Agreement with Emigrants
Know all men, by these presents, that whereas Stephen F. Austin
is about forming a Colony under the authority of the Government
of New Spain in the Province of Texas; and that the Conditions and
compensations to be allowed to each person emigrating with Said
Austin, and who becoms a party to this agreement by signing his
name thereto, may be fully understood, the following conditions and
Stipulations are agreed upon—
In the first place it is agreed that each person who makes himself
a party to this agreement Shall place himself under the direction of
Said Austin, and as Soon as a vessel is provided, Shall go on board
the Same, and aid in taking the soundings of the coast, and mouths
of the Rivers from Galveston to the Mouth of the Gaudaloupe River,
Should it be deemed necessary to explore that far, and while on board
Said vessel to attend to the orders of the Captain, and Conduct
themselves in an orderly manner, after the Coast is Sounded, the said
Emigrants will land under the directions of said Austin and remain
in his employ untill the first day of December 1822 during which
time they are to assist in building Cabbins and a Stockade, should
one be deemed necessary, and to clear fence, and cultivate at least five
acres of corn Each of Prairie or untimbered land, and to gather the
crop into Corn Houses—Each Emigrant will furnish his own arms,
and agrees to conduct himself as becomes a good citizen, and to be
faithfull to the Government of the Country so long as he lives under
it—
Now in consideration of the above services, to be rendered in good
faith by each person becoming a party to this agreement, it is agreed
by the said Austin, on his part that he will furnish a vessel for the
transportation of said Emigrants to Said Settlement, that he will
furnish Farming Tools, Oxen, or Mules, and Provisions and Seeds
for said establishment at his own Expenee, from the day the
Emigrants leave New Orleans in said Vessel.
The said Austin also agrees and obligates himself to deliver Each
of Said Emigrants who fulfill this agreement, and duly cultivate
five or more acres of corn as before stated, the one half of all the corn
or other produce raised by them as aforesaid, and to Secure to each
of them a tract of land of Six hundred and forty acres to be laid
off in the Same manner that the lands for the other Emigrants is,
Which land shall be free of expences, also a Town lot shall be given
to each.
In testimony of their agreeing to the above stipulation, the
undersigned have set their hands and Seals to this instrument this 22d day
of November 1821 Eighteen hundred and twenty one. The word "or
more" in the 10th line of this page inserted, and the erasure after
the word "expences" in the last line made before signing—
Stephen F Austin [Seal]
Patrick Toole [Seal]
John Muligen [Seal]
Peter Wing [Seal]
John Hirst [Seal]
Thomas B Harrison [Seal]
Edw G Williams
Bernard Phillips
Isaiah M. Alexander
James Baird
Wm. S. Lewis [Rubric]
Hudson Hughes
William Prestage
Wm W Little [Rubric]
James Nelson