State of Louisiana

Parrish of Natchitoches Allen's Settlement

24th March 1822

Judge Austin

Sir I must troble you with a few lines without having the pleasure of a personal acquainta[n]ce with you---

I am one of the first men who made A Settlement on the Collarado, I have built a cabbin made some improve-ments planted a gardian etc which agreeable to your termes I concidered would be respected as an actual settler until the firs Day of January next provide I am on it with my family by that time.

Some men in this Country have asserted that I have Declined moving to the Country, which is not the Case I intend to move as soon as I can and incourage the immegration all I Can an Do Justice to my self, now sir if my Claime will be good to the place that I have improved on the Collorado if you will be so good as to write me a line you will oblige me very much---

mine is the first improved place on the Collorado I improved it on the 22nd Day of Decem 1821 you will be kind anough to send me one of your Printed permissions by Mr. Rogers Mr Mcartey Judge Cummins or any safe hand you will much oblige me You may return me as an actual settler to the Government I have a Wife and eight Children four sons and four Daughters----

Martin Allen [Rubric]

The property he chose was on Peach Creek near the present town of Wharton, Wharton Co. TX. At that time it was in Matagorda County. This original grant is commonly referred to as Martin Allen Survey #1, Wharton County, granted 19th July 1824. It is a sitio of land or league (about 4444 acres).

From a letter written the 25th of July, 1824 at the home of his daughter Anna & her husband James Lynch in Texas, we know that Martin had not received word that his title to his league at Peach Creek was granted. He makes plain his desire to live in Texas and acquire as much land as possible.

At Jas Lynches July 25th 1824

Col. Austin

Sir It was with much Pleasure that I received the few lines from you by hand of Mr. Lynch -- respecting my land you wrote that there is a good League on the St Bernard that I can get should it suit me, I make not the smallest Doubt of its suiting me -- You say it is a good League which is sufficient proof for me -- in fact I leave it intirely with yourself to enter my League and you can make out my deed and give it to Mr. Lynch or keep it yourself until I return whichever you may think best -- I am entirely willing to submit to the rules and regulations that you may make with the first settlers, -- if you will give my deeds to Mr. Lynch you can hold this Letter which will be the same as my obligation -- I can pay you two hundred Dollars or perhaps more this winter in good property if requested, in fact my will is to oblige you at any time when in my power. I shall return home in a few days in the Highest spirits and will return with my family this fall if life lasts.

Now Sir if my League is allready surveyed as I have to draw Land for my e[l]dest son in my own name there is one or two young men who will come on with me that will attach themselves to my family -- if I am intitled to any more land besides my League and my Labbour by the size of my family or for building a mill, I will take it on the Creek that is called Seeder Creek at the first main fork above Simon Millers tract which is at a place known by the Board Camp.

Sir if you think propper to give me a grant agreeable to the rules authorized by the government for building a mill I will obligate myself to build a good mill.

The place that I have Described I located in December 1821 which [if] I can shall yet [get?] I located it for the purpose of building a mill it will not interfere with any settler -- bur if it interfere with any arrangement allready made I will take it at the second crossing of the second fork of the Navisota on the Labberdee road Commencing at the road and running Down for quantity this would be Convenient to the Millikins settlement if you think proper to grant this petition you will please inform Mr. Lynch and he will attend to the Surveying etc

I hope Sir you will excuse my troubling you so much at so busy a moment of your Business -- And receive the best wishes of your most obd. Friend and well wisher

Martin C. Allen [Rubric]

This short undated note is also preserved in Austin's Papers:

for the League on the Sn Byrnard which you wrote me that I Could have I have sent out whitesides obligation for two hundred Dollars payable in good american horses or mules, if that will answer your perpose in payment of my Land, my son will let you have it --

Sir you will please write to me Mr Allcorn arived in Nachitoches on the 5th of this instant, your brother and sister has not yet arived, my anxiety is extreamly great to git on to that Country, I have several brothers that writes me they will be on from Kentuckey one of them this winter, -- we have nothing new in this Country times is hard and money scarce

No more but remains your most obedient

Friend and well wisher

Martin All[en]

The following letter explains why Martin and his family are still in Louisiana in the spring of 1825.

State of Louisiana

Parish of Natchitoches Novm 9th 1824

Col. Austin

Sir After My respects to you I have to inform you, I am happy to inform you that I am well, but I have had some sickness and misfortune in my family, I made all preperations for moving as soon as I got home, but my wife was taken sick and remained in a very low state a Long time and has not got over it yet, her sickness has prevented my being able to move her this winter I have sent out my stock and two of my sons in order to make a Crop, I will be on myself as soon as the cituation of my wife and the Season will admit of, Mr Lynch informs me that there is three Dollar and fifty Cents required to be paid down in Cash for Sta[m]ped paper, on receiving the title, I have sent on the money for my own Deed and His, you will if you think propper let my son or Mr Lynch have my deed, I sepose you have made out my deed

Martin Allin, Louisiana 9th Nov 1824

Finally in May of 1825, Martin Allen with his family prepare to leave Allen's Settlement for their new home on the Colorado River.

Natchitoches 12th May 1825

Col Austin

Sir by this safe oppertunity I must trouble you with another letter as I wrote to you so often respecting my land, and other things; I requested you in several of my letter to you to write me a few lines respecting my land, if you received my Last letter which I dated sometime in April I expressed greate uneasiness about my Land from a letter I received from Mr. Lynch stating that you had given away my Labbour, -- and he gave me no positive answer respecting my League which I could not conceive how that could be the case as you entered my Labbour in July last in my name and told me it should secure to me and named in the same title as my League -- and I had allways understood by Mr Lynch that my title was safe in the office I have received a letter since from Mr lynch by the hand of Mr. Aulsbury that gave me more satisfaction respecting it he informed me that my League was safe and a first rate one by your own information and my Labbour had been taken by mistake, which Can be All rectifyed when I come on which will be amediately, Mr Aulsbury and his familey and myself and my familey are all Comeing in Companey we will start in a few days.

I kneede not write aney thing of the knews of this Country as Mr. Cable will hand you this letter himself directly from this place: You Can ask him what difficulties I have Countered and what Losses I have sustained in trying to git to my Land in that Country which I hope to afect in next month without some unavoidable accident -- I have wrote repetedly to my sons to make aney nessary improvements on my Land that you wouls direct; if you should go on to the interier before I arrive you will please to give my deeds to James Lynch for me. do all you Can for me and you will be amply rewarded by your friend

Martin Allen

Martin also purchased a ferry on the Trinity River from Joel Leakey in 1822. Later this Ferry is known as Robbin's Ferry.

The next actual record of Martin is the Texas Census of March 1826, which listed Martin as a farmer and stockraiser, between 25-40; wife between 25-40; and seven children. They settled in a new wilderness as many of our pioneer forefather had in the past. A lot of hard work went into building a new life in the open ranges of early Texas. Towns were established with local councils to rule and mediate differences of opinions between citizens. Protecting the settlements from marauding Indians was one of the primary concerns of the early pioneers. In April and May of 1826, Martin was a volunteer in a company of men fighting the Tonkawa Indians. He evidently soon learned that not all Indians were warlike and did not agree with the senseless killings just because they were Indians.

This affidavit is also preserved in the "Austin Papers".

This is to certify that Mr. Martin Allen told me that he was with the company who made the late attack on the Tonkua Indians; and that he was very much opposed to the shooting, he also stated, that when he came near the camps he saw the Indians in great confusion; one standing up and talking Spanish, and shewing every appearance of friendship; frequently heard him say "Amigo". -- Mr. Allen also stated that he ran forward and halloed don't shoot. don't shoot and did everything in his power to prevent shooting; but that it had no affect until part of the men fired.

April 27, 1826

C. Dyer