In the 1840s an organization of German noblemen, the Mainzner Adelsverein, attempted to settle thousands of German emigrants on the Texas frontier. Nassau Plantation, located near modern-day Round Top, Texas, in northern Fayette County, was a significant part of this story. James C. Kearney has studied a wealth of original source material (much of it in German) to illuminate the history of the plantation and the larger goals and motivation of the Adelsverein. This new study highlights the problematic relationship of German emigrants to slavery. Few today realize that the society's original colonization plan included ownership and operation of slave plantations. Ironically, the German settlements the society later established became hotbeds of anti-slavery and anti-secessionist sentiment. Several notable personalities graced the plantation, including Carl Prince of Solms-Braunfels, Johann Otto Freiherr von Meusebach, botanist F. Lindheimer, and the renowned naturalist Dr. Ferdinand Roemer. Dramatic events also occurred at the plantation, including a deadly shootout, a successful escape by two slaves (documented in an unprecedented way), and litigation over ownership that wound its way to both the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.
JAMES C. KEARNEY has a degree in German and history from the University of Texas. He teaches German at Katy High School and has been a featured speaker at numerous conventions and symposia on Texas-German subjects.
"Nassau Plantation is well grounded in primary sources with good biographical information on the major characters. This will be a valuable reference work."--Walter Buenger, author of Secession and the Union in Texas and coeditor of Texas Through Time "An excellent reference work as well as a stimulating read for anyone interested in Texas history, the history of slavery in the United States, and Texas German cultural studies."--Texas Books in Review "In depth, thoroughness, and scope, Nassau Plantation has no equal in the literature of the Society. It will become the standard reference on this topic and will be of interest to scholars of German-Texan history as well as to the large element of German-Texans."--Wolfram M. Von-Maszewski, editor of Voyage to North America 1844-45: Prince Carl of Solms's Texas Diary of People, Places, and Events "Kearney provides a well-written and interesting story about Germans in the Texas Hill Country that will be welcomed by aficionados and local historians."--American Historical Review "The topic is excellent. The only extended monographs on the Adelsverein and German emigration to Texas date to the early twentieth century. A lot of material has come to light since these studies appeared, and Kearney is on top of the sources."--Walter Struve, author of Germans and Texans "This well-written, studiously researched book recounts the entire history of Nassau Plantation during the era it existed as a German establishment prior to the Civil War. The narrative is based on a number of German-language sources in addition to a complete survey of county-level records. Especially useful to students interested in the German history of Texas and the institution of slavery during the antebellum era."--Choice "The author has skillfully used the history of Nassau Farm . . . as a lens through which to examine the dynamics of the emigration society itself and the rivalries and disagreements that encumbered its board of directors and eventually brought about its financial collapse. Kearney probes several inherent contradictions in the ambitious program of the Adelsverein, chief among which was the desire to create an aristrocratic and hierarchical colony in an intensely democratic frontier culture. . . . [Kearney] is gifted with the analytical and narrative skills of a seasoned historian."--Southwestern Historical Quarterly "This significant survey is thoroughly researched and thoughtful. Kearney manages his task well; the book is valuable reading for students, friends, and scholars of Texas history, particularly those who are interested in the relationship of German Texans to Texas society during the antebellum period. It is a must read."--Journal of South Texas ""Nassau Plantation" is well grounded in primary sources with good biographical information on the major characters. This will be a valuable reference work."--Walter Buenger, author of "Secession and the Union in Texas" and coeditor of "Texas Through Time" "In depth, thoroughness, and scope, "Nassau Plantation" has no equal in the literature of the Society. It will become the standard reference on this topic and will be of interest to scholars of German-Texan history as well as to the large element of German-Texans."--Wolfram M. Von-Maszewski, editor of "Voyage to North America 1844-45: Prince Carl of Solms's Texas Diary of People, Places, and Events" "The topic is excellent. The only extended monographs on the "Adelsverein" and German emigration to Texas date to the early twentieth century. A lot of material has come to light since these studies appeared, and Kearney is on top of the sources."--Walter Struve, author of "Germans and Texans" "This well-written, studiously researched book recounts the entire history of Nassau Plantation during the era it existed as a German establishment prior to the Civil War. The narrative is based on a number of German-language sources in addition to a complete survey of county-level records. Especially useful to students interested in the German history of Texas and the institution of slavery during the antebellum era."--"Choice" "An excellent reference work as well as a stimulating read for anyone interested in Texas history, the history of slavery in the United States, and Texas German cultural studies."--"Texas Books in Review" "Kearney provides a well-written and interesting story about Germans in the Texas Hill Country that will be welcomed by aficionados and local historians."--"American Historical Review"
