The Secularization of Mission
San Antonio De Valero
Edited by Randell Tarin
When the Friars from Mexico(concurring with the Advocate General of the Department of War of Spain in Mexico City) gave orders to close the mission of San Antonio de Valero, The documentation was sent to the Spanish Governor of the Province of Texas in San Antonio. He was directed to distribute the lands of this mission to the Indians and Spaniards of that city and to the other families that had come from the abandoned capital city of Los Adaes.
The Count of Revilla Gigedo issued orders from Mexico City to then Governor, Manuel Muñoz on November 20, 1792. By order of a letter Number 394 of October 29, 1792, it states:
"Certain citizens of San Antonio de Béxar requested that a partition of land be made to them because they had been residents and settlers of the abandoned Presidio of Los Adaes. So that in accordance with the opinion handed down by the Advocate General of the Department of War in his Superior decree, dated on the 17th of this current month, with which opinion I concur, you may proceed with the partition requested. "May God keep you many years. Count of Revilla Gigedo." The Count of Revilla Gigedo was the Viceroy of Spain in Mexico City at this time the secularization of this mission took place.
In compliance with the preceding decree, Governor Manuel Muñoz so ordered the following:
"I, Manuel Muñ, Lieutenant Colonel of the Cavalry of His Majesty's Royal Army, Civil and Military Governor of Texas and New Philipines, acting informally before witnesses to my proceedings, as the law prescribed when no notary public is available, after having read the above decree and record, declare that: The provisions of the decree issued by Colonel Ramon de Castro, Commanding General of the Eastern Provinces shall be obeyed, and fulfilled in conformity with the opinion of the Advocate General of the Department of War with which opinion His Excellency the Viceroy, Count of Revilla Gigedo, concurred November 17, of the year last past, to wit; 1792, and the accompanying decree of the same date. For compliance therewith all the refugees of the abandoned Presidio de los Adaes must be notified of these superior resolutions; likewise, let notice be issued to the attorney in fact and other individuals to produce a list of the refugees in order to proceed to the partition of lands as it commanded by his excellency:
"For this purpose, an expert must be appointed to measure the tract of land assigned to each of the said citizens from Los Adaes.
"These persons must set the day when they will appear before me to make such partition, so that they may begin to prepare the soil and have the land in condition to plant the seed at the proper time.
"Thus a series of appeals or complaints will be avoided.
"Therefore, by this decree, I, the said governor, provided and commanded, in this city of San Fernando and Presidio of San Antonio de Béxar, January 11, 1793 and I signed it with the witnesses to my proceedings as has been stated; to all of which I bear witnesses.
Manuel Muñ, (rubric).
Witnesses: Vicente de la Cuesta, (rubric) and Juan José Calderon, (rubric)."
