The Colony in Denton County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Hedgcoxe War
Distribution of land in the Peters Colony of North Texas triggered a dispute known as the Hedgcoxe War. The Texas Emigration & Land Co. organized the colony under an 1841 Republic of Texas law which allowed it to keep one-half of a settler's grant. After protests, this right was repealed, but in Feb. 1852 the company was compensated with 1,088,000 acres of vacant land within the colony. This action angered settlers and speculators with land certificates, who feared that the large grant would lower land values.
At that time, the company's unpopular agent, English-born Henry O. Hedgcoxe, operated a land office on nearby Office Creek. On July 12 and 13, 1852, a group of Dallas men broke in and examined the land records. They reported to a meeting in Dallas on July 15 that the company was defrauding the colonists. John J. Good (1827-82), later mayor of Dallas, then led a band of armed men to Hedgcoxe's office. Hedgcoxe escaped, but most of his files were seized and the office burned.
After the raid, tensions quickly cooled. The law was amended so that settlers obtained their grants from the state rather than from the company agent. The company kept its land grant, however, and Hedgcoxe returned to help survey the tract.
Incise in base: Marker sponsored by Fox & Jacobs, Inc.
Erected 1975 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5351.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 33° 4.835′ N, 96° 53.209′ W. Marker is in The Colony, Texas, in Denton County. Marker is at the intersection of Blair Oaks Drive and South Colony Boulevard, on the right when traveling north on Blair Oaks Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: The Colony TX 75056, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. David Gregory Fox Jr. (here, next to this marker); Belz Road Bridge at Duck Creek (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bridges Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Baccus Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); a different marker also named Baccus Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); Black Cutter (approx. 3.8 miles away); Texas Longhorn (approx. 3.8 miles away); Vaquero (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in The Colony.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2021, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 272 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2023, by Morgan Petermann of Irving, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on October 28, 2021, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.