Freestone County, Texas
Censuses


Former United States citizens that became
Citizens of Fort Tenoxtitlan

  Fort Tenoxtitlán is a modern ghost town that was critical to the settling of 
central Texas. Fort Tenoxtitlán was constructed to stop the immigration from the 
United States. Fort Tenoxtitlán was located in what is now northeastern Burleson 
County. The town of Fort Tenoxtitlan was important because it was the unofficial 
capitol for the "Upper Colony" portion of Texas for Mexico and later the early 
Austin and Williams Colony. On February 2, l83l, Austin and Williams got a 
colonization contract for the "Austin and Williams Colony" (north of the San 
Antonio road).  On August 22, 1832, the Mexican government gave up on the upper 
colony by withdrawing the garrison soliders and the entire Mexican population from 
Fort Tenoxtitlan and returning to Bexar. Below the informal list of citizens of 
Fort Tenoxtitlan mostly comes from formal applications done between April 21 and 
June 15, 1834 for admission to the Austin and Williams Colony done with the colony 
agent, Spencer H. Jack:

Anglin, Elisha, 37; wife, Catherine, 21; 6 children. Applied May 22, 1834.
Barnhill, William, 75, from Tennessee; wife, Cintha, 63; 8 children (4 males, 
  4 females). Applied May 22, 1834.
Barnett, George W., 40; wife, Eliza, 32; 3 children. Applied May 23, 1834.
Barr, Robert [no application found]
Berry, Radford [known to be in Tenoxtitlan after Mexican exodus of August 22, 1832] 
Boren, Joseph, 24, single. Applied May 26, 1834.
Boren, Micul, 27; wife, Elizabeth; 3 children. Applied May 27, 1834.
Byrom, John S. D. by W. Barret Travis, (agent); married. Applied April 29, 1834.
Chaffin, John, single. Applied April 29, 1834.
Craddock, John R. [known to be in Tenoxtitlan after Mexican exodus of August 22, 1832]
Erath, George Benard [arrived by August 1834]
Fullerton, Henry. Applied May 22, 1834.
Fullinwider, Peter H., 37; wife, Balinda, 21. Applied April 21, 1834.
Graham, John, 56, unmarried. Applied May 27, 1834.
Hood, Joseph L.  [known to be in Tenoxtitlan after Mexican exodus of August 22, 1832]
McClane, William, 30, single. Applied May 23, 1834.
Parker, J. W., 37; wife, Patsy, 37; 5 children. Applied May 22, 1834.
Parker, Silas M., 32, wife, Lucinda, 23; 4 children. Applied May 22, 1834.
Plummer, Luther T. M., 22; wife, Rachel, 16. Applied May 22, 1834.
Porter, John W. and family [arrived by August 1834]
Purdom, Henry, 49, widower. Applied April 29, 1834.
Purdy, Letsom, 31; wife, Mary, 28. Applied June 8, 1834.
Rains, C. B., 28, single. Applied April 22, 1834.
Robinson, George W., 25; wife, Eliza, 16; 1 child. Applied June 15, 1834.
Russell, Alexander, 35, single. Applied April 22, 184.
Sessom, Michael (by F. W. Johnson). Applied May 22, 1834.
Skerrett, George W., 34; wife, Maria, 22; 2 children. Applied April 29, 1834.
Smith, Francis  [known to be in Tenoxtitlan after Mexican exodus of August 22, 1832]
Smith, William H. [known to be in Tenoxtitlan after Mexican exodus of August 22, 1832]
Stewart, William, 3; wife, Sarah Ann, 33; 6 children. Applied May 22, 1834.
Swain, William L., 29, single. Applied May 3. 1834.
Swisher, James G., 39; wife, Elizabeth, 36; 6 children. Applied May 27, 1834.
Teal, John, 28; wife, Polly, 27; 4 children. [In Tenoxtitlan after Mexican exodus 
  of August 22, 1832. Applied May 24, 1834.]
Williams, John (by S. H. Jack), 46, widower; 7 children. Applied June 6, 1834.
????, Muford [no application found]

  A state historical marker sign for Fort Tenoxtitlan is now in a roadside park 
off of Highway 21 0.9 miles west of FM 1362. The text on the marker states:
  "2000 feet south, site of Fort Tenoxtitlan established by the Mexican government 
in July, 1830, in an attempt to stem Anglo-American settlement. Named in honor 
of the Aztec capital, now Mexico City. Abandoned by Mexican troops in 1832. In 
the town which grew up after 1834 many prominent Texans lived. The place passed 
from the map after 1860."
  Another state marker says: "Founded by Mexico as a bulwark against Anglo-American 
immigration, this fort and its nearby city were twice proposed for the capital 
of Texas. Alarmed by the influx of Anglo settlers into Texas, Mexico in 1830 
sought to erect a line of forts to keep out the intruders. The ancient Aztec name 
for Mexico City (originally pronounced "Tex-ox-teet-lan") was given this site; 
it means "prickly pear place". So hopeful of the fort's success was the military 
commandant of the region that he envisioned it as the capital of Texas. But Anglo 
immigration did not cease. Instead it thrived on the friendship of the local 
soldiers and incoming pioneers. The colonizer Sterling C. Robertson introduced 
scores of settlers. In 1832 the soldiers were withdrawn and the fort finally 
defaulted to the Anglos. Subsequently it was a supply center and mustering point 
for expeditions against the Indians. During its brief life many Texas patriots 
lived here, including 5 signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, a martyr 
of the Alamo siege, and 7 soldiers of the Battle of San Jacinto. Tenoxtitlan was 
again suggested for the capital of Texas during the Republic, but Austin won out. 
In 1841, after many Indian raids, the site was abandoned."