Orer Catholic Heritage in Texas
It was suggested that he give them wheat, corn, beans, chick peas, peas, pumpkin, chile, pimento, and such other grain and vegetables as it was necessary to plant in the region. These should be furnished to each head of a family, who was to cultivate his farm with the aid of the yoke of oxen sent by Captain Aguirre from Saltillo for that purpose. All seeds for planting were to be charged to the families at the cheapest price possible and an accurate account of everything kept, in order that this might be presented to the royal _treasury for payment. The captain of the presidio should see that when the season for planting came, the families cultivated the land and practiced all diligence in raising their first crop, in order that by the second year, they might be able to make their own living without the need of royal aid. He was urged to assign persons who were skilled in the cultivation of the land in this region and who knew the best seasons for planting the different crops to instruct the new settlers and acquaint them with the best methods of agriculture. He was asked to make a full and complete report of everything he did in the execution of the orders received in this regard." In a separate decree of the same date, the viceroy instructed the Gov- ernor, and in his absence the Captain of the Presidio, to make a new list of each member of the party, immediately upon their arrival, not- ing those who had died on the way or who had been born. A list of those who set out from Cuatitlan was sent to him for this purpose. It was his duty to record the full name of each settler, his parents, the place where he was born, his age, and whether the person was single or married. Similar details were demanded from the parents regarding their children. He was then, by virtue of the viceroy's decree and the provisions of the Laws of the Indies, authorized to declare every one of them Hijo Dalgo. Each of the new settlers was entitled to a copy of the decree as proof patent of his title of nobility. From the heads of the families, the governor or the captain of the presidio, was ordered to select six councilmen ( regidores), a sheriff (alguacil mayor), and an official secretary ( escribano de consejo y ,p,,b- lico}. He was furthermore to appoint a mayordomo or administrator of the public or common lands. These officers were to have the right to "Para que el Governador de la Provincia de Texas y en su ausencia el Capitan del Presidio de San Antonio, acuda alas quinze familias, que van a poblar con los bastimentos q hubieren menester a Razon de quatro Reales al dia que goza cada persona, por. tiempo de un aiio, como lo demas que contiene. November 28, 1730. .A. G. N., Historia, Vol. 84, Pt. 1.
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