The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946 Page: 79
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Southwestern Historical Quarterly and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association.
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The House of Barr and Davenport
any stolen stock in that pasture, he continued, it was probably
taken there by the outlaws of the Neutral Ground and not by
Barr and Davenport.45
Barr and Davenport established an enviable reputation among
Spanish officials, clergymen, and settlers. Davenport kept
Spanish authorities informed of political conditions in the
United States, and his efforts and opinions were given prompt
and complete official recognition.46 He carried official and per-
sonal correspondence for the government and settlers between
Nacogdoches and Natchitoches, across the Neutral Ground.47
When, because of the critical political situation in New Spain,
a rigid censorship was placed on communication with Louisiana,
Barr and Davenport were officially and courteously notified of
the censorship and given the necessary instructions.48
In compliance with superior orders, the commandant of
Nacogdoches took several depositions from other officers,
justices, and ministers of Nacogdoches relative to foreigners
living in that frontier settlement. From these records the
governor of Texas rendered his opinion of Barr and Davenport.
He stated William Barr was a loyal subject and had always
been notably charitable toward the settlers, who looked upon
him as their benefactor. Barr, he added, was always the first
to contribute to the church and to public works. The trading
house, the governor climaxed ". . . is the only recourse of this
settlement."49 Samuel Davenport, the governor continued, was
"a desirable man because of his discretion, good civil and
Christian conduct."50
The governor was laconic. The reports that the commandant
and the minister of Nacogdoches had submitted to him were
more detailed. Commandant Jos6 Maria Guadiana remarked
that Don Guillermo Barr was "firm in his convictions and ideas."
Barr was faithful, loyal, and orderly he added. Don Samuel
45Manuel de Salcedo to Bernardo Bonavia, September 12, 1809, MS.,
Bexar Archives.
46Antonio Cordero to Nemesio Salcedo, September 2, 1808, MS.; Mariano
Varela to Antonio Cordero, October 12, 1808, MS.; Samuel Davenport to
Manuel de Salcedo, March 6, 1809, MS.; Manuel de Salcedo to Bernardo
Bonavia, October 1, 1809, MS.; S. Davenport to Manuel de Salcedo, April
24, 1812, MS., Bexar Archives.
47Manuel de Salcedo to Bernardo Bonavia, May 27 and May 28, 1810, MS.,
Bexar Archives.
48Manuel de Salcedo to Intendant of San Luis Potosi, May 17, 1810, MS.,
Bexar Archives.
49Expediente, May 8, 1810, p. 11, MS., Bexar Archives.
Solid.79
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946, periodical, 1946; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146056/m1/90/?rotate=90: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.