Imagine pioneering spirits seeking a fresh start. Here at the Moore-Hancock Farmstead Plaque, we honor a slice of Austin’s past. This marker commemorates the Moore-Hancock Farmstead. It whispers stories of families and resilience.
Let’s journey back to the mid-19th century. Irish native Martin Moore and his wife Elizabeth Ann White sought a life beyond their mercantile business. About 1850, they left their Austin home. They ventured north to establish a farm. Elizabeth inherited this 521-acre property in 1846. The Moores constructed the original log structures here as early as 1849. These buildings represent a rare surviving example of pioneer farmstead architecture.
The Moore family raised five children on this land. They engaged in stock raising and farming. In 1866, Elizabeth Moore, now widowed, sold the homestead to John Hancock. Hancock was a prominent local figure in law and politics. Hancock never resided here. It is believed that his former slave Orange and his family lived here in the late 1860s. Hancock’s nephews William and James worked on the farm during the 1870s and 1880s.
Franz Fiset purchased the farm in 1899. Subsequent owners altered the structures. By the mid-1980s, the farmstead fell into disrepair. In 1987, the city condemned the property. Major restoration began.
Michael and Karen S Collins purchased the property in 1989. Archaeological excavations and renovations were completed in 1993. It became the Collins family’s permanent home.
The Moore-Hancock Farmstead Plaque stands as a Texas Historic Landmark. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The plaque itself is an aluminum subject marker. It measures 27 x 42 inches.
Rubin Hancock a former slave of Judge John Hancock also has a connection to this land. After emancipation, Rubin and his brothers bought land north of Austin. They became landowners at a time when many were sharecroppers. The community they formed was known as Duval. It centered around family ties and St Stephens Missionary Baptist Church.
Archaeological digs on the Rubin Hancock farmstead revealed much about the lives of former slaves. Artifacts uncovered showed that the family enjoyed some finer things. They may have bought these items in Austin or through mail-order.
The Moore-Hancock Farmstead Plaque reminds us of Austin’s diverse history. It speaks of pioneers, landowners, and the resilience of those seeking a better life. The enduring legacy of the Moore-Hancock Farmstead continues to enrich Austin’s cultural landscape.