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DeWitt's Colony was founded by Green DeWitt (1787-1835) as a result of his empresario contract of April 15, 1825 to settle 400 families. The colony was located south of the San Antonio Road in the area between the Lavaca River and the divide of the Guadalupe River and the San Antonio River.
The records of DeWitt’s Colony consist of 3 linear feet of contract records, correspondence, land titles, appointments, and survey field notes dated 1825-1834.
The records of DeWitt’s Colony consist of 3 linear feet of contract records, correspondence, land titles, appointments, and survey field notes dated 1825-1834.
Green DeWitt (1787-1835) and James Kerr founded DeWitt’s Colony in 1825 in the Mexican state of Coahuila and Texas. Under the Mexican federal colonization law of 1824 and with the influence of Stephen F. Austin and the Baron de Bastrop, DeWitt procured a contract to bring 400 families to land adjacent to and southwest of Austin’s Colony.
The Colony was located south of the San Antonio Road in the area between the Lavaca River and the divide of the Guadalupe River and the San Antonio River. The area allotted for the colony also took in land that was occupied by DeLeon's Colony, resulting in a conflict between the two colonies. In addition to boundary disputes and illegal trade controversies, the colony suffered from attacks of Native Americans on Gonzales. With James Kerr as Surveyor General, DeWitt established the town of Gonzales in 1825 three miles from the present Gonzales. Jose Antonio Navarro was appointed land commissioner for DeWitt's Colony and issued 180 titles in 1831 and 1832. While DeWitt and the settlers supported Mexico, Gonzales became the site of the first battle of the Texas Revolution.
For more information, see:
1. DeWitt's Colony at the Handbook of Texas Online.
2. Rather, Ethel Zivley. DeWitt's Colony, Book, 1905; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth41255/ : accessed October 09, 2013), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.
The Colony was located south of the San Antonio Road in the area between the Lavaca River and the divide of the Guadalupe River and the San Antonio River. The area allotted for the colony also took in land that was occupied by DeLeon's Colony, resulting in a conflict between the two colonies. In addition to boundary disputes and illegal trade controversies, the colony suffered from attacks of Native Americans on Gonzales. With James Kerr as Surveyor General, DeWitt established the town of Gonzales in 1825 three miles from the present Gonzales. Jose Antonio Navarro was appointed land commissioner for DeWitt's Colony and issued 180 titles in 1831 and 1832. While DeWitt and the settlers supported Mexico, Gonzales became the site of the first battle of the Texas Revolution.
For more information, see:
1. DeWitt's Colony at the Handbook of Texas Online.
2. Rather, Ethel Zivley. DeWitt's Colony, Book, 1905; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth41255/ : accessed October 09, 2013), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.
DeWitt’s Colony Records consist of 6 linear feet of contract records, correspondence, land titles, appointments, and survey field notes (1825-1834).
The Records also contain 3 volumes of transcribed translations of titles (1845 and 1872) and 1 surname index volume (undated).
The Records also contain 3 volumes of transcribed translations of titles (1845 and 1872) and 1 surname index volume (undated).
1825-1835; 1841; 1845; 1872
6.0 Linear feet (15 document boxes, 4 bound volumes)
Spanish
DeWitt's Colony Records are small in quantity and are arranged chronologically at the file level.
Because the Records are physically part of the Spanish Collection, the contract records and correspondence are mixed in with material from other collections which accounts for the addition of 9 document boxes while only adding 2.875 linear inches of material to the collection.
Because the Records are physically part of the Spanish Collection, the contract records and correspondence are mixed in with material from other collections which accounts for the addition of 9 document boxes while only adding 2.875 linear inches of material to the collection.
DeWitt's Colony Records (SC.DC). Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin.
Access to the index of titles in DeWitt's Colony in the volume "Index to Titles, 1832-1835" is restricted due to the poor condition of the volume. The index has been superceded by many other indexes including the online database.
Unrestricted access for the rest of the collection.
Unrestricted access for the rest of the collection.
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
