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 Robertson 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 Robertson s Colony (#911-941) 911. Gonzales, Gov. Rafael to [José Antonio Saucedo,] Political Chief of Dept. of Texas Copy of the terms and conditions of Robert Leftwich's empresario contract of April 15, 1825. (Saltillo, L.S., 4 5/19/1825 126/27, p. 277 RTEC, p. 22. 912. Ruiz, Francisco, Military Commandant Reporting the arrival of Sterling Robertson and six others to explore the area of their colony. (Tenoxtitlán, A.L.S., 2 10/30/1830 126/28, p. 279 913. [Elozúa, Antonio,] Principal to Manuel de Mier y Terán, Commandant General Sketch of a letter transcribing the communication from Francisco Ruiz on the arrival of Sterling Robertson. (Béxar, Df., 2 11/9/1830 126/28, p. 280 914. Ruiz, Francisco, Military Commandant Communicating Sterling Robertson's report that several families were in route to his colony and inquiring how to proceed in light of Elozúa's communication of 10/26/1830 forbidding the introduction of Americans. (Tenoxtitlán, A.L.S., 2 11/13/1830 126/28, p. 281 915. [Elozúa, Antonio,] Principal to Manuel de Mier y Terán, Commandant General Sketch of a letter transmitting the communication from Francisco Ruiz dated Nov. 13, 1830 (Box 126:28, p. 281) relative to the arrival of families in Robertson's colony and requesting a decision. (Béxar, Df., 2 11/19/1830 126/28, p. 282 916. Mier y Terán, Manuel de, Commandant General to [Antonio Elozúa,] Principal Ordering Elozúa to tell the commandant of Tenoxtitlán to inform Sterling Robertson that colonization had been suspended by the law of April 6, 1830, and asking Elozúa to inform the political chief of this decision for purposes of taking the appropriate measures. (Matamoros, L.S., 2 12/20/1830 126/28, p. 283 917. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar, to Antonio Elozúa, Principal Communicating that he had now received Col. José de las Piedras' report concerning the nine families of Robertson colonists who entered in contravention of Piedras' orders, as well as a letter from Robertson stating that the commandant of Tenoxtitlán had prevented him from establishing his colony. Reports that he had written the governor about Robertson's families, who now happened to be in a place under the jurisdiction of Elozúa [the place formerly occupied by the Tenoxtitlán detachment], and that he could thus take the actions he deemed appropriate. (Béxar, copy, 2 12/10/1830 126/28, p. 284 918. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar, to Antonio Elozúa, Principal Acknowledging Mier y Terán's communication to Elozúa dated 12/20/1830 (Box 126:28, p. 283) relative to the suspension of the empresario contracts and ordering Elozúa to have Francisco Ruiz deliver Sterling C. Robertson and his families to the military commandant of Nacogdoches for removal from Texas. (Béxar, L.S., 2 2/9/1831 126/28, p. 285 919. Mier y Terán, Manuel de, Commandant General, to [Antonio Elozúa,] Principal Instructing Elozúa to give orders that neither Sterling Robertson nor any other American family be permitted to settle at Tenoxtitlán. (Matamoros, L.S., 2 12/31/1830 126/28, p. 286 10
920. [Elozúa, Antonio,] Principal to [Francisco Ruiz,] Military Commandant of Tenoxtitlán Sketch of a letter forwarding a copy of Mier y Terán's communication dated 12/20/1830 (see Box 126:28, p. 283). (Béxar, Df., 1 p.) 1/18/1831 126/28, p. 287 921. Ruiz, Francisco, Military Commandant Acknowledging the order from Mier y Terán, transmitted by Elozúa, to prevent the settlement of Sterling C. Robertson or any other American family at Tenoxtitlán and promising to comply with it. (Tenoxtitlán, A.L.S., 2 2/16/1831 126/28, p. 288 922. Ruiz, Francisco, Military Commandant Acknowledging the order from Mier y Terán dated 12/10/1830 (Box 126:28, p. 283), transmitted by Elozúa, relative to informing Sterling Robertson that colonization was suspended by the law of April 6, 1830, and promising to comply with it as soon as Robertson presented himself. (Tenoxtitlán, A.L.S., 2 2/16/1831 126/28, p. 289 923. Ruiz, Francisco, Military Commandant Reporting that despite his best efforts he had been unable to obtain a list of the families with Sterling Robertson and that he was enclosing the only item he had obtained, a notice in English that he could not translate (the notice in English not found here). (Tenoxtitlán, A.L.S., 2 3/10/1831 126/28, p. 290 924. Ruiz, Francisco, Military Commandant Acknowledging Músquiz' communication of 2/9/1831 (Box 126:28, p. 285), transmitted by Elozúa, relative to the expulsion of Sterling Robertson and nine families and reporting that the families had not arrived at his post and that the condition of his horses and the lack of information on the families and their whereabouts precluded his soldiers from looking for them. (Tenoxtitlán, A.L.S., 2 3/4/1831 126/29, p. 291 925. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar, to [Antonio Elozúa,] Principal Acknowledging the communication on the difficulties reported by the military commandant of Tenoxtitlán in removing Sterling Robertson and his families from Texas. (Béxar, A.L.S., 1 p.) 3/29/1831 126/29, p. 292 926. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar, to Antonio Elozúa, Principal Transcribing a communication from the governor ordering the expulsion of the four known families that entered with Robertson and of the remaining five if they could be located; asks Elozúa to order the commandant of Tenoxtitlán, in conjunction with the alcalde of San Felipe de Austin, to see to the expulsion of these families. (Béxar, A.L.S., 2 8/31/1831 126/29, p. 293 927. [Elozúa, Antonio,] Principal to [Francisco Ruiz,] Military Commandant of Tenoxtitlán Enclosing the communication from the political chief dated 8/31/1831 (Box 126:29, p. 294) on the expulsion of the families mentioned therein. (Béxar, Df., 2 8/31/1831 126/29, p. 295 928. Ruiz, Francisco, Military Commandant Acknowledging the communication from Elozúa dated 8/31/1831 (Box 126:28, p. 294) on the expulsion of the families mentioned therein. (Tenoxtitlán, A.L.S., 2 9/16/1831 126/29, p. 296 929. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar, to Samuel M. Williams, Comisario of San Felipe de Austin 11
Letter to accompany the order of the commandant general dated 12/20/1830 (see Box 126:28, p. 283) on the suspension of the colonization contracts under the law of April 6, 1830, and notification of it to Sterling Robertson; asks that this suspension be publicized. (Béxar, Df., 2 2/16/1831 126/29, p. 297 930. Williams, Samuel M. to Political Chief [of Dept. of Béxar] Requesting a commissioner to issue titles under Austin and Williams' contract. (San Felipe de Austin, A.L.S., 2 1/30/1834 126/29, p. 298 931. Músquiz, Ramón [Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar] to Alcalde of San Felipe de Austin Informing that Austin and Williams' contract was in effect and that Sterling C. Robertson must desist from his claims. The possessions of land authorized by Empresario Samuel M. Williams were to be respected. Asks to be notified of any developments in this regard. (Béxar, Df., 2 4/17/1834 126/29, p. 299 932. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar, to Samuel M. Williams Informing of his communication to the alcalde of San Felipe de Austin under this same date (Box 126:29, p. 299) relative to the Nashville Company and reporting that the governor would be advised of the matter. (Béxar, Df., 1 p.) 4/17/1834 126/29, p. 300 933. Williams, Samuel M. to Ramón Músquiz, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar Concerning Sterling Robertson's claims to the area contracted by Austin and Williams and requesting that the political chief issue to the alcalde or ayuntamiento of San Felipe de Austin the instructions pertinent to this matter. (San Felipe de Austin, A.L.S., 2 3/26/1834 126/29, p. 301 934. Músquiz, Ramón, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar, to Secretary of the State Government Enclosing documents related to the complaint of Samuel M. Williams against Sterling C. Robertson and measures taken by Músquiz to ensure that the possessions of land authorized by Williams were respected. Asks for a decision in this matter and that Robertson be required to exhibit the proof of the slanders he had published in San Felipe de Austin injurious to Músquiz' reputation and good name. (Béxar, Df., 2 4/19/1834 126/30, p. 302 McLean, Papers, VIII, p. 387. 935. Viduarri y Villaseñor, Gov. Francisco to Ramón Músquiz, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar Decree No. 285, Congress of Coahuila and Texas, on the extension of Sterling Robertson's contract. Copy sent by Músquiz to the primary judge of Béxar on June 22, 1834. (Monclova, imprint, 1 p.) 4/29/1834 126/30, p. 303 Kimball, Laws, p. 275. 936. Viesca, Gov. Agustín to José Angel Navarro, Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar Decree No. 317, Congress of Coahuila and Texas, on restoring the Upper Colony to Austin and Williams. Copy sent by Navarro to the ayuntamiento of Béxar on June 16, 1835. (Monclova, imprint, 1 p.) 5/18/1835 126/30, p. 304 Kimball, Laws, p. 305. 937. Padilla, Juan Antonio, Secretary of the State Govt., to Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar Transcribing a communication from the governor to William H. Steele appointing him commissioner for the Nashville Company colony. (Monclova, L.S., 3 7/2/1834 126/30, p. 305 938. [Seguín, Juan Nepomuceno,] Acting Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar to [Juan Antonio Padilla,] Secretary of the State Government Acknowledging receipt through Jorge Antonio Nixon of the decree appointing a commissioner for the Nashville Co. colony. (Béxar, Df., 1 p.) 8/10/1834 126/30, p. 307 12
939. [Seguín, Juan Nepomuceno,] Acting Political Chief of Dept. of Béxar to Political Chief of Dept. of Brazos Communicating the appointment of William H. Steele as commissioner for the Nashville Company colony. (Goliad, Df., 1 p.) 8/17/1834 126/30, p. 308 1766. Austin, Stephen F. to President of the Senate of Texas Austin s statement of the facts and motives related to his involvement in the Upper Colony/Robertson s colony. (Columbia, L.S., 9 12/5/1836 GSC, Box 4:19 940. Steele, Comm. William H. to Gaspar Flores, Administrator of Revenues Communicating that Samuel M. Williams had refused to sell him the stamped paper needed to issue land titles and asking to be provided some. (Béxar, A.L.S., 2 3/6/1835 126/30, p. 309 941. Steele, Comm. William H. to John G. W. Pierson Appointment of John G.W. Pierson as surveyor of the Nashville Co. colony. The oath to support the Constitution of Mexico and of the state found on verso of p. 311. (Nashville Colony, L.S., 3 p.) 9/17/1834 126/30, p. 310 1406. League, Hosea H. to Sterling C. Robertson League s statement that as agent and empresario for the Texas Association he had executed a full power-of-attorney to Sterling C. Robertson in the autumn of 1830 to act as agent for League and said company. Robertson now stating that this power-of-attorney had been lost, League executes a new power-of-attorney ratifying and confirming the acts of said agent since the autumn of 1830 and all acts that Robertson might thereafter perform. (Brazoria, copy, 1 p.) 2/10/1834 134/30 1440. Rueg, Henry, Political Chief of Dept. of Nacogdoches, to Sterling C. Robertson Concerning a conversation with Chief Bowles in the matter of two Indians killed in Robertson's colony. This entry is in English. 3/7/1835 PCCVP, p. 14 13