THE AUSTINS IN TEXAS

1820-1830

MOSES AUSTIN

Spain had trouble with the natives and wanted to increase the population in Texas, so they invited people from the United States to settle in Texas.

Moses Austin was an Entrepreneur from Missouri that asked Spanish Governor for permission to settle in Texas. After discussing his intentions with his son, he left for San Antonio.

Governor Martinez, turned Austin down because he was American and told him to leave Texas immediately.

Baron de Bastrop, an old friend he ran into in San Antonio, convinced the Governor to give Austin the land and send the petition on December 26, 1820.

He decided to return to Missouri to begin looking for the families.

On January 17, 1821, Moses' Texas land grant was secured. He was granted permission to settle 300 Anglo families on 200,000 acres land.

He contacted his son Stephen F. Austin about his colony and wanted him to see it.

Moses Austin was robbed of horses and supplies, attacked by a panther and developed pneumonia on his way back home and became bed ridden.

He sent word to his son, Stephen F. Austin, requesting that he finish the colony.

MOSES AUSTIN CONTINUED

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN – THE FATHER OF TEXAS

× Stephen felt unsure about starting a colony, but traveled to San Antonio anyway.

× He ran into trouble with the new Mexican government because Spain no longer was in charge.

× He was told to travel to Mexico City to get permission to settle the families in Texas.

× After one year of waiting, he was given permission by Mexican government to continue his father’s colony.

× The contract terms under the Imperial Colonization Law of 1823 were to bring 300 families into Texas.

× Austin searched for land and found a place between the Brazos and Colorado Rivers on September 21, 1821.

AUSTIN’S COLONY Austin returned from Mexico in 1823. He was supposed to meet the families on the Colorado

River, but the settlers boat was wrecked in Galveston and they walked as far as they could.

They stopped on the western banks of the Brazos River, thinking it was the Colorado River.

Settlers were angry because Austin had not arrived and they had trouble with Indians and drought.

Many of the settlers returned to the United States because of the problems.

Austin soon found the location of the families and began to give them the deeds to their land.

By 1824 most of the original 300 families had arrived after Austin returned home from Mexico City.

THE OLD THREE HUNDRED

The first colony Austin settled was called the Old Three Hundred.

By accepting land, families agreed to Become a part of the Catholic religion – or

stay quiet about their own religion. Become a Mexican Citizen Obey Mexican laws Settle the land within one year. Do not have to pay taxes for 6 years

AUSTIN’S OLD THREE HUNDRED

Many settlers were from southern United States and brought slaves with them.

One in every 5 settlers was an African Slave Other settlers followed the Tejano ranch

style and had large herds. 1824 Austin founded San Felipe de Austin

as the capital of his colony. By 1830 more than 4,000 people lived

there. San Felipe, capital of the colony, was

located near Sealy along the Brazos River.

TEXAS LAND VS. U.S. LAND

During that time the United States was selling land for $1.25 an acre and they had to buy at least 80 acres at a time.

They also had to pay cash for it when they bought it.

In Texas, Austin was selling land for $0.12 ½ cents per acre.

Married heads of families could receive at least one labor (177 acres) if they farmed,

Ranchers received one league (4,428 acres) to raise stock.