Our Cat/10/ic H e1·itage in Texas
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Nacogdoches, noted that the applicant had brought neither family nor property. When expressing his suspicions to Cordero, Viana pointed out that the request to come by water might be a ruse to enable him to introduce contraband goods. After an investigation, the applicant was refused the desired permission, because he had been engaged in filibus- tering activities and closely connected with Dr. John Sibley, the wily American Indian agent at Natchitoches.no Another who found himself expelled was Miguel Solivello. He received permission to settle in one of the new villas on either the Trinity, the Brazos, or the Guadalupe. Not content, the applicant asked and was given permission to remain in Nacogdoches until he could make arrange- ments for transportation to whichever villa he would choose. Apparently, Solivello had no other intention than that of remaining in Nacogdoches to engage in the profitable contraband trade, which seemed to thrive in spite of all efforts to stop it. Viana protested to the governor against Solivello's prolonged stay at Nacogdoches. Cordero immediately ordered the commander to compel him either to move into the interior or return to Louisiana.m Establislmzent of t/1c Villa de San 1J1arcos de Neve. Governor Cordero had not forgotten his proposed settlement on the Guadalupe, which Salcedo had authorized when he approved the plans for Trinidad de Salcedo. Villa de San Marcos de Neve was to be located at or near the point where the Camino Real (Royal Highway) crossed the Guadalupe River. But the problems of 1806-Burr's conspiracy, Wilkinson's dubious activities, Trinidad de Salcedo's difficulties, and American immigration- prevented Cordero from giving much attention to this second project. The unpleasant experience with the villa in East Texas had convinced even the enthusiastic Cordero that it might be better to try to secure settlers from the interior of Mexico for Villa de San Marcos de Neve. The struggling and thinly populated outposts of northern New Spain seemed to offer an unpromising source from which to draw recruits for the hazardous undertaking. But after prolonged negotiations with Felipe Roque de la Portilla, of Nuestra Senora del Refugio (a recently founded settlement in Nuevo Santander, located where Matamoros stands today), a group of about sixteen families set out in December, 1807, to found the new villa. In accord with the terms agreed upon, Cordero furnished ll0Petition of Anthony Glass, October 3r, r_807; Viana to Cordero, October 22, 1807; Cordero to Viana, July 1, 1808. Bexar Archives. lllCordero to Viana, July I, 1807. Bexar Archives.
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