The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921 Page: 58
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The Southwestern Ilistorical Quarterly
the latter part of 1824 they were claiming the region lying be-
tween the Sabine and Trinity Rivers north of the San Antonio
Road, which continued to be their claim until driven from Texas
in the summer of 1839. Whether or not they had permission from
the Spanish authorities to settle in Texas it is impossible to say.
A letter from Richard Fields, their chief, to James Dill, alcalde
at Nacogdoches, just after the revolution which freed Mexico from
Spanish rule in 1822, indicates that probably some Spanish gov-
ernor had given them the right to locate there for hunting pur-
poses. The letter, addressed to the "subsprem Governor of the
Provunce of Spain," February 1, 1822, asked what was to be done
with the poor Indians. They had some grants, it said, which were
given them when they lived under the government of Spain, and
they wanted to know whether or not the grants would be recog-
nized by the new government. This letter was forwarded to the
governor by Dill, but it elicited no response.46
Early in November, 1822, Fields with twenty-two more Indians,
visited Don Jos Felix Trespalacios, the governor of the province
of Texas, and asked permission for all belonging to his tribe to
settle upon the lands of the province. Trespalacios entered into a
temporary agreement with Fields, and sent him to the commandant
general of the Eastern Interior Provinces at Monterey, Don Gas-
par Lopez, who, if agreeable was to send him on to the court of
the Empire, for the purpose of securing a confirmation of the
grant given by Trespalacios. This agreement constitutes the main
documentary evidence of the claims of the Cherokees in Texas
prior to the declaration of the Consultation in 1835, and I shall
quote it in full.
Article 1st. That the said chief Richard [Fields] with five
others of his tribe, accompanied by Mr. Antonio Mexia and An-
tonio Walk, who act as Interpreters, may proceed to Mexico, to
treat with his Imperial Majesty, relative to the settlement which
said chief wishes to make for those of his tribe who are already
in the territory of Texas, and also for those who are still in the
United States.
Article 2d. That the other Indians in the city, and who do not
accompany the beforementioned, will return to their village in the
Association Quarterly, VII, 96; National Intelligencer, September 15,
1820.
"4Winkler, in Ibid., 99. The original of this letter is in Bexar Archives.
It is printed in full in Mr. Winkler's article, as cited.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921, periodical, 1921; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101078/m1/64/?rotate=270: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.