October’s Treasure of the Month features navigational instruments owned by Captain Norman Hurd, who was a purser on the Texas Navy ships Brutus and Austin.
The Texas Navy
The first iteration of the Texas Navy was the Texian Navy, which was created in 1835 by the Consultation of the Republic of Texas to aid in the Texas Revolution against Mexico. It consisted of four schooners: Liberty, Independence, Invincible, and Brutus. The Texian Navy blockaded the Texas coast and seized Mexican supply ships to weaken Mexican forces.
In 1839, the Texian Navy became the Texas Navy with the creation of the Republic of Texas. Then, when Texas joined the United States in 1846, the Texas Navy merged into the US Navy. In 1958, the Texas Navy was symbolically re-established as the Third Texas Navy by Governor Price Daniel. The Third Texas Navy functioned primarily as a social club, holding annual Admiral Balls where the governor reviewed the fleet at the San Jacinto Monument. The Third Texas Navy was renamed the Texas Navy Association in 1972 and designated as a non-profit. The Texas Navy Association still exists today and is headquartered in Galveston.
Captain Norman Hurd
One of the best represented figures from the Texas Navy in the Rosenberg Library’s collection is Captain Norman Hurd. Born in New York in 1785, Hurd spent much of his early life in Connecticut. He eventually joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy and sailed as a civilian for many years. In 1835, Hurd moved to Lynchburg, Texas, where he opened the first steam sawmill in Texas with his business partner, David G. Burnet.
In 1838, Hurd was commissioned into the Texas Navy. He first served as purser of the Brutus, then as purser of the sloop-of-war Austin, until the Navy was dissolved in 1846. As a purser, Hurd would have been responsible for all money handling aboard the ship, including ordering supplies for the crew.
After leaving the Navy, Hurd became a customs officer, first at Galveston, and later at Sabine in 1850. Hurd died in Galveston in 1870. His family donated several of his belongings from his time on board the Brutus to the Rosenberg Library, including this telescope and parallel ruler.
The telescope is made of maple and brass and was manufactured in London, England by C. West. The parallel ruler is made of ebony and brass. Parallel rulers were used to draw directional lines on charts. The brass hinge pieces allow the two sides of the ruler to move closer together or further apart while remaining parallel. In his role as a ship’s purser, Hurd would have needed to ensure these items and other navigational instruments were stocked on board, along with plenty of food, clothing, and other supplies.
Want to learn more about the Texas and US Navy? Visit the Galveston Navy Week pop-up booth on October 26th in Trustees Hall on the fourth floor of the library. Find this and other Navy Week events at: https://rosenberglib.librarycalendar.com/events/month/2024/10
The Treasure of the Month is located on the library’s historic second floor near the East Entrance. It can be viewed during regular library hours, 9:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For museum questions, call 409.763.8854 Ext. 125 or email museum@rosenberg-library.org. For press inquiries, contact the Communications Coordinator.
