ADS, signed “W. Barret Travis,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 12.75, October 15, 1833. An inventory of the estate of William Robinson, all in the hand of Travis. After listing names and financial settlements, document reads, in part: “One J. H. Bostick 6 cows & calves & 6 three year old steers…The crop of cotton in the seed quantity unknown…Having inventoried every article presented as belonging to…Wm. Robinson deceased we have closed this inventory which assigned by the appraisers widow curator.” Signed at the conclusion by Travis, and countersigned by eight others, including Comfort Robinson, J. H. Bostick, and Robert Moseley. Document has been professionally silked on both sides. In very good to fine condition, with aforementioned silking, well done professionally repaired and reinforced horizontal folds, a pencil line from one of the additional signatures with a notation reading “Indian fighter, first convention,” some light toning, and light show-through from writing on reverse.
This document dates to the period between the Anahuac Disturbances of 1832 and 1835; Travis was at the center of both of these events that helped precipitate the Texas Revolution. After being released from jail for his involvement in the Anahuac controversy, he moved his legal practice to San Felipe de Austin.
Travis’ work as an attorney occasionally involved high-profile cases that would help put Texas on a collision course with revolution; he also attended to the day-to-day legal needs of his fellow settlers as this estate document illustrates. Tending to matters big and small allowed him to succeed as a lawyer. During the revolution, he was often in a position where he had to pay his men and for supplies out of pocket. Tending to these kinds of affairs for his fellow colonists gave him the means to meet these financial obligations.
William Robinson, whose estate Travis was attending in this document, was the first settler on the site later occupied by Brazoria. Known locally as “Popcorn,” Robinson declared his intention to locate there by producing a handful of seed corn, which establishing his claim to what became known as the "Popcorn Patch" until it was formally renamed Brazoria.
Dating to a period in which Travis was becoming increasingly involved in efforts to assert Texans’ rights, this legal document presents a unique glimpse into the Revolutionary’s professional matters. The Robert Davis Collection, read more about Robert Davis. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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