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Texas Day by Day

January 17, 1821


A Connecticut Yankee in Texas

On this date in 1821, the government of New Spain granted Moses Austin a permit to settle 300 families in Texas. This momentous agreement began the process of Anglo-American colonization in the future state. The elder Austin died, however, before he could fulfill his part of the contract, and his son Stephen F. Austin was recognized as his successor. Although Mexican independence from Spain cast temporary doubt on the future of the contract, a special decree issued in April 1823 allowed S. F. Austin to begin the colonization that led eventually to the Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas.

Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
ARREDONDO, JOAQUIN DE
MEXICAN COLONIZATION LAWS
AUSTIN, MOSES
AUSTIN, STEPHEN FULLER
ANGLO-AMERICAN COLONIZATION

Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
First appearance of Popeye (1929)
Barbara Jordan dies (1996)
Mexican Federalists declare independence at Laredo convention (1840)


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