The Beginning of Formal Colonization
children, Augustin and Manuel, 7 and 8 years old, respectively; and Jose Alderete. In all, there were 16 persons in the little group. 60 Pro- vision had been made in anticipation of their arrival, for on January 4, 1806, Barr, the Indian agent at Nacogdoches, delivered to Carrasco supplies for the new settlers billed at 167.75 ,pesos. 61 The little caravan, having spent Christmas en route to their new homes, arrived in Trinidad de Salcedo early in January. They did not find it a desolate waste, because several Louisiana immigrants had arrived in the meantime. Among them was Don Bernardo Martin Despallier. As early as 1804, he had come from New Orleans to Nacog- doches, where he had married Maria Candida Grande. After trying to found a settlement at Orcoquisac, he had finally moved to Villa de Salcedo with his wife and two children, Jose Bernardo and Blas Felipe, 2 years and 1 month, respectively. Miguel Quin, an Irishman from upper Louisiana, had come in October. Also from upper Louisiana was Juan Meguin (McGee), another Irishman, who had brought his American wife, Sarah Burxer, and his four children: Jose, Juan, Maria, and Anna, the eldest of whom was 6 years old, and the youngest, 1 5 months. Pedro Lartigue and his two sons, Francisco and Julian, 15 and 18 years old, respectively, were also found by the newcomers. Another Louisianan, a German, Enrique Seridan (Sheridan?) had made his home here with his wife, Christina Hench, and five children: Jacobo, Juan, Isabel, Anna, and Sarah, who ranged in age from 15 to 22. The wife of Juan Lunn, Rebecca Cheridan (Sheridan), who had come alone from Louisiana, and Hugo Coyle, an Irish surveyor, made a total of 23 persons. 62 The date of the arrival of the San Antonio settlers is not known, but the group was evidently in Salcedo by January 23, for on that day Lieutenant Juan Ignacio Arrambide, acting commandant of the military and justicia of the villa, recorded the first formal grant of a solar (lot for a house) to Jose Luis Duran. According to the terms of the deed, Duran agreed to fence, keep clean, and build a house on his lot, which had a frontage of 30 varas (about 83 feet), and promised to perform all other duties expected of citizens. 63 60Census report of the Villa de Trinidad de Salcedo, October 6, 1809. Bexar Arcl,ives. ' 1 Carrasco to Cordero, January 4, 1806. Bexar Arc/riv11s. 62 Census Report of the vma de Trinidad, October 6, 1809. Bexar Arc/rivu. The list given in Hatcher, Tire Opening of Texas lo F<>reign Settlement, 102, includes Geronimo Hernandez and his family who did not come until 1808, but omits Pedro Lartigue and his family. 6SMerced a Jose Luis Duran, January 23, 1806. Bexar Arc/rives.
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