Four Brothers Tour is a one hour self-guided driving tour with map and notes. The land purchased, cleared, and farmed by the four Hancock brothers through which you will drive is now covered by subdivisions, businesses, and roads. Their houses and churches are gone but their legacy remains.
Salem, Rubin, Orange, and Payton Hancock were Austin pioneers who came to Travis County from their birthplace in Alabama as men enslaved by a white man, Judge John Hancock. These four men, all mulatto, were raised as brothers and continued to live as brothers even after slavery was abolished.
During slavery, most slaves were denied the basic right to live freely or to be educated but having children was encouraged. During slavery, all four men made enduring commitments in place of recorded marriages and had many children. After the Civil War, the rumor of “40 acres and a mule” proved untrue, but all four brothers managed to buy their own farmland within 15 years of the end of slavery. This was a rare achievement for formerly enslaved people. Their hard work and that of their wives and children—who helped raise crops and livestock, sold butter, eggs, and firewood, and supported neighbors—contributed significantly to their success. Not only did they own land, but they also created a church, organized a school, and registered to vote, securing their place in Austin’s history.
Today, descendants of Rubin and his two wives (Elizabeth Peoples/Fucles and Rosetta Williams), of Orange and Mary Randall and Rhody Holman, his wife of 40 years, and of Payton and Delphia Hubbard and wives Martha ?, and Annie Robinson, continue to live in Austin. Sadly, Salem has no descendants, but the impact of these four brothers lives on in the Austin community.
They were among only 10-15% of former slaves who owned land within 15 years of freedom—a significant achievement when considering the illiteracy that was forced upon them during slavery, which put most black workers at a disadvantage in negotiating with white landowners for work. The perseverance and hard work of these families helped them build a solid foundation for the future.
Immediately after the Civil War, Judge John Hancock, a slave-owning Unionist opposing the Confederacy, purchased the 1849 Moore-Hancock Farmstead, and it became a temporary home for one or more of Judge John Hancock’s former slaves. The neighboring Hancock mansion and slave quarters (now gone) were just a 5-minute walk northwest. At 2202 North Loop today apartment buildings occupy the land where the four Hancock brothers and their kin lived during slavery in five small slave houses in a grove of oak trees.
To get to this area, drive Shoal Creek Boulevard north to Cavileer, turn right, then left on Vine to the Davis family cemetery. This was the George W. Davis farm where three of the four brothers—Salem, Orange, and Payton—found work and lodging around 1870. They worked the land for Davis earning cash and taking a significant step toward independence.
Salem Hancock, the oldest brother, was the first to purchase his own land in 1871. Less than 2% of freed slaves owned land by 1870. He and Mollie owned a house and 25 acres straddling the Upper Georgetown Road (now Burnet Road) south of Loop 1.
To help visualize the size of 25 acres, imagine one acre as being about the size of a football field (excluding the end zones). Now, think about how much land 25 football fields would cover. The land Salem acquired was large enough to allow for farming and livestock, and maintaining such a large area would require a significant amount of time, effort, and resources.
Heading north on Duval to the railroad crossing, you’ll pass through the 100 acres that Orange Hancock purchased in 1874. Only 5% of freed slaves owned land this soon after slavery. The land was uncleared, and it took Orange years to clear just 33 acres of trees and stumps so he could plant crops. He faced enormous challenges: not only clearing trees and stumps but building a house and caring for livestock while also providing for wife Rhody and his thirteen children.The effort and endurance required to clear this land are truly remarkable, reflecting the struggles and determination of Orange to make this piece of land viable for farming.
Backtrack on Duval and head east on Amherst where you’ll pass through the 107 acres that Salem Hancock acquired in 1881. Like Orange’s land, this was uncleared at first, but since the oak trees provided acorns in the fall, Salem did not rush to clear the land because he raised hogs. And acorns were a vital food source for his livestock during the fall and winter months.
St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church and school became a key gathering place for black families in the 1870s and 1880s. Orange was a deacon here. The land for the church was donated by Anderson and Martha Peoples, an African American couple kin to the four brothers. The first church burned and was replaced with this brick building which the church has since outgrown.
Rubin Hancock was the last of the four brothers to purchase land, but he may have been renting that land for several years before purchasing. Rubin and Lizzie’s house was just north of the ball fields at Adelphi Lane and Waters Park Road.The land around this area is known today as Waters Park. Rubin’s neighbors included kinfolks, Anderson and Martha Peoples, “sister” Dorcas Gregg, and nephew, John Hancock, Salem’s son. Family ties and shared hopes helped all these families educate their young and prepare them for the future.
To get to Payton Hancock’s land, drive Parmer Lane to Lamar Blvd. (Lower Georgetown Road) and turn right. On the right, notice the Walnut Creek Metro Park. This is what uncleared land looked like. In 1877, Payton bought 50 acres in the Applegate Survey north of Payton Gin, the center of Fiskville. Payton’s property was crucial in supporting his family, as he built his home and helped develop the surrounding community. Five years later he bought another 72 acres. His kin, including the Jemima Hancock and Washington Corzine family, also had settled nearby, further cementing the Hancock family's presence in the area.
Finally, make your way to St. Paul’s Baptist Cemetery, a significant landmark for black families in the 1870s and 1880s and still in use today. The cemetery has about 500 graves, with 173 identified and fewer still with headstones. Many of the Hancock brothers and their descendants are buried here, marking a lasting legacy of resilience, hard work, and family.
If you combine all the land that Salem, Rubin, Orange, and Payton owned, it would be worth millions of dollars today in Austin, Texas. The city’s rapid growth and urban development mean that the properties they once worked on, which were used for farming and raising livestock, are now in highly valued areas. What they accomplished, despite the odds, is incredible. These brothers worked hard, not just to survive, but to build a future for themselves and their families.
The story of the Hancock brothers is one of perseverance, courage, and success against all odds. From being enslaved to owning land and building businesses, their journey shows the power of determination. Even when life seemed impossible, they found ways to overcome the challenges they faced. Their story is an inspiring reminder that with hard work, dedication, and a vision for the future, it’s possible to turn adversity into opportunity. Today, the legacy of these four brothers continues to inspire generations, showing that no matter where you start, you can make a lasting impact.
Research by Karen Sikes Collins, edited by Deya Jacobs-Adams
For more information about the four brothers and the Moore-Hancock Farmstead, visit the Farmstead Library at moorehancockfarmstead.com.