Nassau Plantation (Texas)
Encyclopedia
Nassau Plantation was a 4428 acre (17.9 km²; 6.9 sq mi) endeavor purchased by the Adelsverein
on January 9, 1843 in Fayette County, Texas
, near what is now Round Top
. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
in 1968, Marker 3550.
and Count Viktor August of Leiningen-Westerburg-Alt-Leiningen, at a cost of seventy-five cents an acre. It was named for the Archduke of Nassau
, in whose castle the Adelsverein was established. The acreage was developed as a full working plantation by slave labor bought by Count Boos-Waldeck in New Orleans, Galveston
and Houston. When Prince Solms inspected the plantation in 1844, he recommended the Verein divest itself of the property, rather than be associated with slavery.
Initially, the plantation had been considered as the primary base for arriving German immigrants, but instead they went to colonies established by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
and John O. Meusebach
. It became a luxury noblemen's retreat for representatives of the Adelsverein. Prince Solms enjoyed horse racing and extravagant entertaining on the property. John O. Meusebach
resided at Nassau from April to July of 1846 to recover his health.
One of the early managers of Nassau appointed by Prince Solms was Friedrich W. von Wrede Sr. from Oberhausen
, Germany. On October 24, 1845, Wrede and New Braunfels
botanist Oscar von Claren were scalped and killed by Indians while camping about ten miles from Austin
.
Adelsverein
Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, better known as Adelsverein , organized on April 20, 1842, was a colonial attempt to establish a new Germany within the borders of Texas.-History:...
on January 9, 1843 in Fayette County, Texas
Fayette County, Texas
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 21,804. Its county seat is La Grange. Fayette is named for the Marquis de la Fayette, a French nobleman who became an American Revolutionary War hero...
, near what is now Round Top
Round Top, Texas
Round Top is a town in Fayette County, Texas, United States. The population was 77 at the 2000 census.Round Top is the home of three visitor-drawing programs:...
. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
in 1968, Marker 3550.
Original purchase
The league of land was purchased near from what is now Round Top, from Robert Mills by Adelsverein officers Count Ludwig Joseph von Boos-WaldeckCount Ludwig Joseph von Boos-Waldeck
Count Ludwig Joseph von Boos-Waldeck was a German noble who promoted the settling of Texas by Germans....
and Count Viktor August of Leiningen-Westerburg-Alt-Leiningen, at a cost of seventy-five cents an acre. It was named for the Archduke of Nassau
Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Adolphe I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Biography:...
, in whose castle the Adelsverein was established. The acreage was developed as a full working plantation by slave labor bought by Count Boos-Waldeck in New Orleans, Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
and Houston. When Prince Solms inspected the plantation in 1844, he recommended the Verein divest itself of the property, rather than be associated with slavery.
Initially, the plantation had been considered as the primary base for arriving German immigrants, but instead they went to colonies established by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels , was a German prince and military officer in both the Austrian army and in the cavalry of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. As Commissioner General of the Adelsverein, he spearheaded the establishment of colonies of German immigrants in Texas...
and John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach , born Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach, was at first a Prussian bureaucrat, later an American farmer and politician who served in the Texas Senate, District 22.-Early years:John O...
. It became a luxury noblemen's retreat for representatives of the Adelsverein. Prince Solms enjoyed horse racing and extravagant entertaining on the property. John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach , born Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach, was at first a Prussian bureaucrat, later an American farmer and politician who served in the Texas Senate, District 22.-Early years:John O...
resided at Nassau from April to July of 1846 to recover his health.
One of the early managers of Nassau appointed by Prince Solms was Friedrich W. von Wrede Sr. from Oberhausen
Oberhausen
Oberhausen is a city on the river Emscher in the Ruhr Area, Germany, located between Duisburg and Essen . The city hosts the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen and its Gasometer Oberhausen is an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. It is also well known for the...
, Germany. On October 24, 1845, Wrede and New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
botanist Oscar von Claren were scalped and killed by Indians while camping about ten miles from Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.