Famous Texans: The Edwards Brothers

Or not so famous Texans. e Edwards Brothers are persons of Texas history that many would soon want to forget. I did not recall of either of them being mentioned until I took a Texas history course in college. e Fredonian Rebellion is both high political comedy and a sad tragedy. e Edwards brothers Haden (or Hayden) and his brother Benjamin were born to a wealthy family in Virginia. Haden later moved his family to Miss. where he and his brother purchased a large plantation. While in Miss. the brothers heard that a man named Moses Austin was attempting to start an Anglo colony in Mexican Texas. In 1823 Haden traveled to Mexico City, where he joined Stephen F. Austin, Robert Lewich, and others in a three-year attempt to persuade various Mexican governments to authorize American settlement in Texas. Because of his wealth Edwards was o en called upon to nance Austin. eir e orts resulted in the colonization law of 1824 in Mexico City and of 1825 in Saltillo, which allowed empresarios to introduce settlers to Texas. Edwards su ered more than he pro ted from his relationship with Austin, at least in his own mind, since he believed that Austin claimed the best lands and tried to push his boundaries in every direction at the expense of other empresarios.

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