My time in Austin’s Colony

Jocelyn Reyes

My Journey

• It was the year 1819 and the Financial Panic made almost everyone loose their money and move to the west including me and my family. We traveled by land and it took us 2 years to arrive at Austin’s Colony.

My Arrival

• Qualifying for land wasn’t that hard, but what was hard was how much we were qualifying for. Me and my husband have 8 kids in all and 3 pets. The total acreage we got was 2480 acres with the yearly land payment of $99.2.

1822 Investment

• In the middle of 1822 I had to pay my yearly land payment which left me with the total of $900.8. I bought some cotton, lumber, and cattle, The total of crops I got was $170, and the total gross income was $1000.8.

1822

• There was a harsh winter and I didn’t have time to make barns for my cattle so many of my moo moo’s died so it interfered with my investment. The Lively was late in arriving so I couldn’t plant any wheat because it was late in the season of spring.

1823

• In the beginning of 1823 I had to pay the 2nd yearly payment which left me with $901.60. When I invested money for crops($300 total cost of crops) and the gross income($400) my remaining investment money was $601.6.

1823

During 1823 the Lively sank along with the dispute with the Mexicans over export of cotton, so we got cotton but a little under enough. We had a mild winter so with that the cattle had a long lasting year. There was a lot of building and a small demand for lumber. 1823 was smoothly going by.

1824

• The last year of 1824 I paid the final land payment. It left me with $902.40. The total cost of crops I bought was $900 and the total gross income was $2100. My remaining investment money was $2.40. When I added my gross income with the remaining investment money I had $2102.40.

1824

There was a high demand for lumber and lots of building. The colony thrived and the officials asked for a high demand for beef. It was getting tough but I knew it was going to get worse before it got better.

My town

• I chose to live in San Felipe in randomness but then I realized that I got an additional $600 because of good business in San Felipe. So including my remaining investment money I have $2702.40 total.

Conclusion

• I plan to stay here in Austin’s Colony because I made more money than I started with, my kids enjoy living here, and I was very successful these pass 3 years.

Resources

o Google.como Public Domain Pictureso Pics for learning