SONS
OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS
Don Martín De León's Petition to
Colonize April 8, 1824. To the Most Excellent The Provincial Delegation. Citizen Martín De León, A resident of the town of Cruillas in the Province of New St. Audiro, in due and lawful form, most respectfully represent to your Honorable Body, and saith, that inasmuch as the principal object of the Nation, is to establish peaceful relations, and to settle the uncultivated lands and uninhabited wilds of Texas, from which will result the progress of every branch of industry, resourses of wealth and a development of its topographical advantages, and above all, afford the means of enlightenment and a knowledge of the Divinity of the Lord our God, that he may be known and worshipped and praised in the most remote and dreary deserts of this North America. I therefore pray your Excellencies to have the goodness to grant me permission to found a town, with a public square and streets, on the river Guadalupe at a distance of about ten leagues beyond La Bahia de Espiritu Santos, under the glorious appellation of Town of our Lady of Guadalupe de Jesus, (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Jesus). For the purpose of establishing the said town, I have solicited and have now at my disposal, Forty One inhabitants all with families, as appears by the annexed list of those settlers, who with myself have resolved to settle those lands at our own expense, which arrangements I have used great exertions to effect in this manner, in order to contribute as much as possible to the benefit of the State. The advantages which must occur to the Nation by the settlement of this town are evident; it will facilitate trade and commerce, afford protection to travelers, serve as a point of defense against our enemies and offer facilities and the means of chastising them, and commanding their respect. Aware of your Excellencies desire to promote the general good of the nation and of the State, I feel confident in the assurance, that your Hon. Body will not only accede to my proposition, and afford my every aid to accomplish and undertaking at once necessary and the higher authorities to obtain such favors and exclusive privileges and rights, as will of a private as of a general nature, as regarding the settlement and the settlers, as the provisions of the laws of this Empire will permit. I therefore pray your Hon. Body may be pleased to entreat the Supreme Congress to grant to me the land, waters, salt licks, and lake; wild horses, and permit the planting of all kinds of useful seeds, free from all duties, for the term of ten years, for the benefit of the settlers in consideration of the imminent dangers to which they will be exposed, and the difficulties which they will have to encounter. Therefore I pray your Excellencies be pleased to grant the prayer of this my petition which is not only just, but advantageous to the country. I make oath that this is free from all malice. Martín De León Resolutions of the Provincial Delegation. To the Hon. the Provincial Delegation. San Hernando de Bexar April 8, 1824. San Hernando de Bexar April 13th, 1824 The Honorable the Provincial Delegation, having before them, the foregoing petition, with the list accompanying, and having received and admitted to their consideration; in persuance thereof and in view of the advantages to be derived by augmenting the population of this province by raising stock, and by the promotion of arts and manufactures, they have directed that the prayer of the petitioner be granted, subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by our resolution of this date in relation to this matter. In testimony whereof the individuals composing this Delegation have signed their names to this provisional degree. Thus was it resolved the date above written. José Antonio Saucedo Ramon Múzquiz Member Sotz List of the Settlers Proposed
Calle De Los Diez Amigos The main street of Don Martín De León's capital city was called Calle de los Diez Amigos, "The Street of Ten Friends." Old history relates that the origin of the name, The Street of Ten Friends, implied a union of the ten (10) most trusted and principal citizens, who conducted the bulk of the business and had direct charge of matters of policy, defense against the Indians, and the general welfare of the community. The names of the ten (10) people designated by Don Martín De León were:
Don Martín De León as stated elsewhere, was a very religious man, and just before he completed his plans to name the main street of his capital city, for his most honored and trusted friends and associates, and sons, he had prayed the night before retiring as was his general custom and in his sleep he dreamed of the twelve (12) Apostles from his favorite scripture. In the dream he was only able to actually identify or place but ten (10) of the Apostles and the ten (10) Apostles were so vivid in his recollection of the dream, that he, the very next day decided to appoint and honor ten (10) of his trusted friends for the naming of his main street. Main Street was therefore named Calle de los Diaz Amigos and the number of ten (10) was so decided, as a result of Don Martín's religious dream.
SONS OF DEWITT
COLONY TEXAS |
