The Austin Papers, Vol. 1, Part 1
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
A~11ERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
FOR
THE YEAR 1919
IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. II THE AUSTIN PAPERS
'KDITED BY EUGENE C. BARKER
PART 1
ADDITIONAL COPIES 01' THJS PUllLICATION )IAY BE PROCURED FROll TllE SUPERIKTENDENT OF DOCUl:ENTS GOVERN:UENT PRINTING OFFICE W..6.SlllNGTON, D. C. AT $1.25 PER COPY
FIFTEENTH REPORT OF THE HISTORICAL MA.N USCRIPTS COMMISSION
JUSTIN H. SMITH, Chairman
EUGENE C. BARKER MRs. AMOS G. DRAPER
LOGAN ESAREY GAILLARD HUNT
CHARLES H. LINCOLN
THE· AUSTIN P APEil.S Edited by EUGENE C. BARKER
w
PREFACE
The Austin Papers are the collection of materials accumulated by :Moses and Stephen F. Austin in the progress of their busy enterprises from Virginia through :Missouri and Arkansas to Texas. They con- sist of business memoranda, physiographical observations, petitions and memorials to local and superior governments, political addresses and proclamations, and much personal and official correspoclence. l\'Ioses Austin illustrated in his own career the typical aspects of the business man in the Westward :Movement; nnd Stephen F. Austin was, to a degree not approQ.ched by any other colonial pro- prietor in our history, the founder and the indispensable guardian and director during its early vicissitudes of n great American Com- monwealth. As a whole, the present compilation differs grently from previous collections presented by the Historicnl :Manuscripts Commission. Hundreds of letters are from inconspicuous persons, unknown to his- tory, who exerted no ascertainable influence upon the larger events of their time-men who merely Iived and strove for the betterment of themselves and of their families. l\'Iany pieces illustrate minutim of local administration too small, no doubt, to interest a great num- ber of students; and others have only a biographical value. Taken together, however, they give a composite picture which the most careful selection could not equal in clearness, accuracy, or authori- tativeness. This alone, perhaps, would be sufficient reason for de- ciding against omitting any considerable part of the collection, but other reasons against doing so seemed imperative. In the first place, there would have been very grave objection on the part of the authorities of the University of Texas to a material infringement of the integrity of the collection. • In the second place, omission would isolate and practically withdraw from further con- sideration documents which might have considerable interpretative and complementary value for other collections. And finally the colonization and subsequent history of Texas so involve and underlie certain questions of national morality in our domestic and interna- tional relations that it seems inadvisable to offer to students less th:rn the full story which this important collection contains. Nothing has
VI
PREFACE.
been omitted, therefore, except purely formal matter, such as notes of hand, drafts drawn against Austin by various colonists, copies of State and Federal laws already available, inventories of local archives, field notes and deeds, and fragments which seem to have no value whatever. The Austin Papers, it should be said, came into possession of the University of Texas in 1901 by gift of the literary executors of Colonel Guy M. Bryan, himself the nephew of Stephen F. Austin, who had had the custody of the papers during his life. Considering his many ha_rassing duties, Stephen F. Austin was a voluminous and remarkably painstaking letter writer. Of most of his official papers he apparently preserved copies, and we fre- quently find several drafts of a document, interlined and deleted almost beyond decipherment before it reached the copy-book stage. It has seemed desirable to include as complete a collection of his letters as possible, and various sources have contributed here to sup- plement those which he himself preserved. The most important of these are the Bexar Archives at the University of Texas, and tran- scripts which the University has obtained from Mexican archives, particularly from the Department of Fomento; the Records of the General Land Office of Texas; and the Lamar Papers, Nacogdoches Archives, and other collections of the Texas State Library; the Mis- souri Historical Society; and the Wagner Collection of Yale Uni- versity. One letter was obtained from the Poinsett Papers in the Pennsylvania Historical Society's library; and scattering copies have been found in various newspapers, mostly in the files of the Wis- consin Historical Society and of the Durrett Collection of the Uni- versity of Chicago. Of the Texas collections used for this volume only the Bexar Archives and the Lamar Papers are calendared, so that it is hardly possible but that some Austin letters have escaped the search.· Others will come to light in contemporary newspapers and through further exploration of Mexican archives. Those included in the .present volume, however, represent, for the period covered, the result of notes which the editor has made: incident to other studies, for a good 1any years. All the copies have been collated by the editor with the originals, .xcept the Mexican transcripts, the letter from the Poinsett Manu- scripts, two or three copies from newspapers, and those from the Missouri Historical Society. These last were verified by Miss Stella M. Drumm, the Librarian of that Society. • From time to time, for one purpose or another, Spanish letters in the State collections have been translated into English. In every case the translation has been used in this volume. It is sometimes awkward, but whenever possi- ble--and it has been possible with very few exceptions-it has been
VII
PREFACE.
compared with the original for accuracy. It is to be regretted that all the Spanish, at least of Austin's writing, could not be translated; but that wns a task which want of time forbade the editor to under- take. The calendar of the Spanish documents was, howeYer~ pre- pared with especial fullness in the hope of making up, in a measure- able degree, for this deficiency. The editor's grateful acknowledgments are due to the custodians of the various collections mentioned above, especially to :Miss Stella :lYI. Drumm, of the J\fissouri Historical Society; to :Mrs. Mattie Austin Hatcher, of the History Department of the University of Texas for helpful suggestions and for locating Austin letters in the Bexar Archives; to two of his students, .Mr. Carlos E. Castaneda and Mr. William A. Whatley, who transcribed most of the documents and who by their accuracy, efficiency, and facility in the two idioms re- lieved him of much labor; to :lYirs. Emmett L. Perry for generous assistance in obtaining material; and to his wife, who assisted in the tedious labor of verifying copies. EUGENE C. BARKER. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, 1.1f ay 1, 19£0.
GENEALOGICAL NOTES
[1765-1836.]
RECORD OF l\lOSES AUSTIN AND FAMILY
Ocbr. 4 th • i1oses Austin was born in 1765 State of Connecticutt County Of New Haven nnd Town of Durham the Youngest Child of the family of Elias Austin In 1783 :Moses Austin removed from New Hu.vin to Philadelphia and opened a Dry goods store in Markett Street between front and Second street, ·and in Feb 7 • 1784 formed a partnership with Maning :Merril and Commenced the Importation of Dry Goods from Eng- land, and in May Opened a whole sale store in front Street between \Valnut and Chesnutt and in Augt· of the same Year extended the House to Richmond in Virginia and Moses Austin removed to th11t City in Sept· and took charge of the business. • In 1785 Sept· 29 :Moses Austin Was :Married unto :Marin Brown Daughter of Ahia Brown in New Jersey, the Marriage Was Con-· summated at the house of lfr. Benjamin Fuller (Uncle by :Marriage of Mn. Stamper) to 1.tliss Maria Brown, front Street, Philaclelphin. Jan 7 • iat- 1.tlaria Austin Was born in the County of Sussex New Jersey the 1 Day of Janr 7 • 1768. and, the first Daughter of Ahia. Brown. • Moses Austin and :Marin his Wife left Philadelphia the 30 Day of Sept· 1785 on board the Richmond Packett Capt. Tillinghast for Richmond Virginia and arrived on the 15 Day of Octbr. • Anna 1.tforin Austin first Daughter of Moses and :Maria Austin was born the 29 Da.y June 1787 and departed this life the 1 Day Augt. following. . Eliza Fuller Austin Second Daughter of Moses Austin and l\Iaria His vVife was born the 14 Day of April 1790 And departed this life 4 th • Day of December following in Richmond Virginia. • Stephen Fuller Austin first son of Moses and Maria Austin·W us born the 3 Day of.November 1793 at Austin Ville, Virginia. In 1791 Moses Austin and Marin his Wife Removed from Rich- mond Virginia to the Lead Mines in Wythe County and made Pur- chase of said Estate in Companey with his Brother Stephin .Austin and Established the Village of Austin Ville. Emely Margarett Brown Austin third Daughter of ~loses and Maria Austin was born on 22 Day of June 1795. a[t] Austin Ville Virginia. . . In december 1796 Moses Austin made a Visit to '.Louisiana then under the Spanish Government and in May obtained a Grant of Lund from the said Government of three miles sqr· including the l
2
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
Mine a Burton and in June 1797 relinquished his interest in the Mines in Virginia to his Brother .Stephen Austin and in December of the same Year J udather Kendle and Elias Bates Nephew of the said Austin, left Austin Ville to take possession of said Grant and Arrived in March following and took possession of the Mine A Bur- ton for and in the name of Moses Austin. On 8 th • Day of June 1798 Moses Austin and Family Consisting of Maria his Wife Stephen F. Austin his sori and Emely· M. B. .Austin-his Daughter together witli Moses Bates and family and Others Whites and blacks to the number 9f Forty,persons, and Nine Lo.aded Wagons, and a Coach and four Horses,·All left Austin Yill.e•and took the Road for Morrises Boat Yard on the Great Kanhawa and on 4 th Day July intered the Oh10 and arrived at Kask~~aia on 8~- Day.Sept. Sick and debilitated to such a degree, that .out of 17 ',person that s.rrived, two only could walk on ·shore. from the Barge, at Kaskaskia Mrs Bates and.Mr· Parson Bates pai.d the debt ·of Nature. and Henry Bates unhappily was Drowned passfog the falls of Ohio . the .first Wife of MoseS. Bates was my Sister, She died in Middleton Connecticutt Parson and Henry Bates ~as her Children as Also Elias Bates who arrived in the Provence of.Louisiana the Spring before. • • On 20 Sep 1 li1?ses ,.A.~stin and Family paS5cd the Mississippia and took up a residence.in the Little Village of Saint Genevieve Un- til July 1798 [1799] when his family-removed to .the Mine a Burton._ At this time the·Mine a Burton·, as, well'~ all the District of Saint Genevieve [was] a Wilderness Except the village of. Saint Genevieve which contained about 120 families and on the Saline four, or five, American families had commenced a Settlemant with in 8 ltfiles of the Village , . .. ·.- . •. •. . .• • •. ... • ·on 12 th Day May 1802 The House of Moses Austin was.Atta.eked by a Party of 30 Indians but they were r·epu[l]sd by the Americans 10 in Number and Driven from the Villag-e of the :Mines, the french gave No assistance. . . . . . . . . . , . . J. Elijah Brown._Austin ~he second son of Moses and Mary Austin Was born on th~·3 Day_of October ~~03; ·with a singular Mark on his Ear something Like·a:Crop. . , . . . , . In May 180~ $~phen.Full.er Austin left Saint Genevieve in.Com- p3:ny with Daniel Phelps to .ObtaiJ?. .his Ed11:cation a[t] : Colchester Academy where he remaind three years and returned tq the Academy at Lexington Kentucky and remained two Ye.ars. ' • .• • . : Emily M. B. Austin l~£t the Mine~ in Octb': 1804 • and remained at Mrs Becks boarding School in _Lexingto~.~Centucky _untill Decemb~r 1808 . , . . . . . • • •• In May 1811 :Mrs Maria Austin Miss Emily ,M B Austin• ·and Master James Elijah B Austiri left Saint Genevieve On board a barge for New Orleans Under!'the ·Protection of Elish[a] Lewis, bound for New York Mrs Maria Austin for her health and Miss
' THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 3 Emily :l\1 B Austin to .finish her ·Education at 'the 'Hermitage Academy, where she remnined untill Octbr· 1812, James Elijah B. Went on to Connecticutt and Was put· to the Revd- Mr. Whitteley of the Town of Washington.: 1816 April 20 Moses Austin and Family removed from Mine A Burton and Gave up Durham Hall Negroes and Plahtatlon together [with] Lead Mines and furnaces ·to his son Stephen F Austin. • 1818 James Elijah Brown son of·Moses Austin returned from Connecticut, remained at·Home,'untill June 1819 when he went ·to Kentucky Near Nicholas Ville to' finish ·his education under a Mr Wilson. 1819 Stephen ·F Austin left the Territory of Missouri and went to reside in the Territory of Arkansas. Red River at Long Bran[ch] 1 1820 lvfoses Austin left Missouri about the 1st. of May 1820 and went to the Little Rock in the Territory Of Arkansas where he remained· Some l\fonths after which he Proceeded on to San Antonio where he Arrived (after a journey through a perfect wilderness and attended with much fatigue) about the 10 th • of Decemr.·Same Year, he there pe[ti]tioned the Supreme Authorities· of New Sp'ain, through his Excellency Don Antonio JYiartinez (theh Govr· and Political Chief· Of this Province of Texas) for a grant of Land and Permission to Settle 300 American families in that Province. ',I'he petition was forwarded on to his Excellency Don Aredondo then Govr· Gen 1 • of the Internal Eastern Provinces of New Spain who confirmed the Grant after a Previous decree of the Provincial Deputation (then • assembled at the City of Monterrey) to ;that affect, and the neces- • sary papers were forwarded on to San Antonio immediately. :Moses·· Austin left San Antonio on the· 29 th • . o~ Decemr· (previous to the confirmation of the Grant) and after a tedious and distressing jour- ney he reached the Settlements on the Sabine River not having tasted • any kind of Nourishment for 8 Days. Their-Provisions having failed •and the powder they supplied themselves·1with proved to be so dam- aged they could not kill any Game altho the Cou4try abounded in Game of all Kinds. his ha,rdships were so severe that he was taken with the Fever and confined to his bed 3 weeks at 'the house of Mr. Hugh McGuffin 20 :Miles west of Natchitoches, ·at this place he was met by his Nephew Elias Bates who had left Herculam, ~{o. Some time in Decemr· in pursuit of him. As soon .as he could travel they started together, descended Red River to the MissisP 1 and Arrived at Herculaniu.m soi:ne time in lviarch 18_21. The journey proved to great for his Constitution 'which was •much impaired Nevertheless he commenced Settleing his affairs·in ~Io. with the intention of return- ing to Texas i:h August following, but unfortunately he took a cold ,vhen at the :.Mine a Bt~rton, _but reached_his daughter's J\fr■• Emily
1 To this point the re9ord :WllB written by..Moses Austin. ,
4
AMEr.ICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
M. Bryans on Hazel Run; in a few days the cold terminated in an inflemation on the lungs and after lingering in much pain for 10 days which he bore with Christian fortitude, he·resigned his Soul to hi~ :Maker without a groan on the 10 th • of June 1821 in the 57 year of his age. Stephen Fuller Austin son of Moses Austin left the Territory of Arkensas in 1820 and clecended to New Orleans where he remained until his Father returned from St. Antonio--he then proceeded to Natchitoches to meet his Father and Share with the dangers and fatigues of the enterprize he was about commencing in the Province of Texas. 1''hen be arrived a.t Natchitoches he met the Commission- e:rs (Don Erasmo Seguin and Don Juan Beri.mendi) dispatched by the Government of New Spain with a confirmation of the grant and orders to conduct Moses Austin to the District allotted to him to form his Colony.·-but receiYing intelligence of the sudden death of his Father he proceeded on to San Antonio in company with the commissioners and 16 Americans who attended him on the e:xpedi- tion--on his arrival at San Antonio he was immediately acknowledged as the legal heir and representative of his Father Moses Austin, by Don Antonio :Martinez then Govr- and Political Chief of that Prov• ince and fully empowered to carry into effect the original clisign of his Father. Accordingly he left San Antonio with his party of Americans and proceeded to explore the Country and Select the part he might deem most desirable to form his Colony-after having Explored the Coun- try bordering on the sea or Gulph of Mexico from the Bay of Mata- gorda to the Colorado and Brazos Rivers, he selected the Country lying on and between those two rivers extending from the San An- tonio road leading to Nacogdoches down to the Sea as the most desire- able for the formation of a flourishing Colony. He then returned to the United Sts. to complete his enterprize and introduce the num- ber of families Stipulated, he proceeded to New Orleans and by the assistance of a Friend he fitted out a Schooner (called the Lively) and embarked on board of her 18 men with provisions, arms, amuni- tion, and farming tools with directions to proceed to the Mouth of the Colorado and ascend that river untill a suitable place offered where they were to plant corn, erect a Stockade, and put up dwelling houses etc. The Lively left N. Orleans about the 20 th • of November 1821 and s·tephen F. Austin left there the day after by land to meet her at the :Mouth of the Colorado. In Natchitoches he collected a party of 10 men to accompany him and proceed through the wilderness to the Mouth of the Colorado where he arrived sometime in the J\1onth of January-after waiting nearly 3 weeks at that place and vicinity subsisting on catfish and wild onions-without bread or salt he dis• paired of meeting his Vessel and ascended the river to the la Bahia Crossing-there he met his Brother Jas- E B Austin and they pro-
THE AUS'rIN :PAPERS. 5 ceeded on together with 20 men to San Antonio where he arrived on the 15 of !\:larch 1822 much fatigued and reduced in flesh. The Govr· recd· him with a cordial welcome and advised him (as a material change had taken place in the Political aspect of the country) to proceed on to the City of Monterrey where the Govr· Gen•· resided nnd if he could not get his business satisfactorily arranged to con- tinue on to l\.foxico and lay his business before Congress. He left San Antonio on the 20 th • March 1822 in company with an interpreter nnd Dr, Rob. Andrews nnd arrived in :Mexico on the 29 of April fol- lowing-immediately on his arrival he presented a memorial to Con- gress praying that the Grant made to his Father by the former Gov 7 erment might be confirmed after Spending nearly a Year in :Mexico attended with much labor and expence he sueceded in obtaining a complete confirmation of his Grant from Congress, and returned to San Antonio sometime in July after an Absence of 15 months and at n period when some of the most important events transpired in the :Mexican History. immediately after his arrival nt San Antonio he proceeded on to his Colony where he Found about 100 hundred fami- lies already Settled and commenced the organization of the Colony which he has nearly completed-the Goverment Commiss1oned him Lt Coronel and Supreme Judge of his Colony he Settled himself on the River Brazos where he now resides. July 1824. James E. B. Austin second son of 1.-Ioses Austin returned from Kentucky about the 1st of October 1821 and remained in 1:fissouri until December following when he left it and went on to join his brother in the Province of Texas, he remained nt the City of Su.n Antonio de Bexar until his brother returned from the City of :Mexico, he returned with him to the Colony where he remained until 1'1ay 1824 then returned to :Missouri to remove his :Mother and Sister to that Province-but the death of his :Mothar (who had died previous to his return and the marriage of his Sister with Mr. James Perry Compelled him to return to the Province without her-accordingly he left Herculanium :Missouri on the third day of November fol- lowing 1824. 2 James E. B. Austin Died in New Orleans on the 24 of August 1829 with the Yellow fever nfter 63 hours sickness. Stephen F. Aust.in son of James E. B. Austin Died at Co 1 • Hills near Columbia Texas on the 2t1, of Febry 183'7. Gen 1• Stephen F. Austin Died at Judge ~fcl{instry near Columbia Texas on the 27 th December 1836 nnd was intered at Ju.mes F Perrys Peach Point place on the 29th aged forty three yeurs 1 month 24 days. Moses Austin departed this life 10 th • June 1821 in the 57 th • yea.r of his age at Hazel Run St Francis Cty :Missouri 1 Continued to tbls polnt by Stephen F. Austln. The remainder ot the recol'd was written b,Y Mr. and Mrs. James F. Pcl'l'y.
6
AMERICAN . . HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
Mary [Maria] Austin departed this life 8 th • January 1824 in the 53 year of her age at Hazel Run St. Francis County State of lvlis- souri 5 Oclock in the Morning. . James Bryan and Emily M:. B. Austin were Married on the 31 st • August 1813-at :Mine A Burton Washington C. Stephen Austin Bryan was born July 16 th 1814 Eleven O'clock at night Died August 12 th • of the same -year 6 O'clock in the morning at Durham Hall Washington County • William Joel Bryan Born December 14 th • 1815 at Hazel Run. Moses Austin Bryan was Born September 25 th • 1817 at I-Iazel Run St. Genevieve C. Guy Morrison B~yan' Was Born in Hercula.niqm 12 January 1821 J e:fferson C. • • ~iary Elizabeth Bryan Was Born 5 th • July 1822 at Herm. James Bryan departed this life 16 th • July 1822 in the 33rt1. year of his age in the town of Herculanium nine Oclock in the Morning. . • Mrs. EM Bryan with her family consisting of her Mother and four Children moved back to Hazel Run in August· 1822 where she re- mained until her :Marriage with James F. Perry. James Franklen· Perry was ·Born on the 19 th in the state of Pensylva.nia: 'in Allegheny County. • James F. Perry and Eniily M. B. Bryan were Married by the Revd. Thomas Donnell on the 23rd. of September 1824 at Hazel Run St. Francis O· State of Missouri. Samuel Stephen Perry Was·Born on the 24 th • June 1825 first Son of James F. and Emily M. Perry.· • • Emily Rosannnh Perry :w·as Born ·14 September 1826 Departed this life 6 th • of December 1827 at three OClock iii the lvforning 1 year 2 month and 22 days Old. Eliza Margaret Perry was Borri on the 3 rd • January 1828. James F; Perry Started froin Potosi State of Missouri to view the Province of Texas· [March 21, 1830] • • James Elijah Brown Perry Born '7U1. May 1830 at Potosi 'De- parted this life on the 14 th • FebY· 1831 at 9 o~lock AM aged 9 months and 7 days. . • • • : . 1831 June 7 th • James F. Perry' and Family left Potosi Missouri for the Province of Texas and a1:rived at San Felipe de Austin the Capa- ta! of Austins Colonie~ on the l~th ot August. . . .. . . . •• ·of September 1790 Moses Austin's father was Elias Austin; of Durham, Connecticut--,:_ Elias was·son of Richard, of 8uffield-:Mass. and Richard, Son of Anthony-[LAURA BRYAN PARKER 1 ] ~
• Daughter of Col. Guy •M, Bryan and: great-granddaughter ot Moses Austin. l\lrs: Parker contributed only the Ja11t paragt·o.ph.
I CORRESPONDENCE 1789-1824
• Richmond,
August the 24-1789. • How o:ft my Beloved Husband do we _form 'to our Selves the i:nost Agreeable Ideas. when in a moment our liopes are crushed and the higher we rise in Expectation the lo_wer we fall' in the Vexsation of Disappointment. I had Indulged ~ fond hope of haveing a· long letter from you on your-Arriva_l at Lynchburge and was not a little Disappointed when vVilliam _Informed me that you had only time lo write him- it afforded ·me Infinite Sat~isfactfon to hea.r of your Safe Arrival at the ferry- Sincerely hope you have reached ·the l\iines long ·before this-I have· risen this inorning with the early dawn and while the Contented Inhabitants of this lower world are Wrapt in peacefull Slumbers, and the grt.y tena11ts of tht air, Charit their Songs of praise-I shall amuse 'myself for an hour before Breakfast in Scribbling to my dear 'friend and Companion-.-the Cause of my Unusual early rising, ·was this. •,V'illinm and myself proposed last Evening going.to his father·s- he procured a. horse but unfortunately the poor beast was an utter Stranger to the.Harniss I was seated in the chase -· but he was so wild and Unruly that I was Obliged to spring ~mt-and I hurt my Ancle in the jump- I Cheerfully Submitted to tlie disappointment; • I shall now through down my pen, and refresh myself with a little Breackfast--.- • I meane the greatest part of this day shall be devoted to my dear l\t1oses-, for be assured I Receive more real pleasure in _Conversing on Paper with one so very neare to my heart, than I could gane from Society-I have had a vast deal'o:f Company since your Departure- all my friends have been m ci·owds to ~isit me. Mrs~·Flint has stade' with me more·than two weeks, and went home.last evening in: Con- sequence of my proposing to spe:hd .this.week in the County- In- deed I want ·a little excursion of this kind· -· :for ·what with Com- pany and·the present sise of ·my family haveing five or si~ men to find-has fatigued me Exceedingly. and Caused much grumbling
1 Original In possession of Mrs. Emmett L. PetTY,
7
8
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION,
from Lewes and of Course the snme Complaints from ·Molly. upon the old theame, hard work- I tell them they may Indulge when I am n-oon- those things my dear :Moses are too apt to render me b unhappy- I am Sensible of the Impropriety of letting such trivial matters affect me, it is my nature and I Cannot help it-though it allways leaves n Gloominess and Depression upon my spirits that I cannot easy]y get the better of. why do I trouble you with such Nonsense as the Complaints of servants, excuse me my dear I think I must say anything to you, who will Sympathize in your :Maria's feelings- Indeed she finds but little happiness in your absence- and am Continually tortured with Distressing Reflections of one kind or other- at this moment I am thinking of the Absurdity of looking for Happyness in this world, when in fact their is no such th1ng to be found- nor in my poor Opinion- did the wise disposer of all things ever design it should in this state of probation, but that we may merit by our Sufferings and fortitude here- a better Ex- istance hereafter, we must in short look beyond this little scene of things for felicity- this Idea Occasions a pleasing Serenity in the mind, yes my dear Austin it tis an Idea I meane to Cherish before every other it will give me reassured Confidence in the Goodness of the Almighty- and I am determined from this time- with the divine Assistance to Seek for Happyness in meriting the Affection of my H_usband- and looking up to the neYer failing Comforter for strength of mind to Support me in my determination- Adversity and Misfortune we arc taught to expect in our passage through life we ought to be prepared for their attack and by that means enabled to Encounter them to adYantage- but I nm preaching to one who is much more able to preach to me, and whose strength of mind, I trust, will brave Every Difficulty he will meet with- I shall now drop this ·Serious Subject and hasten to Com- municate what little news this town affords- our neighbor Paw- lings has returned from the springs and looks very ill, has lost nearly a Hundred wait of flesh- poor man I fear he is not long for-this world- Mrs Patterson has arrived. She looks very much like n Helander, but Clever Enough_for her hopeful Husband.- :Mr Picket has not returned, though it tis a month since he left new york- und a much longer time Since he "\\Tote Mrs. F. [Jvlrs.· P?] we a]l begin to Entertain Doubts-I tremble for your bet with Higby and Mrs Galogy is uneasy about her Stockings- Charles H. is sure of his hat & says it will never be a Match- I have no more news to relate and now shall think of Concluding this very long Epistle- my family is all in good health- though .the heat has been so Intense for the fortnight past it made me apprehensive of sickness- but we have thank god Stood it very well- and the
THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 9 \~leather now is much more Agreeable- I wrote you a· few hasty lines some time ago- and mentioned J\ilr Pursel's Intention of Stoping up the little windows-the one in the passage is Still Open- but he informed :Mr. N. some time ago he meant to have it done on Monday- which is tomorrow Some of my friends tell me he had a write so to do. Others say he has not- I shall be happy to know your Opinion and if you think as I do we sh~ll soon have them Opened- present my respects to !vlr Frisby, tell him his little kitty was here on friday and is in perfect health- I hope my dear !vioses will devote some of his leisure hours in Scribbling to his Maria- you are Sensible of the happiness it will afford me to hear- what a length have I Extended this Letter. Indeed my fingers are really tired of holding the pen-· Adieu my deare Husband- may heaven guard you and Crown your Under- takings with the greatest Success- pray's your ever loveing and Affectionate, vVife till Death ~1AIUA AUSTIN.
REMARKS ON CASTING SrrOT
COM?.1ON PLACE BOOK, began.-PHILADELPHIA AUGUST 1•!-, 1701
W.\1.'TS'S PATENT, SHOT
George the third by the Grace of Goel· King of Great Britain France nnd Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc, etc., etc. Doth by these his Royal Letters·Patent Grant unto Josiah '\iV atts of the City of Bristol-l\1anufactorer on Consideration of --- sum in hand well and truely paid unto his l\1ajesties Collectors of the Revenues for Granting Patents to such ingenious Artists and discoverers of arts by their Invention in such Improvements as may now or hereafter be beneficial to these Realms for the special ('ncouragement of Arts Sciences and Commerce- for the space of fourteen Years to hold to himself his Heirs and administrators Solely . . . By these his l\1agesties Royal Letters patent in full authority. his nrt of making Globe Shot; now patented to him and his heirs only for the space of Fourteen Years as Wntts's patent Shot. l\fethod of l\faking Watts's Globe or Patent Shot Continued from his own specification perused and examin'd by Henry l\'.Iiller of Philadelphia on the 12 th • Day of_February 1789 in the Petty Bagg office Boles of the Chancery of England. Chancery Lane . Take·any quantity of pure pig Lead; and l\1elt down in Kettle first for the purpose as usual for Drop Shot 25067°-24--VOL 2, PT 1--2
10
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
The quantity of aceripigmentum Viz Yellow Arsenic is one poun_d to 80 1b. of Lead but this di:ffers something from the Ductility of the l\fettal the Cornwall Lead requires Less than the Devonshire·' The Height required in Casting is left very obscure, nothing more being Mention'd than about 40 feet woud be required for ·small size to upwards of 80 for the Largest Swan Shot. Nor does said specimen explain anything Satisfactory respecting the formation of Tower more than it. must be constructed high enough to perform the operation of Granulating the shot in its decent by the opposition of air it receives in its fall. RE:MARKS. by Experience I have found a :Much better ::Mode to introduc~ the arsnic and find the white much preferable to the Yellow from it[s J purity in strength. And that a material·differ- E,nce of the Height is required in the Climate of America in the Different Seasons of the Year.
DROP SHOT 1\IANUFACTORY
After being prepared with a proper Building for your purpose if with a communication of a stream of water so much the better. Wherein must be a Capatious high Chimney, or more; large enough to contain 1 or 2 Furnaces or :Melting pots a reverberating Temper furnace and Drying pans provide 2 Casting Tubs strongly Iron whoopd provided with two Brass Cocks one to supply Cold water n.nd the other to Let of the Hot with a strainer near the Bottom. shall add but little of the Construction of these utensils as they are better understood by an artist than Described more than the Kettles should not be less than 2 feet Diameter and not. more than· 1 foot Deep thick and Sound :Made. the Casting Tubs not less than 2 feet 4 inches Diameter and not :More than 2 feet 2 inches above Ground for the Ease of the Caster The Temper Furnace remains a Secret to the Trade only and the Drying pans may be Constructed of any size in proportion to the works in the most convenient situation of the factory.
THOMAS RUSTON TO MOSES AUSTIN
Philacl 11
· , June 1st. 1794.
Srn I have requested Mr Tho• Norwell of Richmond to take out war- rants for the 10,000 acres of land, which you mention, as vacant, in the neighbourhood of the mines, and to forward them to you. As your Brother does not seem inclined, an~ as you have signified that it is not altogether convenient to you, to be concerned in them, l '
THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 11 have requested him to take.them out for me, and on my account, and to draw upon me for the amount. I have to request you, that you will pay as early attention as possible to having them laid, and to the best advantage, and to have them returned into the Office, and whatever e:xpence may attend it, I shall be ready to pay it. if there should be any more remaining vacant, I shall be obliged to you if you will inform me of it, and also of any land that there may be, to be disposed of in the neighbourhood of the mines, with the particulars, such as the situation, quality, and price, respecting it. I have only to add, That I have recd- the Article of agreement be- twixt you, yr brother, and me, and the deed for the Lead Mine tract, but those two, respecting the property at Lynchburgh, and Richmond, have not yet reacht me, which I must request you to attend to, and to send forward, which will oblige Yr humble Servt THO-- RUSTON . [Addressed:] Mr. Moses Austin at the Lead Mines Wythe County Virginia-
THOMAS Rus-roN TO ~IosEs AusTIN
Philadelphia Sept: 23d: 1794.
Srn The bearer Mr Jos: Burr is a gentleman, who has been in the practice of attending surveys of land, for the pru·pose of making observations on the soil, situation, climate, waters, rivers, timber, mines, and such other things as may tend to give a compleat and perfect knowledge of their nature and value. It is with this view I have sent him on to view the lands we are taking up in the neigh- bourhood of the mines, and have committed to his care Virginia Warrants for Two Hundred Thousand Acres of land in addition to the Ten Thousand Acre Warrants, which I forwarded before, and which you have recd· . In your letter of the 16 th • of August which I have recd· you men- tion two propositions with respect to the terms upon which you wish the land to be taken up, one with regard to the fir.st, the other respecting the second Two Hundred Thousand Acres. and you say that you had agreed to let the surveyor have 30,000 out of the first two Hundred Thousand Acres, he paying the expences. do you mean the surveyors fees, ·chain carriers, and other incidental expences. With regard to your two propositions, I do not see the propriety of your making any distinction betwixt them. the expense and trouble attending the one will be as great as that of attending the other; and
12
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
110 more. besides, in all the lands I have taken up in Pennsylvnnia, which have amounted to many hundred Thousand Acres, I have never been asked by the discoverers for more than ·a third, some times a fourth, sometimes a. fifth, and it is always the business of the discoverers (in which capacity you and Mr Gnes [Gains~] are to be ,considered) to attend and to superintend the surveys. This third the discoverers divide betwixt themselves in such manner as they can agree, and as they think proper. In a former letter you hinted, that you thought it would be more agreeable to the Surveyor to have a compensntion in money, to this I shall have no objection if we can agree upon the sum, and I shall have no objection to do the same thing with you if it is agreeable. I have accepted your draft for five hundred Dollars towards paying for the Kentucky vVarrants as you desire. As soon as the Surveyor has made out the returns Mr. Burr will proceed with them to Richmond in order to obtain the Patents. N. B. :Mr Norwell has not brot· the deed either from Lynchburgh or from Richmoncl- Tuos· RUSTON Take care you do not buy more Warrants than you can find land for. Point out to ~Ir Burr those tracts in the neighbourhood that are to be disposed of, in order that he may be able to give me some account of them, and send me the lowest prices and the longest terms of pay- ment which the owners-will be willing to take-
THoi.us RusTON TO JosEPH Bunn
Philad 11
• Nov: 2d : 1794
Sm I received your letter of Oct: 13 th • and have wrote to Mr Austin desiring him to conclude an agreement for me, with :Mr Gains alow- ing him sixpence per Acre for his proportion, at the rate of Ten Thousand Acres for every hundred Thousand Acres he surveys and returns, provided it is of such a quality as meets your approbation. Thus if he returns three Hundred Thousand Acres, he will be en- titled to Thirty thousand Acres, for which I shall alow him six- pence an Acre out of the sales, if he returns more it will be so much the better for Mr :Moses Austin, as he is to be entitled to one third inclusive of :Mr Gains share.- I rely on your care in seeing that the best land is picked out, and the refuse rejected, and hope there will be no further delay as I have come both into ]),fr Gains and Mr
THE A US TIN PAPERS. 13 Austins terms. I shall be glad to hear from you as often as pos-• sible; that I may know how you get on Trro 11 • RusTON [Addressed:] :Mr Joseph Burr at the Lead Mines Austinville Vir- gm1a
THOMAS RusTON ;ro l\fosEs AusTIN. 1
Philad•· Nov. 14 th
: 1794.'
Sm
. . I rec 4 your letter, by Tho 1 Jackson, of Oct 6 th :, with the sample of Copperas, which I have tried, and find it to strike a black color; but you are misled, by the sound of a name, in infering that it con- tains Copper, for Copperas is not pr9cluced from Copper, but from Iron, and its striking a black colour is a proof of this. Copper ip,deed produces what is called blue vitriol, but by no means green vitriol, or Copperas. I wish you and }\fr. Burr to examine, about the place, where this Copperas is found, whether there are not some appearances of Iron Ore, which is a valuable article but perhaps not so valuable as Copper, and whether there is any l',f ill Seat near it-- I wrote, in answer to your former letter, by t:he way of Richmond, a few days before I recd .this letter by Jackson, and desired l\fr Norwell to forward it by express. In that letter I agreed to let :Mr. Gains have 10,000 acres for every hundred thousand acres of good land he should sm·vey for me, as far as threehundred thousand acres, and to alow him s_ix pense an acre for his share, to be paid out of the sales of the land, and to pay all expences, and to alow you one third, • inclusive of 1\fr Gaines share, and to pay you for your share at the same price, and in the same manner, upon these terms you may pro- ceed to m~ke the surveys THo• RusTON [Addressed]: }\fr. 1\1oses Austin Austinville Lead Mines Virginia- pr Tho• Jackson
CONTRACT FOR LAND SPECULATION
[Copy by Moses Aus~n.] Agreement indented made and concluded .upon this sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Ninety five Between Stephen and :M Austin of vVythe County State of Virginia Merchants of the one part and John D Blanchard and
1 Original in posses,1lon ot Mrs. Emmett L. Perr,.
14
AM:ERICA.J.""i HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
George Lauma.n of t.he City of Philadelphia in this State of Penn~ sylvania Merchants of the other part- Witnesseth that it is mutually covenanted stipulated promised and agreed by and between the said Parties to these presents in mariner following, that is to say-That the said Stephen and :Moses Austin· shall and will make discoveries of and take up and secure lands lying within the State of Virginia or elsewhere on the joint account of all the said parties hereto to be held in proportions following, to wit the said Stephen and Moses Austin one equal third part thereof the said John D Blanchard one equal third part thereof and the said George Lauman the remaining one equal third part thereof as tenants m common- That all the purchase moneys for said Land, surveying and office• fees and other incidental charges and expences in the prosecution of the said business, shall be equally borne and paid by all the said parties, each of them one equal third part thereof On account whereof they the said Stephen and :Moses Austin have now received from the said John D Blanchard and George Lauman the sum of one thousand dollars That for all monies which may from time to time be necessary and requisit in the said business they the said Stephen and lvloscs Austin shall and may draw on the said John D. Blanchard and George Lanman who hereby engage and agree without Delay to honor and pay the same that all the warrants Surveys and patents for the land to be taken up and secured in pursuance of these· presents shall be taken issued and made to and in the name of him the said George Lau.man in trust however for the use of All the said parties to these presents . That the said Stephen an·d Moses Austin shall and will not dur- ing the continuance of the concern hereby created be interested or connected with any other person or persons than the said John D Blanchard and George Lau.man in any Business of a similar Nature and that upon the request of any two of the parties to these presents. a sale or Sales of the said land or a division thereof in the propor- tions aforesaid which e:ver may be deemed most to the .advantage of the said concern, shall be effected and made and they the said parties of the first and second parts to these presents for themselves their several and respective Heirs Executors and Administraters do hereby mutually and reciprocally convenant and agree promise engage to and with each other and with each and every of their• Heirs Executors and Administrators that they the said parties and ea.ch of them shall and will well and faithfully stand to perform.and • keep the several covenants stipulations engagements and agreement:s
THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 15 herein before mentioned and expressed-without any default or delay-and for the true performance the said parties do hereby mutually bind themselves their respective_Heirs Executors and Administraters each unto the other of them_in the penal sum of Fifty Thousand pounds firmly by these presents In witness where- of they have interchangeably set their hands and Seals he'leunto the day and year first above written Sealed and delivercd in the presence of us
Coppy
JOSEPH RICKEY CHARLES AUSTIN J N° D BLANCHARD GEORGE LA UM AN STEPHEN AND :M AUSTIN [Endorsed:] Contract with Lanman and Blanchard. (Copy.)
AGREEMENT TO SELL LAND
[Copy by l\foses Austin.] ., Be it known that Moses Austin of Wythe County in the State of Virginia hath bargained and sold unto · John D Blanchard and George Lauman of tl!e City of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania the quantity of one hundred and twenty thousand acres of land be the same more or less, that is to say fifty thousand acres part of a loca- tion made in company with the sd John D Blanchard and George Lauman in the County of Grayson in the state of Virginia in pur- suance of their agreement of the 19 th January 1795 and the residue in two several surveys in Wythe County aforesaid at and for the rate or price of sixpence lawfull money of Pennsylvania per acre for each and every acre which the same on proper surveys may be found to contain nnd the sd Moses Austin-doth hereby acknowledge to have received the consideration monies for the said lands, and doth hereby agree to have the surveys of the same lands made and returned and patents therefor issued to and in the name of him the said John D Blanchard but for the Joint Account and benifit of them the said John D Blanchard and George Lanman at the proper cost charge and expence of them sd J n° D Blanchard and George Lauman for the amount of which he the said :Moses Austin shall and will draw upon the said John D Blanchard and George Lanman who do hereby en- gage and agree to honour and pay such his Drafts immediately with- out default or Delay For the true performance the said :Moses Aus- t;in doth hereby bind himself his Heirs Executors and administrators
16
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
in the penal sum of twenty thousand pounds firmly by these pres- ents-In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals this Sixteenth day of :March 1795 Signed and Deliverd in the presents of us Joseph Rickey, Charles Austin, .Stephen And M Austin, Jn° D. Blanchard Geo Lauman
STATEMENT m· AccouNT 1
lY· Messrs John D Blanchard and George Lauman in A/Ct with :Moses Austin 1795 Dolls cts March 16 To 120,000 Acres of Land· in Virginia as p' Contract of this Date si.x pence money of Pennsylvania p' Acre___ 8,000 c· 1795 Dolls. Cts Murch 16 By Cash recelv'd from you to purchase 50 Thousand Acres of Land Warrants @ 20 D,._________________________ 1,000 " By Geo Laumans Note for 600 Dollars__________________ 600 " By Jno D Blanchards receipt For 6,400 Dollars to the Credit of S Austin & Co_____________________________ 6,400
Dolls 8,000
Philadelphia : March 16th 1795
Errors Excepted
STATEMENT OF AccouNT
[Copy by :Moses Austin.] Memorandum of Lands Delivered John D Blanchard and Geo Lauman on Acct of a Col'1tract made with them in ~larch 16 1795
To my part of the Survey in Grayson_____________________________ To A Survey in Wythe CountY------------~--------------~--------- To A Survey in D 0 d 0 ------------------------------------- To A Survey in d 0 d0 -------------------------------------- To A Survey in d0 d0 -------------------------------- _____ To a Survey in d 0 d 0 ----------------- .------------------- To a Survey in d 0 d 0 -------------------------------------
52,000 22,000 3,000 10,000 24,009
2,930 7,000
$120,999 The above lands have all been Delivered to John D Blanchard and Geo Lauman in Discharge of my Contract made with them in 1 Tllls nnd the next two documents are undated. Tiley are inserted here becuuse they bear on the contract preceding.
THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 17 the :M:onth of :March 1795, 16 Day, part of the Expense on which are still Due me agreeable to the Statement N° 4 and which is agree- able to said Contract the money Charged said Blanchard and Lau- man in the General acct herewith sent you was paid on lands taken up for them as will fully appear by a reference to the Land Office for the survy made for them in Grayson County by me you will finde that the :Memorandum No 3 is the Expences stated to arise on a Survey of 100 000 acres which Lands have not been returned 2/3 of which onely-Blanchard and Lauman have a right to clame these I withhold for the following Reason· first because they are in my Debt $1634.50 for expence on the 120 thousand acres sold them Second because John D Blanchard has not accounted to me for a quantity of goods Put in to •his •hands for sale Its well to notice that all the money Charged in the General Acct. is for the use of the John D Blanchard Geo Lauman and J os Burr all of which has been accounted for and paid as there stated by the return of a Survey of Land made in Grayson of 150 thousand Acres, nor can Blanchard or Lanman Clame any thing from me except the money in statement N° 3-against which I have a demand on them of 1634.50/100 as before mentioned the amount .of th~ sum.I have on a survy of 43 thousand acres of Land in -my hand which I hold and Intend· to hold untill I am paid for the goods to prove this Clame against Blanchard I have requested Mr Stephen Austin to send forward Blanchards recpt for said goods and also to state to you how much he has paid on thu,t acct. [No. 1] :Memorandum of Sundry fees and expences on the Survey of Land in Grayson County Viz • Surveyors fee Dolls C for the first 400 Acres________,..____________:._________.,..__..;__ . 5. 25 For 24G.93 Acres @ 25 Qt. pr acre__________________________ 615. 25 For Expence of obtaneing prior Clames______________________ 30. 0 Doll C
650. 50
rege5ter fee in Richmond
Doll C 10 1.26
For giveing recpt for PlatL------------------------------- For p[l]atting first 400 Acres---------------i------,-- ;-------- For the balence sn.y 246.93 Acres @ 1 Doll pr thousend_______________________________________ For Cnsh agreed to pny Newell_____________,__.,______________ For do agreed to pay Gaines_·____________________________ • • t ' For other Expences Chane Carriers etc______________________
-246.10
, 247 46 200 200 20 0 1317 9G
18
A.."Pi·1ERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
Dolls C To Blnnchard and Lnuman tor expence ot 1/2________________ 658 98 To Jos Burr________________________________________________ 658 98
870 33 To Moses Austin his expence.._______________________________ 447. 63
1317.96 I have Drawn n Draft on John D. Blanchard for One thousand Dollars which will make Moses Austin Chargable with One Hun- dred and Twenty Nine Dollars and 67 Cents MA [Nos. 2, 3.] Memorandum of Expence attending the Locating Surveying and Registering a Survey of One Hundred Thousand Acres of Land Taken up by Moses Austin under Contract of :March 16 1795 be- tween George Lnumnn John D Blanchard and :Moses Austin Contract N° 2 100 000 Acres of Land wnrrnnts 20 dollars____________________________ 2000 Cash pnid James NewelL____________________________________________ 400 Surveyors fee on 100 000 Acres_______________________________________ 250 Registers fee on 100 000 do__________________________________________ 208 Cha.In Carriers_____ .------------------------------------------------ 30 $2888 ifomorial of Expence on 68 000 Acres of Land Sold John D Blanchard and Geo Lau.man as pr Contract 16 1Yiarch 1795 Contract N° 1- Surveyer tee on the first 400 Acres_________________________________ 5. 25 For his fee on Balence 67.600_______________________________________ 169 Register fee on 68 ()()()________·_____________________________________ 139 4•1 Chain Carriers marks etc__________________________________________ 4. 25
$317 94
[Endorsed] }ifamorandum of Land N° 2 and 3. [No. 4] John D Blanchard and Geo Lauman To Moses Austin Dr 1795 To 120 thousend Acres of Land warrents on Lands sold you under Contract of March 16. 1795-not included in the G acct_______ To Sundry E:,...-pence as stated in our General Acct furnished you_ To Expence on 52 thousend not inCluded in the General Acct____
1400
317.94 231. 56
1980.50
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148 Page 149 Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 Page 168 Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174 Page 175 Page 176 Page 177 Page 178 Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182-183 Page 184 Page 185 Page 186 Page 187 Page 188 Page 189 Page 190 Page 191 Page 192 Page 193 Page 194 Page 195 Page 196 Page 197 Page 198 Page 199 Page 200 Page 201Powered by FlippingBook