Descriptive Summary
Burke, John R., 1792?-1855
Burke, John R., papers
1828, 1832,
1851
Materials are written in English.
1 vol.
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin
One volume of transcribed
correspondence and a list of home furnishings composes the John R. Burke Papers,
1828, 1832, 1851, and documents Burke’s belongings and his friendships with Sam
Houston and Andrew Jackson.
Biographical Note
Born in the 1790s in England or the United States, Colonel John R. Burke founded the town of Burkeville, Newton County,
Texas, in 1844. Before that time, he acquired considerable wealth, possibly in
Tennessee or Georgia, and befriended both Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston, perhaps
while in military service. In his new town, Burke served as a school trustee and a
postmaster. He also represented Newton County in the Texas Legislature from 1853 to
1855. Although the nature of their relationship is unclear, Burke and Mary W. Burke
donated land for Burkeville’s Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he was the
first buried in the Church’s cemetery upon his death in 1855.
Source:
Eckel, Jennifer.
Burke, John R.
Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed October 28, 2010.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbuav.
Scope and Contents
One volume of transcribed correspondence and a list of home furnishings composes the
John R. Burke Papers, 1828, 1832, 1851, and documents Burke’s belongings and his
friendships with Sam Houston and Andrew Jackson. The correspondence includes an 1832
letter to Burke from Andrew Jackson, thanking Burke for the gift of a cane, and a
personal letter from Sam Houston, dated Huntsville, Texas, July 19, 1851.
Additionally, the collection contains an invitation to a ball honoring Andrew
Jackson in New Orleans, Louisiana, dated January 10, 1828, and a list of pictures,
furnishings, and personal items in the Burke home in Chirino, Texas, with a few
genealogical notes.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research use.
Index Terms
Subjects (Persons)
Burke, John R., 1792?-1855 -- Archives.
Houston, Sam, 1793-1863.
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845.
Places
Burkeville (Tex.)
Chirino (Tex.)
Preferred Citation
John R. Burke Papers, 1828, 1832, 1851, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History,
The University of Texas at Austin.
Processing Information
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project, 2009-2011.
Detailed Description of the Papers
Inventory
2Q457
John R. Burke Papers, 1828, 1832, 1851