1827 Battle of Ayish Bayou, Col. Prather and 69 men put down Fredonian uprising over land titles. The town was laid off in 1833 by Thomas McFarland. In 1836 it sent as delegates to sign Declaration of Independence S. W. Blount and E. O. LeGrand; fielded 3 companies to fight in the War for Independence. Its Republic of Texas statesmen included vice-president K. L. Anderson; J. A. Greer, Secretary of the Treasury; Wm. Holman, Congressman; J. Pinckney Henderson, Minister to England and France, and later the first Governor of the state. Oran M. Roberts was 16th governor. Home of the 1965 United States Ambassador to Australia Edward Clark. Many historic sites are marked. (1966)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Early Texas Sawmill — steps away
• Jerusalem Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church — 0.3 mi
• Site of the "Red Lander" Office — 0.5 mi
• Sam Houston in San Augustine — 0.5 mi