The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937 Page: 122
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Mr. B. I. Chambers
Sir :
We understand that you have come up into this section of the
country for the purpose of surveying for General Mercer and his
colony. This, therefore, is to notify you that if you attempt to
do so we will cause you to desist even though rough means should
be necessary.
Elcanah Caps Thos. I. Smith
R. S. Holme Chas. Scocis
Winm. H. Moon Wm. Cox
W. R. Howe G. W. Quin 22
J. Majfute
Smith, who was in command of the region that Chambers con-
tracted to survey, had the support of the civil authority, and
together the civil and military forces sought to obstruct and defeat
the contract. Wheelock consulted Ebenezer Allen, the attorney
for "The Texas Association," as to a "proper course to pursue,"
and received the oracular advice "to tranquilize and harmonize
the community by a conciliatory course," and that "truth might
unfold itself and justice prevail." The course pursued by Cham-
bers obtained anything but harmony and tranquillity. When he
attempted to establish an office near Melton, he was "prevented,
incommoded and threatened"; his team "was dispersed and driven
away so rapidly as to result in the death of one ox," and he was
"left some thirty miles above Franklin." C. C. Taylor, the county
surveyor of Robertson County, refused to submit a plat of Rob-
ertson County with the dates of certificates and entries and the
places and by what authority they were issued, and expressed a
determination "that no surveyor of General Mercer could or should
be permitted to run a line within the County of Robertson." In
the face of this opposition, Allen advised Wheelock to seek either
an indemnity from the government or a redress by process of a
mandamus against municipal officers. By September, Wheelock
had traveled some 1,700 miles within the grant west of the Trinity,
a part of which time he was in captivity of the Waco, Washitaw,
and Comanche Indians. Though separated from his son and his
interpreter, and his life endangered, he finally gained his release
through the interference of a "kindly American Caddo." When
he returned home he again sought the advice of Ebenezer Allen,
"Chambers to Mercer, November 25, 1845. Colonization Papers, 1843-45.
Texas State Library.122
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937, periodical, 1937; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101099/m1/136/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.