By Abby Zarate, this document describes her family's experience moving to Austin's colony in Texas in the 1820s due to financial hardship. They brought $1,000 and were granted 1,120 acres of land, which they had to pay off over three years. The first few years were difficult due to harsh winters, supply issues when ships sank, and taxation disputes. However, by 1824 they had paid off their land and ended the year with $400 in savings plus a $600 reward. The document provides a first-hand account of settling in Austin's colony in its early years.

1. By: Abby Zarate
My time in
Austin’s colony

2. • The finical panic hit Texas and we are going to
Austin’s colony to live there and maybe stay.
We took all of are stuff and sett of on the road
toward west to his colony. The road was stiff,
bumpy, and cold. It took us about a month to
get to Austin’s colony.

3. Arrival
• We came with one thousand dollars $1,000 in
cash. We qualified for one thousand one
hundred and twenty 1,120 acres . We get to
pay it of three years, but we had to change to
catholic. Also we could not be a drunk, honest,
no gamblers, could not cusses , idlers, and
have to become a Mexican citizen. We live in
San Felipe . Chickens

4. Year 1822
• The first year we paid of the lad payment
witch was forty-four dollars and eighty cents
$44.80 and left us with nine hundred fifty five
dollars and twenty cents. Spent six hundred
on crops and income one thousand dollars.
We now have $1,355.20 in the cookie jar.

5. • In 1822 the year was hard their was harsh
winters lots of cattle died . The Lively was late
so we did not get some of the supplies we
need . They had a high demand for lumber. we
$200 from lumber that we grew .
1822

6. Year 1823
• This year we started out with $1,355.20 and
paid are land payment $44.80 and have
$1,310.40 left. I spent $240 on the crops and
the out come was ok but not good. The gross
income was $370 so I got $130 in return.

7. 1823
• The year was hard this year are little ship the
lively sank and so no supplies for us this year.
The Mexican where taxing us to dispute out
cotton and no one wanted to pay it. The
winter was not that bad and not so much
lumber sold. But it was a good year for the
cattle.

8. Year 1824
• This year we started of with $1,440.80 and are
last and final year to pay of the land payment.
After the land payment we had $1,396 left to
spend on crops. I spent $300 on the crops and
the Gross Income was $700 so we got $400
from are crops. We ended the year with $400
in the cookie jar. P.S. we where rewarded
$600.

12. Resources
• , and Ltd. Bobek.
coins,cotton,cows,trees,
work field,house in
winter,wood and wire
fence,old wagon and
wood, brain of
coral,clickhere,chickens on
a wall. 2007. Photograph.
Public Domain Pictures,
England and Wales .