Title:
Apothecary scales, Dr. Anson Jones
Description:
Scales with seven weights, housed in custom velvet-lined wooden box. Includes two small, brass square weights marked 1 and 2 scruple (?) respectively and five flat metal square pieces, marked 1996.18.5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Description:
Historical Note: These scales belonged to Dr. Anson Jones as per accession information. Anson Jones, doctor, congressman, and the last president of the Republic of Texas, was born at Seekonkville, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on January 20, 1798. He moved to Texas in October 1833 and soon had a medical practice at Brazoria. As tension between Texas and Mexico mounted, he counseled forbearance and peace until the summer of 1835, when he joined in signing a petition for the calling of the Consultation, which he visited. At a mass meeting at Columbia in December 1835, he presented resolutions for calling a convention to declare independence but declined to be nominated as a delegate. When war came he enlisted. After brief service as apothecary general of the Texas army, Jones returned to Brazoria, evicted James Collinsworth from his office with a challenge to a duel, and resumed practice. Jones was elected a representative to the Second Congress. As chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, he advocated a withdrawal of the Texas proposal for annexation to the United States. At the end of his congressional term, President Sam Houston appointed him minister to the United States in June 1838 and authorized him to withdraw the annexation proposal. Jones's purpose as minister was to stimulate recognition from and trade relations with Europe in order to make the United States desire annexation or to make Texas strong enough to remain independent. This gave him the title of Architect of Annexation. He was recalled by President Mirabeau B. Lamar in May 1839. On May 17, 1840, Jones married Mrs. McCrory at Austin and in the spring of 1841 returned to practice in Brazoria. He declined candidacy for the vice presidency in the election of 1841, in which Houston again became president. Houston appointed Jones his secretary of state, and from December 13, 1841, until February 19, 1846, Jones managed the foreign relations of Texas through a series of crises. Jones was elected president of Texas in September 1844 and took office on December 9. After James K. Polk's election as president of the United States on a platform of reannexation of Texas and President John Tyler's proposal of annexation by joint resolution, Jones maintained silence on the matter. But the Texas Congress declared for joining the Union. Before Jones received official notice of the joint resolution, the charges of England and France induced him to delay action for ninety days. He promised to obtain from Mexico recognition of Texas independence and delayed calling the Texas Congress or a convention. Meanwhile, public sentiment for annexation and resentment against Jones mounted. On June 4, 1845, Jones presented to the people of Texas the alternative of peace and independence or annexation. The Texas Congress rejected the treaty with Mexico, approved the joint resolution of annexation, and adopted resolutions censuring Jones. The Convention of 1845 considered removing Jones from office. He subsequently retained his title, though his duties were merely ministerial. On February 19, 1846, at the ceremony setting up the government of Texas as a state in the Union, Jones declared, The Republic of Texas is no more. Then he retired to Barrington, his plantation near Washington-on-the-Brazos. He died in Houston on January 9, 1858, and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery at Houston.
Identifier:
ATF0403
Item identifier:
ATF0403
Collection:
Artifacts collection
Date range of creation:
1820 to 1850
Container information:
Artifact Box 0128
Geographic coverage:
Texas
Subject:
Jones, Anson, 1798-1858
Subject:
History
Subject:
Texas, Republic, 1836-1846
Type:
Image
Type:
Weights and Measures Tools and Equipment
Type:
Scale, Apothecary
Medium:
Wood (plant material)
Medium:
Metal
Citation information:
ATF0403, Artifacts collection. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Copyright information:
This image is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States. The Item and its design depicted in this image may be protected by copyright, patents, trademarks, or other related rights. You are free to use this image in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Unless expressly stated otherwise, Texas State Library and Archives Commission makes no warranties about the Item and cannot guarantee the accuracy of this Rights Statement. You are responsible for your own use. Please contact the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for more information. You may need to obtain other permissions for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy or moral rights may limit how you may use the material.
Size or duration:
5.5 in x 2.6 in x 1 in