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Tlte Beginning of Formal Colonization
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Solana's mission not only proved futile but also brought him misfortune. In early fall he informed Cordero that he was still in Atascosito, because he was sick of malaria. 100 Illegal entries. Immigrants persisted, however, in penetrating the province in search of new homes, and some of them failed to report at Nacogdoches to make formal application for admission. A detachment of soldiers sent by Captain Geronimo Herrera from Atascosito to explore the coast reported on November 21, 1806, that they had found five families who had been shipwrecked at the mouth of the Neches. They had set out from Calcasieu, Louisiana, to join one of the recently author- ized settlements, but a storm had destroyed their frail vessel, and they had lost all their baggage and provisions. When found, they were in a destitute condition. They were taken to Atascosito to await the decision of the governor. 101 The case of Francisco Roquier and his ten companions leads one to suspect that some enterprising citizens of Louisiana saw the possibility of evading the laws on the exportation of horses. Posing as prospective settlers, Roquier and his friends came to Nacogdoches to ask permission to take back a sufficient number of horses to move their families and belongings. Salcedo, suspicious of them, instructed the governor to require the applicants to comply with all the regulations for admission and to furnish affidavits stipulating the exact number of horses needed for removing their effects to Texas before granting them permission either to return with the horses or to enter Texas as settlers. Roquier was not heard from until a year later, when he again sought admission. His conduct had aroused the suspicions of Salcedo who now denied him admission, because he had not availed himself of the previous offer. 1 0: A similar instance was that of Juan Carlos Casili (Cashily). After making application to settle in Texas, he was granted admission by the governor in the summer of 1806. Before he reached his destination, how- ever, he was arrested as a contraband trader, and his goods were seized and sold. Although he was expelled and ordered never to return, he made application for readmission in 18II. 113 1oosalcedo to Cordero, August 24, 1806; Solana to Cordero, September 25, 1806. Bexar Arc/Jives. lOIGeronimo Herrera, Diario de aconteclmientos, November 21, 1806. BJxar Arc/Jives. msalcedo to Cordero, May 6, 1806, and July 13, 1807. BJxar Arcliiv1s. lOSPetition of Juan Carlos Casili, May 12, 1806, and accompanying documents; petition of 181 x. Bexar Arc/Jives.
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