Shadrach Thomas's petition for land, 1835

Under Mexican law, a settler who wanted land in one of the colonies (empresas) had to petition the colony’s commissioner, with a certificate of good character. This is Shadrach’s, written in Spanish and signed by him at Nacogdoches a year before Texas independence.

The transcription and translation below are a first draft, read from the scan. A few words are uncertain.

Transcription

No. 319. Sor. Comisionado Especial de la Empresa de Js. Vehlein.

Shadrach D. Thomas, natural de los Estados Unidos del norte, con el debido respeto ante V. me presento y digo: que, atraído por las generosas disposiciones de las leyes de colonización de este Estado, he venido con mi muger y cuatro hijos a radicarme en él; si en vista de la adjunta certificación V. tuviere a bien admitirme como colono en la referida Empresa, concediéndome la cantidad de tierra que me corresponde en los baldíos de la misma. Por tanto:

A V. suplico disponga como pido, que en ello recibiré gracia y justicia. Nacogdoches, Mayo 1 de 1835.

Shadrach D. Thomas

Translation

No. 319. To the Special Commissioner of Joseph Vehlein’s Colony.

Shadrach D. Thomas, a native of the United States of the North, with due respect presents himself before you and says: that, drawn by the generous provisions of the colonization laws of this State, he has come with his wife and four children to settle in it; and that, in view of the attached certificate, you may see fit to admit him as a colonist of the said colony, granting him the amount of land due to him from its vacant lands. Therefore:

He begs you to grant his request, for which he will be grateful. Nacogdoches, 1 May 1835.

Shadrach D. Thomas