Bexar County, Texas - Land Patent Petition of Leandro Chavez, Nov. 2, 1874. Document was obtained from the Texas Archives Office in Austin, Texas. ================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGENWEBG Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGENWEB Archives by: Robert Garcia (garcia11@flash.net). The State of Texas and Before me John Rosenheimer, a Notary Public County of Bexar in and for the County of Bexar and State of Texas Personally appeared Leandro Chavez a resident citizen of the City of San Antonio, in the County and State aforesaid, who having been duly sworn by me, under said oath affirms and attests that he was born in the town of San Antonio in the year 1810, of Spanish parents who had settled in Texas, and that he has resided all his life either in said town or in the surrounding country. That in the year 1835, his parents had a farm or rancho on the San Antonio River near its junction with the Medina River. That affiant at that time expended the most part of his time attending on said rancho and occasionally coming to town. That about on the middle of the month of November 1835, he was on his way from the rancho to the City with his ox-cart, when he found himself surrounded by a party of armed men under the command of John N. Seguin, said party was mainly of friends and playmates of affiant. They told him that they were gathering in order to declare Texas independent from Mexico, that the most part of the young men were in favor of that move, that they were in great need of means of transportation that his cart would be very useful and they induced him to join them in their undertaking. Affiant accepted their offer and joined them. These facts took place near the Mission of San Jose in the locality called the "Canada". As soon as he reached the camp of the Texians, he was engaged with his cart, transporting hay, wood and all that was necessary. Shouldering his musket whenever he was at hand. It was in reason of that, that affiant was never enrolled or attached to any special company. Few days after his junction with the Texian patriots, affiant took an active part in the Battle of Concepcion. The organization was not very regular, and the discipline not quite strict. Everyone who would fight, did it according to his wishes and impulsion, and affiant remembers well that at said battle, he was near by an American who was dangerously wounded and was called, as far as affiant can make it out, Colonel Samlett, or something approaching. That Colonel died afterwards from the results of his wound. It was on the count of affiant, that the men wounded at the Battle of Concepcion were brought from Concepcion to the north side of the City when the camp was removed. Affiant continued rendering the same service of a general character during all the siege of San Antonio. At the storming of the place he was at the Veramendi house when the columns that had entered by Acequia Street and was engaged near the Garza's house sent for reinforcements, at that moment the communication between the two divisions was very dangerous although the distance that separated them was very short. So constant and so well was directed the enemy's fire, nevertheless affiant and some others decided to answer the call at all risks, they consequently started in a run from the Veramendi's house, but in crossing the street without any shelter to protect them, affiant received at the same instant two musket balls, the first one bruised his head scratching the skin without injuring the bones, it was a slight wound; and a second ball struck his right foot at the first articulatory of the thumb without injuring seriously the bones. This second wound, more painful than grievous, put an end to the military service of affiant. He can show yet the scars of his two wounds and nevertheless, he has never received any pay or compensation for his service. Whenever he has applied to the proper authorities, either by himself or by Attorney, he has always received for answer that his name was not found on any list of muster roll, as if the neglect of the superiors or the lack of a regular organization could destroy the reality of the service truly rendered. Affiant considers that the actual laws of the State regulating the matter, have taken in consideration the reality of the service rendered when satisfactorily proven, more than the formality of an inscription in a muster roll, more or less faithful, and the most part of the time made in a hurry; and, under the engagement to prove the truth of his statement satisfactorily, he make the present affidavit to obtain the military pension to which he considers himself justly entitled under the laws in force granting said pension to the surviving veterans of the revolutionary war. Leandro ( x ) Chavez mark Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2nd November AD 1874 Written my hand and the impress of my official seal. John Rosenheimer Notary Public B.C. The State of Texas Before me John Rosenheimer a Notary County of Texas Public in and for said County and State: Personally appeared Colonel J. N. Seguin, who upon being by me duly sworn, upon his oath, deposes declares says, that he has a distinct recollection that when the Texian troops were gathering on the Salado, being one day scouting the country near the Mission San Jose with some of his men, they met with him the aforesaid Leandro Chavez, who joined the party and came to the Texian camps with his ox-team, that was very much needed the means of transportation being at that time quite scarce. That he rendered useful service as a courier and that being his main service he was not enlisted specially in any company although said Chavez shouldered his musket whenever needed. That it is correct that Leandro Chavez fought at the Concepcion, carried the men who were wounded in said battle up the river on the north side of the City whereto the camp was removed, that he continued during the Siege in his previous capacity and at the Storm of Bexar he received two flesh wounds near the house of Antonio de la Garza, one of which disabled him to render any immediate service. Since he remained lame for sometime he therefore left the Army with the authorization of Capt. B. Travis and retired to his family to cure his foot wounds, and finally the applicant is the same and identical person who rendered said military service at that time. Juan N. Seguin Leandro Chaves The County Court of Bexar vs.Co., Texas The State of Texas Application for Annual Pension To the Honorable County Court of Bexar County, Texas. In this case comes the applicant Leandro Chaves, aged about 67 years, a resident citizen of said Bexar County--leave first being had and obtained from the Court-- It appearing that his original application herein has been lost.--Presents this as a pension from the State of Texas under the law, approved July 28, 1876. That he was a soldier in the army of the Republic of Texas in the war of the Revolution against Mexico between the commencement of the revolution at Gonzales in the year 1835 and the first day of January 1837. That he was under a Company of Lieut. Manuel Flores under the Command of Capt. or Col. Juan N. Seguin always in the service of Texas never against her. That he made proof of service and obtained Pension Bond in the year 1874. That due notice of his application had been given as required by law. He now prays that your Honor give his case a hearing in order to enable him to obtain the benefit of the law, and that he is now and was at the date of making his original application in indigent circumstances. He appoints Ed. Miles his Attorney in Fact--with the power to employ counsel, to present and prosecute his claim and receive and receipt for warrants or pay due him. Leandro (mark) Chaves Sworn to and Subscribed: Before me this 19th day of November A.D. 1877 Sam S. Smith, Co. Clk. B. Co. by Juan E. Barrera, Deputy We, the undersigned citizens of said County, make oath that we are well acquainted with the applicant Leandro Chaves, and know that his Statements are true. Juan ( x ) Rodriguez Juan Jose ( x ) Flores The State of Texas Before me John Rosenheimer a Notary County of Bexar Public in and for said County and State Personally appeared Clemente Bustillo, who being by me duly sworn, upon his oath declares and states that he was a member of the party which met Leandro Chavez at the "Canada" de San Jose that he joined the Texian troops at Concepcion and acted as general courier that affiant does not know if said Leandro Chavez was or was not enlisted in any special company, probably there was nothing like a muster roll at that time; that affiant continued during all the time of the Siege of San Antonio in his previous capacity and that at the Storming of Bexar, said Leandro Chavez crossing the street leading from Verramendi's to Antonio Garza's house received two flesh wounds and remained for a time lame in consequence of one of these wounds. Clemente Bustillo