SELECTIONS FROM THE CATALOGUE OF THE SPANISH COLLECTION OF THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE Part II Correspondence, Empresario Contracts, Decrees, Appointments, Reports, Notices & Proceedings pertaining to DeWitt’s Colony Compiled and written by Galen D. Greaser Texas General Land Office 2003 PREFACE How to Use the selections in this Catalogue Each entry in the topical list has been assigned a number, followed by the addresser and addressee and the description of the document or expediente. The place of origin, nature, and length of the document are noted in parentheses at the end of the description. The last line of each entry supplies the date of the record and its location. The location of the record is given by a number such as 43/2, p. 138, where 43 refers to the box, 2 is the folder number, and p. 138 is the page number, usually found in the upper-right corner of the record. The location of items included in the copybooks kept by the political chief of Nacogdoches is given by reference to the specific copybook (PCCVP, PCNSS, or CPCNA), followed by the page number. If a translation of a document has been located, this is also noted at the end of the entry. The abbreviation RTEC, for example, refers to a bound volume of translation in the Texas General Land Office called “Record of Translations of Empresario Contracts.” Signs and Abbreviations A. Autograph D. Document Df. Draft L. Letter S. Signed [ ] Information supplied from a source other than the document … Omissions [?] Doubtful Comm. Commissioner Gov. Governor GSC General Business Regarding the Spanish Collection Laws… Kimball, J. P., Laws and Decrees of the State of Coahuila and Texas… Papers… McLean, Malcolm, Papers Concerning Robertson’s Colony in Texas CPCNA Correspondence between the Political Chief of Nacogdoches and the Ayuntamiento PCCVP Political Chief [of Nacogdoches] Correspondence with Various People PCNSS Political Chief of Nacogdoches to Secretary of State Government RTEC Record of Translations of Empresario Contracts (bound volume of manuscript translations at the Texas General Land Office) G.D.G. ix TOPICAL LIST leagues of land granted by the government to Byrd Lockhart. Surety and bond posted by DeWitt’s Colony (#16-22); see also #835-910 Green DeWitt and George Managhan. (Gonzales, D.S., 4 pp.) 16. Navarro, Comm. José Antonio 4/26/1831 34/31, p. 833 List of documents compiled by Commissioner Navarro contained in a file of important 22. Navarro, Comm. José Antonio documents for DeWitt’s colony. The items listed List of colonists granted land by José Antonio here, with the exception of the last two (title and Navarro in DeWitt’s colony, including the names plat of the Gonzales town tract), are found on of the grantees, their civil status, number of pp. 813-836 in Box 34, Folder 31. The title and persons in each family, amount and plat to the Gonzales town tract are in Box 33, classification of the land granted, and the Folder 45. (D., 1 p.) payments due. The last page is a tabulation of these categories. (Gonzales, D.S., 10 pp.) 0/0/1833 34/31, p. 811 11/9/1832 34/32 17. Viesca [Gov. José María] to Comm. José Antonio Navarro 48. Establishing Martín de León’s Colony Appointing José Antonio Navarro commissioner Founding of Martín de León’s colony, with copies for Green DeWitt’s colony. (Leona Vicario, L.S., 4 of the following documents: copy of Martín de pp.) Leon's petition to the Texas Provincial Deputation seeking permission to establish a 1/29/1831 34/31, p. 813 colony (4/8/1824), the deputation's approval (4/13/1824) and Governor Gonzales' ratification (10/6/1825) (p. 241); letter from Political Chief 18. Green DeWitt’s empresario contract Ramón Músquiz to Commissioner Fernando de Green DeWitt's empresario contract for 400 León transcribing a communication from the families with the state of Coahuila and Texas, governor in response to claims on behalf of De with copies of DeWitt's petition (4/7/1825) and León’s colony (7/19/1831) (p. 249); copy of two the terms and conditions of the contract decisions of the Permanent Deputation of the (4/15/1825). This certified copy made by Juan state Congress upholding Power and Hewetson's Antonio Padilla on 4/15/1825. (Expediente, contract and denying the assertions of De León copy, 7 pp.) and the ayuntamiento of Goliad (July and 4/15/1825 34/31, p. 817 August 1831) (p. 253); letter from Acting Political Chief José Antonio de la Garza to Martín de León transcribing a communication from the 19. Navarro, Comm. José Antonio to Byrd governor advising of the lapse of DeWitt's Lockhart contract and the activation of the contract obtained by Manchola on behalf of De León Appointing Byrd Lockhart principal surveyor for (8/29/1832) (p. 257); copy of the 1827 DeWitt’s colony. Bond for Lockhart posted by instructions to commissioners (p. 261); Governor James Kerr and Charles Lockhart. (Gonzales, Viesca's approval of De León's request, through D.S., 3 pp.) Rafael Antonio Manchola, to settle an additional 4/14/1831 34/31, p. 825 150 families (4/30/1829) (p. 265); Martín de León's request for a commissioner (12/1/1830) and Gov. Letona's appointment of Fernando de León to this position (4/20/1831) (p. 269); 20. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. appointment of José M. J. Carvajal as principal of Béxar, to Comm. José Antonio Navarro surveyor of De León’s colony and bond posted by Transcribes the governor's communication of him (9/17/1832) (p. 273); appointment of James 3/10/1826 approving, with modifications, the Kerr as principal surveyor of De León’s colony plan for the town of Gonzales. (Béxar, L.S., 2 and bond posted by him (4/7/1835) (p. 275); pp.) letter from Ramón Músquiz to Fernando de León transcribing the governor's decision invalidating 4/4/1831 34/31, p. 829 that part of De León’s colony that was in conflict with Green DeWitt's and authorizing Músquiz to 21. Navarro, Comm. José Antonio to Kimber resolve questions of this nature in the future W. Barton (6/5/1831) (p. 277); letter from Músquiz to Fernando de León communicating that Juan Appointing Kimber W. Barton surveyor for four 10 Guajardo had been ordered to desist from acting Saucedo's referral of De León's petition to the as commissioner in Power and Hewetson’s governor (8/21/1825) and Governor Rafael colony until such time as his appointment could Gonzales' decision in this matter (10/6/1825) be verified (12/6/1832) (p. 281); letter from [pp. 88-91]; another petition by De León asking Músquiz to Fernando de León authorizing him to that a commissioner be appointed to establish distribute land and to establish the town of the boundaries of his colony (5/18/1827), Guadalupe Victoria and transcribing a Governor Víctor Blanco's order to Political Chief communication from the governor to the effect Saucedo to appoint a commissioner for the that Power and Hewetson's contract was colony (6/15/1827), and Saucedo's offer to recognized by the federal government and that perform this duty (7/8/1827) [pp. 91-94]. the claims of individuals to land in the area of (Expediente, copy, 24 pp.) their contract were to be respected (8/1/1832) 7/8/1827 124/4, p. 71 (p. 285). (Legajo, 50 pp.) RTEC, pp. 55-69. 4/8/1824 97/1, p. 240 445. Letona [Gov. José María] to [Ramón 62. Green DeWitt’s empresario contract Músquiz,] Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar Green DeWitt's empresario contract, with a copy Transcribing his communication to José Antonio of DeWitt's petition to the governor for the right Navarro, commissioner for DeWitt’s colony, to settle 400 families (4/7/1825) and the terms indicating that since the grant given to Rafael and conditions of the contract (4/15/1825). Manchola [attorney for Martín de León] on April (Saltillo, expediente, copy, 5 pp.) 30, 1829, conflicted with boundaries previously 4/15/1825 117/19, p. 27 approved for DeWitt’s colony, said grant could RTEC, p. 19. have no effect. Circulated by Músquiz to the alcaldes and commissioners on June 14, 1831. 369. Kerr, James, Agent for DeWitt’s Colony, (Leona Vicario, L.S., 3 pp.) to José Antonio Saucedo, Political Chief of 5/2/1831 124/4, p. 97 Dept. of Texas RTEC, p. 70. Acknowledging the appointment of José Antonio Saucedo as commissioner for DeWitt’s colony 686. Letona [Gov. José María de] to [Ramón and offering to present the town plat of Gonzales Músquiz,] Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar to him for the modifications ordered by the governor. (San Felipe de Austin, L.S., 2 pp.) Transcribes a communication from the commandant general on the advisability of 6/19/1826 123/7, p. 75 removing the scattered settlers and families who RTEC, p. 292. were not part of a colony into the colonies of Green DeWitt and Austin; instructions to political chief. (Leona Vicario, L.S., 2 pp.) 443. Martín de León’s Colony 7/14/1831 125/20, p. 234 Expediente pertaining to the approval of Martín de León’s colony and its boundaries. The file includes copies of the following documents: 687. [Músquiz, Ramón,] Political Chief of communication from the alcalde of Goliad to the Dept. of Béxar to [José María de Letona,] governor relative to foreigners settling at Governor of Coahuila and Texas Guadalupe Victoria and lack of Mexican settlers there (3/26/1825) [p.