My Austin Colony Journey

Kalee Hume

My Arrival

It was 1819, the Finical Panic had just happened. Everyone lost all their money. Me and my family had to move and get a fresh start.

Getting settled down

Me and my family qualified because none of us were gamblers, profane swearers, drunkards, or idlers, and we were hard working, honest, willing to become Mexican citizens, and willing to convert to Catholicism.

1822

It was 1822 we finally got settled down in Austin’s Colony. The total cost of the land was $144.00. The yearly land payment was $48.00. All the people we had in my family were me which was one child, 1 adult male (my dad), 1 wife (my mom), and 1 pet (our dog). Our total gross income was 1,000 dollars. Our cost of crops as 600 dollars.

Events of 1822

In 1822 we had very harsh winters. Very many snowstorms which led to our crops dying. Also a lot of our cattle died. Which led to money loss. We had hardly any lumber so we needed lumber really bad! And on top of all of that the ship the Lively was late in arriving.

1823

Year 2, 1823, our yearly land payment was 448.00. We spent $300.00.on cotton, $300.00on lumber. And $400.00 on cattle. Trouble with Mexico made export of cotton difficult. The Texans wanted to move their cotton to markets. Mexico was very discouraged. It was terrible year the Lively sunk. Economics were bad. It was terrible.

Events of 1823This year was a very bad year.

The worst part was the ship Lively sank. There was also dispute with Mexicans over export of cotton. The up to all this was it was a very good year for cattle. And I was not as bad of a winter as 1822 they were mild winters. But the lumber did not go up much. So there was not much building.

1824

Year number 3… 1824… The Mexicans were being a little friendlier. As usual our land payment was 48 dollars. Our bank balance was remaining investment money to $1804.00. And it added up to our remaining investment money to $1756.00. We spent $500 on cotton, $500 lumber, and $500 on cattle.

Events of 1824

In 1824 the colony thrived. There was a bumper on a cotton crop also. And finally there was high demand for lumber. So that meant lots of building. There was also high demand for beef.

My conclusion

Finally, our gross income was $3500.00. Our cost of crops of crops were $500. And our remaining investment was $2000.00. We choose the town San Felipe to live in. And our final profit figure was $4356.00!

My conclusion

So that means congratulations to us we continued living in Austin’s Colony! Since we picked San Felipe for our town to live in we got a extra $600.00, so that makes our profit $4356.00! Even though it was hard with the Livley sinking and droughts…at least we can say we continued living in Austin’s Colony!

Recourses

• http://sites.google.com/site/texasatfsms/austin-s-colony-projecthttp://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/adp/history/hispanic_period/tenoxtitlan/austins_colony.htmlhttp://www.cah.utexas.edu/exhibits/WinedaleStory/green4.html