Descripción
Single leaf, entirely in ink manuscript, 7-5/8" x 12-3/4." Signed in ink by Edwin Wagner, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence; Andrew Jackson Bell, Texas legislator, Sheriff of Austin County, and large landowner; John York, Indian fighter and soldier in the Texas Revolution; William Pettus, active in the Texas Revolution, large landowner, and participant in early Texas struggles for independence [online Texas State Historical Association]. James A. York, who participated in the capture of San Antonio in 1835 [Historical Marker Database]; Thomas H. Bell; J.I. McHenry, Chief Justice of Austin County. Archival tape repairs to horizontal split and short closed tear [minimal loss]. The signers posted bail for Andrew Jackson Bell, accused of murdering Henry Mathers. We surmise that Bell was acquitted. His obituary calls him a veteran of F.W. Johnson's Company in the Texas War of Independence; he was elected sheriff of Austin County in 1850 and Representative to the State Legislature in 1854. During the Civil War, Bell was the enrolling officer for the Western District of Austin County. His namesake, President Andrew Jackson, was purportedly the best man at the wedding of Bell's parents. The document reads in full: "The Republic of Texas, County of Austin: Know all men by these presents that we Andrew Jackson Bell, James A. York, John York, Thomas H. Bell, and William Pettus all of the Republic and County aforesaid are held firmly bound unto Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas aforesaid, and his successors in office in the sum of forty thousand dollars, for the payment of which, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and each of us, our and each of our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Signed and sealed (with our scrolls for seals) this the nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-three. "The conditions of the above obligations are such that, whereas the above bounden Andrew Jackson Bell, was this day (April 19th 1843) brought before the Honorable J. K. M'Crady Chief Justice of said county, and Edwin Wagner, Esq., a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, on a writ of Habeas Corpus, and after having the evidence against said Andrew Jackson Bell, on a charge for the murder of Henry M. Mathers, on an indictment and true bill found by the Grand Jury of the County of Austin, at the April Term 1843 of the Hon. District Court in and for said County, the said J. K. McHenry Chief Justice and Edwin Wagner Esq. Justice of the Peace, assisting the said J. K. McHenry Chief Justice, ordered, that the said Andrew Jackson Bell be admitted to bail in the amount of forty thousand dollars. Now if the above bounden Andrew Jackson Bell shall appear in proper person at the next term of the Honorable District Court in and for said County and from day to day. . . and that he will not depart from the said court without leave then this obligation to be null and void otherwise to remain in full force and effect. [signed] A. J. Bell John York J. A .York Thos. H. Bell Wm. Pettus J. K. McHenry, Chief Justice AC Edwin Wagner, Justice PAC".
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