Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 8, Number 2, May 1998 Page: 56
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Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal
family.22 With this certificate of character, Angus applied for land from Empresario Jose
Vehlein for colonization according to the contract he had with the government of Mexico
on December 21, 1826. By September 15, 1835 the land had been surveyed and a title of
possession issued for one league of land "situated between Cedar Bayou and the Old
River on the west side of the Trinity ... Of the said tract ten labors belong to the class of
arable land and the remaining fifteen to that of pasture land." This land was located in
what is now Liberty County. Within one year, according to the contract, Angus was
supposed to construct "fixed and permanent landmarks at each cornor of the tract" and
"settle and cultivate it in conformity with the provision of said law."23 After receiving this
grant of land from the Mexican government, Angus, on September 11, bought land from
Henry C. McNeill in Nagcodoches-eleven leagues of the Antonio Gonzales land and one
league of the Ramos Bedford land.24 However, Angus was not yet ready to settle in Texas
and soon returned to Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi. He later sold all of this land.
On December 8, 1835, Angus, in Natchez, was appointed at a public
meeting a member of a committee to make arrangement-for a benefit to be given for the
Texian patriots. The date set for this benefit was 16 December 1835, and Charles H.
Eston, a tragedian, volunteered his services. The play "Damon and Pythias" was given;
some Texas volunteers were present in uniform; and the Natchez Fencibles, a militia
group under the leadership of John A. Quitman, appeared in a body. The net proceeds
amounted to $396.50.25
Henry C. McNeill, who had been in Nacogdoches and a member of the
Committee of Vigilance and Safety on January 4, 1835, took a more active role in the
Texas Revolution. He joined the group that John A. Quitman organized, and was said to
have financed, to go to the aid of the Texians. Although they did not make it to San Jacinto
in time for the battle, the Quitman group of volunteers was credited with aiding refugee
families at Nacogdoches and perhaps preventing the citizens from burning the town. They
also offered protection from rumored Indian attacks that were encouraged by the Mexi-
cans. After the battle of San Jacinto, the Quitman group did join the victorious Texians,
and a lance captured from a Mexican at the battle was presented to Quitman. While some
22 Dobie, "James Bowie, Big Dealer," p. 356; Robert Bruce Blake Research Collection, vol. 28,
Certificates 492-495, The Center for American History, University of Texas, Austin.
23 Angus McNeill, Mexican Land Grant, Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company Records, Box
52, Folder 12, Spanish Collection, Archives and Records Division, Texas General Land Office, Austin.
24 Robert Bruce Blake, comp., Nacogdoches Archives (n. p., n. d.), vol. E, pp. 128-131.
25 John H. Jenkins, ed., The Papers of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836 (Austin: Presidial Press,
1973), vol. 3, pp. 118-120; James H. McLendon, "John A. Quitman in the Texas Revolution," Southwestern
Historical Quarterly, vol. 52, October 1948, pp. 164-165.56
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 8, Number 2, May 1998, periodical, May 1998; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151403/m1/8/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.