Presbyterian Manse Jefferson, Texas

 

Aaron Grigsby's Claims  For Additional Expenses, July 18, 1868 (Journals of 1868 Constitutional Conventions-Session One) (Link)

"CAPITOL. AUSTIN, TEXAS,
July 18th, 1868.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
Roll called. Quorum present. Prayer by the Chaplain.
Journal of yesterday read and adopted.
Mr. McCormick, from the Committee on Contingent Expenses,
made the following reports:

COMMITTEE ROOM,
July 18th, 1868.
Hon. E. J. DAVIS,
President of the Convention:
SIR: The Committee on Contingent Expenses, who were instructed to consider the claims of members who were induced to travel circuitous routes, etc., in coming to the Convention, and to report what additional expenses, if any, shall be allowed, have been presented the claim of A. Grigsby, one of the delegates from Bowie, Davis and Marion.

Mr. Grigsby says, that he was reliably informed and assured that a conspiracy was formed in this district he represents to assassinate him on his way to the Convention, if he traveled any of the usually travelled routes, and that it thus became necessary for him, in order to teach this Capitol alive, to travel by way of New Orleans, thereby incurring about eighty dollars additional expenses and days' additional time in coming to the Convention. to what would have been required could he have travelled the ordinary route. Mr. Grigsby says, he w-as thus forced to travel eight hundred and fifty miles in addition to the distance by the nearest route, and he claims that one half of that amount. that is, four hundred and twenty-five miles, should be allowed him in addition to the mileage computed by the usually travelled route; this, Mr. Grigsby says, is four hundred, and added to the extra mileage, makes eight hundred and twenty-five miles in coming to the Convention. In the very nature of the case the committee rest their judgment almost entirely upon the statements of the claimant, and the committee are of opinion, that it is due to the constituents represented by the member, to pay his claim for mileage as presented, and let him answer it to his constituents if the claim is improperly made.

It is, however, due to truth, to state in this connection, that other delegates from the eastern part of the State corroborate the statements made by the claimant so far as the existence of a prevailing apprehension among Republicans, that the members from Bowie, Davis and Marion, would be assassinated on their way to the Convention. The committee have, therefore, instructed me to report the accompanying resolution and recommend its passage.
A. P. McCORMICK,
Chairman.

Resolved, That the Secretary of this Convention be, and he is hereby instructed to admit the claim of A. Grigsby, to mileage for eight hundred and twenty-five miles in coming to the Convention, and to issue his certificate to said A. Grigsby for said mileage as claimed."

"CAPITOL, AUSTIN, TEXAS,
DECEMBER 14, 1868.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
Roll called.
Quorum present.
Prayer by the Chaplain.
Journal of Saturday read and adopted.

The president caused the following letters to be read from Messrs. Grigsby, Boyd, Muckleroy, and Talbot, resigning their seats in the Convention:

JEFFERSON, TEXAS.
September 30, 1868.
To Major General J. J. REYNOLDS,
Commanding Fifth Military District:

DEAR SIR: Having determined to abstain from any further participation in political affairs, I deem it due to the people of this the first election district to give them an opportunity of selecting a delegate whose thoughts run in such channels. I, therefore, hereby tender my resignation as a member of the Constitutional Convention of Texas.

It may not be amiss to add that I take this step with no feeling of hostility to the reconstruction party with which I have acted, but purely on private grounds.
Respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) . AARON GRIGSBY."

"On the 12th of March, 1875, a re-organization took place, with the following officers and members:

Rev. Aaron Grigsby,'pastor; Larkin Durrett, Joseph W. Barnet, and Mack B. Roach, ruling elders ; and Joseph W. Barnet, Mrs. V. M. Barnet, Matilda A. Browder, Mrs. Elizabeth Durrett, Larkin Durrett, Samantha Durrett, J. W. H. Ezel, Mary D. Ezel, S. E. Ezel, Fannie J. Grigsby, Martha Grigsby, John A. Harris, J. T.^Harris, Texanna Harris, Mary S. King, Susan D. Loving, Charles W. Lindsey, Elizabeth Patten, Warren Patten, Mrs. Mary Parsons, Annie M. Roach, Mack B. Roach, Mrs. Sue M. Roach, Ellen Robinson, L. E. J. Squyres, Elizabeth Wagner, G. W. Wagner, R. C. Wagner, Mary A. Wagner, Angeline Williams and R.

C. Williams. Rev. Mr. Grigsby continued as pastor nearly twenty months, since which time the Cumberland Presbyterians have had no regular service. "

"Likewise, when Aaron Grigsby, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jefferson, voiced abolitionist sentiments on the eve of secession, harassment forced him to flee."

"On October 10, 1855, the Rev. Douglass, and the Rev. Allison Templeton, reorganized the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Originally organized on May 2, 1841 by the Rev. William B. Dawson, and the Rev. Aaron Grigsby, the organization was not permanent lasting for only two or three years."

Links

Grigsby, Thomas Aaron

Mrs. Martha H. Grigsby nee Hornbeak - Fannin - Family History ...

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