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I I ! I I I i I
The Begimiing of Formal Colonization
JII
Santfsi·ma Trinidad de Salcedo. As soon as Cordero received formal approval of the project, dated October 8, 1805, he began preparations in earnest for the realization of his cherished dream, the founding of Santisima Trinidad de Salcedo. He called for volunteer settlers, and interviewed Father Vallejo, president of the missions, to obtain a mis- sionary to minister to the spiritual needs of the settlers. Shortly after- wards, he sent instructions to Pedro Nolasco Carrasco for selecting the site and formally establishing the villa. 51 Father Vallejo, who had spent many years in Nacogdoches and who loved East Texas, readily acceded to the request and on November 5 instructed F_ather Mariano de Jesus Sosa to proceed without delay to the new post on the Trinity. Father Sosa wrote Governor Cordero on December 4 that he would set out the following day. 53 In the meantime. Salcedo had learned and heartily approved of this arrangement, and authorized Cordero to take from secularized Mission Valero whatever Father Sosa needed for divine services. 54 In company with Sebastian Rodriguez, who was soon to take command of the new villa, Father Sosa journeyed from Nacogdoches to the site of the new town. It was at the crossing of the river, where the upper and the lower roads from San Antonio and La Bahia to East Texas came together, probably just beyond the northern boundary of Madison County, in the vicinity of modern Midway. The location was almost the same as that of Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Bucareli (founded by Ibarbo, and later abandoned in favor of Nacogdoches), except that Bucareli had been on the west bank, whereas Trinidad de Salcedo was just east of the river. 55 Pedro Nolasco Carrasco on January 4 wrote Cordero acknowledging his detailed instructions of December 19 for the founding of the new villa. 56 They were in accord with the prevailing regulations for the establishment of new settlements in the Interior Provinces, and were modeled upon the instructions which had been drawn up for the founding of Villa de Pitic, Sonora, and which had been approved on August 23. 1783, by the king. S:Salcedo to Cordero, October 8, 1805 ; Puelies to Cordero, December 4, 180 5; Mariano de Jesus Sosa to Cordero, December 4, 1805. Bexar Archives. 53 Mariano de Jes(1s Sosa to Cordero, December 4, 1805. Bexar ArcM,·es. 5 'Salcedo to Cordero, December 2, 1805. Be.t'ar Archives. 55 For the founding and location of Bucareli, see Our Catl,olic Heritage i11 Texas, IV, 312-314; Puelles to Cordero, December 5, 1805. Bexar Archi1 1 es. Puelles wistfully commented in his letter that he had hoped to get the new assignment. 56 Carrasco to Cordero, January 4, 1806. Be:car Arcliiv,s.
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