LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Signature Texana Auction #661  / 

56030

Stephen F. Austin Signed Official Report; 1828

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:4,750.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Stephen F. Austin Signed Official Report; 1828
<B>Stephen F. Austin Signed</B></I> <B>Official Report Communicating Results of the First Municipal Election for </B></I><B><I>Alcalde</B></I></B></I> in San Felipe de Austin. Signed <I>"Estevan F. Austin"</B></I>, the document is written entirely in Spanish by Austin's secretary Samuel M. Williams, who also co-signs beneath Austin's signature. One page, folio, 8.5" x 12.75", Villa de Austin [San Felipe], February 10, 1828; [on official stamped paper with manuscript notation furthering the time period to <I>"y ocho"</B></I>, 1828, rubricated by Williams].<BR><BR>The document reads:<BR><I>"List of the individuals who received votes for Alcalde of this town in the municipal assembly held therein the 10th of this month in accordance with the special order of his Excellency the Governor of the State the 17th of November of the past year, and communicated by the political chief of this department December 11 of the same year by means of a commission to the Citizen Empresario Stephen F. Austin to preside over the said assembly. <BR> Names Votes <BR> Thomas M. Duke 121 <BR> Ira Ingram 111 <BR><BR>Villa de Austin, February 10, 1828. = Estevan F Austin, President = Green B. Jameson, Teller = Rawson Alley, Teller = Samuel M. Williams, Secretary<BR>This is a copy taken of the original that remains in hands of the Ayuntamento"</B></I><BR>Austin and Williams sign beneath.<BR><BR>The above election results, are included in the identical wording and format in Spanish, in the minutes of the ayuntamiento of San Felipe de Austin in the Spanish department of the General Land Office at Austin, Texas, Vol. 1, page 4. These volumes include all minutes from the ayuntamientos installation on February 12, 1828, to January 3, 1832. After this entry, the minutes read: "These elections having been announced by the presiding officer, the list was immediately posted in the most public place, and it was agreed that attested copies should be taken from this to be sent to the Government, forwarded by direction of Citizen Stephen F. Austin..." This document is one of these "attested copies" sent to the Government, making it an exceedingly rare documentation of early Texas history to remain in private hands.<BR><BR>Stephen F. Austin was appointed to hold the first municipal electoral assembly of the Jurisdiction of Austin, Department of Bexar on November 17, 1827 by the Governor of the State of Coahuila y Texas, Victor Blanco. San Felipe de Austin was the capital of this Jurisdiction. This action would create the <I>Ayuntamiento</B></I>, the principal governing body of Spanish municipalities. It functioned as town council and had a wide range of administrative duties. The council members consisted of the <I>Alcalde</B></I>, who served as president, a varying number of <I>Regidors</B></I> or councilmen, and a <I>Sindico Procurador</B></I>, the equivalent of a city attorney. Austin had served as president up to this time; however, his interests lay mainly in his role as an empresario focusing on developing the colonies and he another person would be better suited as Alcalde. The document has a quarter inch band of staining along left margin (likely from previous matting), well away from all text; also light folds, with a tiny separation thereat; otherwise in near fine condition. <I>From the collection of Darrel Brown.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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