James Taylor Gaines

James Taylor Gaines (1776-1856) was an early Texas entrepreneur, adventurer, Republic of Texas congressman, and signee of the Texas Declaration of Independence. He was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, to Thomas and Susanah Strother Gaines. In 1803-04 he accompanied his cousin, General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, by order of President Thomas Jefferson, on an expedition along the Natchez Trace to survey the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. He operated a general store in Natchitoches until 1812, when he began management of the Pendleton Ferry on the Sabine River. As a member of the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition in 1812, he commanded groups of Alabama and Coushatta Indians. He also ventured to Virginia to serve in the War of 18 12 against British troops. He returned to the expedition in 1813 and was defeated at the Battle of Rosalis near San Antonio. , In 1819 Gaines purchased the ferry operation on the Sabine and operated an inn, mercantile, and frontier post office. In that same year, Gaines joined the Long Expedition, supposedly as they crossed by his ferry. He served as alcalde for the Sabine District, Sheriff of Nacogdoches in 1828, and maintained a position as postmaster for many years. In 1826-27 he joined forces opposing Haden Edwards in the Fredonian Rebellion. He represented the Sabine region at Washington-on-the-Brazos for the Convention of 1836. He sat on the drafting committee, signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped to write the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. He served on the 4th, 5th, and 6th congresses, representing Harrison, Sabine and Shelby Counties. He sold his ferry in 1843 and moved to Bastrop where he helped push for annexation. He followed his sons to California in 1850 where the trio discovered the Gaines Ledge of Gold. Gaines died in California in 1856 and is buried near Oakland.