DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the one passing it along. Now, the last president of the Republic of Texas — that's a title with some weight to it. The Republic itself wasn't long for this world, but the man who held that office at the end was Anson Jones, and in 1844 he made a move that would define the rest of his days.
That year, Jones bought 1,107 acres right here in Washington County — picked 'em up from a man named M. Austin Bryan. He gave the place a name: Barrington.
Named it for his birthplace, all the way up in Massachusetts. A long way from here, friend. A long way from here.
For two years — 1844 to 1846 — this ground was about as close to a seat of power as Texas had. They called it the White House of Texas. And by 1845, Jones had built himself two dwellings, a kitchen, an office, a smokehouse, and stables.
A working world, rising up out of the Texas soil. Then came the moment that defined an era. Jones led the annexation of Texas to the United States in 1846.
The Republic — that bold, improbable, independent republic — folded itself into something larger. And the man who had been its last president? He came back here.
Retired to Barrington to become a gentleman farmer. More buildings went up in 1847. Life settled into a quieter rhythm.
He sold the plantation in 1857. The land passed on. But here's the thing about that house — it didn't vanish.
In 1936, it was moved to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park. The last house of the last president of the Republic of Texas, still standing. Still telling the story.
Some things outlast empires.
What the marker says
Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas, bought 1,107 acres here from M. Austin Bryan in 1844. This site, named "Barrington" for Jones' birthplace in Massachusetts, was the "White House of Texas" from 1844-46. By 1845 Jones had built two dwellings, a kitchen, office, smokehouse, and stables. After Jones' leadership in the annexation of Texas to the U.S. in 1846, he retired here to become a gentleman farmer. Other buildings were added in 1847. Jones sold the plantation in 1857. The house was moved to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park in 1936.