Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
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vey the new town site. The raising of a crop was essential to the main- tenance of the new settlers. In the meantime, he had ordered the fam- ilies to be lodged in the houses of the soldiers where they were fairly comfortable. 54 On March 12, 1731, Captain Juan Antonio de Almazan summoned all the heads of families to appear before him. In their company and in that of others who were already established in the vicinity of the pre- sidio, he proceeded to investigate personally the spring which formed the stream generally called the Arroyo (San Pedro Creek). He examined all the land that lies between the San Antonio River and the San Pedro. The families agreed to divide all the lands roughly among them, with- out the formality of being officially given possession individually, leav- ing this act for a time when they might be able to survey the land with more care. Three days later, in accord with the agreement made on the 12th, the Captain went out with all the heads of families to the lands north and south of the presidio and distributed among them all the arable portions which already had been cleared by those who first estab- lished themselves near the presidio. They immediately set about to plow the fields and to clear more land, being urged and encouraged in their labors by the governor.ss The fields having been made ready to plant .corn and other grains and cereals, the governor urged the settlers to plant as much as they could on June 30. They willingly responded to the call and each one exerted himself so that about twenty-two bushels of corn were sown, as well as some beans, oats, cotton, melons, chile, watermelons, pumpkins, and other vegetables. Not only had they planted all these various seeds, but they had been successful in transplanting a number of fruit trees which they had brought from the Province of Coahuila. Notwithstand- ing the scarcity of rain, all the fields of corn and other grains looked By July 2, the new settlers had gathered their fruitful harvests from the fertile fields they had worked so well and faithfully in the spring. They could now give their time and attention to the actual establishment of the villa ordered well, and there was promise of a plentiful crop. The official establiskment of San Fernando. MActa de Fundacion de la Villa San Fernando. This interesting and singular document is in Guadalajara, in the State Public Library, where the writer made a photostat copy of it in 193 1. Most of the remainder of the reference will be to this document which will be closely followed. SS/bid.
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