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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
No. 2446 [184-f, M. B. LAMAR, RICHMOND? TEXAS] BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES UPON A. C. BUCKNER AND DOCTOR DEATON 52 Elliot C. Buckner Information derived from Mrs. Eberley. When Austin exacted the 12½ cts from the Colonists for their lands against the law it was submitted to for a long time before the people knew that he was not entitled to it. When this fact was as- certained, a general complaint spread throout the Colony against the act - The most prominent man at the head of the people, was Buck- ner, - he informed the people of their rights; and himself resisted- the exaction - For this Austin was about to have him put in Irons and punished; but the people rose up in arms in defense of Buckner and forced Austin to desist from his purpose and to refrain hence from further collection of said 12½ cts - Buckner then resided in Bay Prarie, lying from the Bernard embracing Coney and extending to the Colorado - The settlers in this prarie all turned out for Buck- ner. Buckner was sent for by Austin to San Fillippe - the irons were actually made & ready to put on him; but the people, in a large body, well armed, went with Buckner; & Austin, was of consequence forced to desist - This was in 1825. Doctor Deaton, from Arkan.saw. •He was a prnctisig physician - Buckner resisted the payment of the 12½ cts only - When Austin gave up t~at, he still claimed of the Colonists, what he called Land office fees, and also Surveyor's fees - Doctor Deaton now insisted that he (Austin) had no right to claim these; The original contract made with Moses Austin and the Spanish Govt.. was that Austin should at his own expense, introduce and settle 300 families in Texas, for which he was to receive, (not fees) but premium Lands in remuneration. Deato[n insis]ted that all the expense of locating and settling the fam- ilies on their lands were to be borne exclusively by Austin, without any charge upon the Colonists - Whil~t Deaton was preaching up thie doctrine, the people became discontented at the Taxes imposed upon them; and a rumor was spread that the people upon Mill Creek were about to rise and burn up the Land office at San Phillippe. No move- ment however of the kind was made; altho some dissatisfaction pre- vailed. The matter resulted in the punishmt & expulsion of Deaton. He was caught in Hall's or Binghams settlemt to Sanfillippe, where he was put upon a trial, and was soon convicted of being a disturber of the peace, and an agitator, and was taken out stripped to his draw- ers; his head shaved, and his body tarred & feathered. He was then ordered to leave the country immediately; which he did, & has not been since heard of. The persons chiefly engaged in this affair, was Martin Varner, John Austin. Josiah Bell a.nd Sam Williams. Deaton was in the house of Mrs. Pe,,ton at the time the trial was going on by the mob; for it was nothing but a mob. She adviRed him to escape to the Brazos bottoms. & that she would meet the mob herself. Deaton said no - he could not think it possible that they meditated any vio-
12 A. Df.
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