42 I
Texas on tlze Eve of tlze 111ezican Revolution
19, from La Bahia, and their three children: Juan Nepomuceno, 5, Maria, 3, and Leonidas, 2. His property consisted of 326 milch cows, 110 bulls, 20 calves, 30 hogs, 20 mules, 18 mares, IO horses, r stud, I jackass, 6 oxen, and I cart. His hired help were l\'Iaximo Vasquez, 27, a cowboy, and his IS-year-old wife, Gertrudis Vazquez; Antonio Bueno, 25, from Bexar, his wife, Antonia Hernandez, 18, and their son, Francisco, 2; Alejandro Gonzalez, 26, native of Pilon; Jose Ramos, 16, from Saltillo; Anselmo Pres, 45, and his 25-year-old wife, Feliciana Hernandez, both of whom were from Bexar. 38 These 14 ranches were all located within the jurisdiction of San Fernando de Bexar and formed a part of the district of Bexar. Taken as a whole, the 172 persons listed as owners of or residents on the 14 ranches, looked after 1,921 milch cows, 452 bulls, 488 heifers, 650 calves, and 417 bullocks-some 3,928 head of cattle; 312 mares, 268 horses, 14 studs, 64 colts, 15 ponies; 42 mules, 12 jacks and jennies; 168 oxen; 3,730 sheep and goats; 85 hogs; and 21 carts. Renewal of the Rio Frio project. It will be remembered that in 1806 Jose Antonio Ramirez had asked permission to be established on the Rio Frio a settlement which was to be called Nueva Jaen. The commandant general refused to grant the request at that time, because, as he said, it would be better to concentrate on the settlements already authorized rather than to attempt new projects before the others were finished. The petitioner was promised that his proposal would be filed for later consideration. Early in 1809, Ramirez again asked to be permitted to carry out his proposed settlement on the Frio River. Cordero, who was still in Texas, immediately transmitted the request to Don Nemesio Salcedo with a plea for its approval. But the commandant general could not bring himself to grant the desired authorization for a new settlement. As a matter of fact, conditions had become more disturbed than ever, and the old guardian of the frontier had grown more wary of all new enterprises. Following his usual procrastinating policy, Salcedo informed Ramirez that the project would haYe to be postponed again until a more opportune time. 39 Cordero's efforts in behalf of the colony on the Frio was one of his last official acts in Texas. Early in May the veteran commander and experienced administrator of affairs in Texas was recalled to Coahuila,
38 Nacogdoches Archives, XV, pp. 150-1 53, 156-1 57. 39N. Salcedo to Cordero, April 17, 1809. Be:rnr Arcliivu.
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