New Washington Association

The New Washington Association was a land speculation venture started by a group of New York investors in 1834. The company hired James Morgan to serve as the principal agent in Texas, and he acquired Nicholas Clopper’s 1600-acre homesite to form the planned town of New Washington. The Association also purchased two schooners, the Flash and Kosciusko, to ferry supplies and settlers to the town. During the Texas Revolution, the townsite was abandoned when Morgan was placed in command of Galveston Island, and Mexican forces seized the buildings, confiscated all the goods and burned the town. The Association tried to collect damages from the Texas government and later Mexico for its losses but was unsuccessful because members of the Association had taken up arms against the Mexican government. The Association continued to invest in lands in Texas, including the town of Swartwout, Tex. Morgan made multiple claims for payment for his services from the Association, claims that went unresolved into the 1850s.