Stephen F. Austin received permission from the Mexican government to settle 300 families in the Mexican province of Tejas in April 1823. By the time Stephen came to Texas in 1821 to fulfil his father, Moses Austin's, grant from the Spanish government, Mexico had overthrown Spanish rule and declared itself independent. Austin travelled to Mexico City to have his father's grant confirmed by the new Mexican government. In the meantime families were drifting into Texas based upon the initial announcement based upon the Moses Austin grant. Moses Austin's proposal was for each family to get 960 acres. However, under Stephen's finally approved plan each family he settled would receive a sitio which consisted of a league of land ( 4,428 acres) for ranchers or a labor of land ( 177 acres ) for farmers. Most everyone claimed to farm and raise livestock so that they could get the maximum grant of 4,605 acres. A qualifying "family" could also be a head of household with dependents, or two men who 'partnered' together. The settlers had to become Mexican citizens and practice the Catholic faith. Citizen ship was easy but most Protestants simply paid lip service to Catholicism and practiced their religion in secret. Five of the Vince brothers and a sister arrived in Texas in 1822 and had picked out the tracts they wanted to claim by the time Stephen Austin could grant legitimate titles in August of 1824. Heirs were only those kinfolk who lived in Texas at the time of the descendent's death.

The following is a genealogy of the Vinces that settled Texas. It is imperfect and dates conflict. The objective of this site is to get the information out so that descendents can contact the author and help correct the information.

Grandparents:

Thomas Vince of Currituck County. NC b. before 1721. d. after 1773 <ER>

Married

Elizabeth Staffor. (or Stafford <ER>

Sons:

(1) Richard, m. Flora Ann Strickland <ER>

(2) William, m. Barbara Grinder of Burke Co, GA. <ER>

(3) Joseph (b. 1759 in South Carolina). m. Lucy Robinson. <ER>

In 1790 all were listed in census of Orangeburgh District of SC. <Internet>

Parents:

Joseph Richard Vince, Sr. b. 1759 in S.C., (Old Barnwell Dist, S.C.) Or possible Orangeburg Cty, <DSH>
d. between 1806-1813 in Tattnall Co, GA. Or possible Bucks Cty, GA <DSH> (d. 21 NOV 1817, Old Harrisburg, TX <Internet, World Connect Project> Note: the "Harrisburg, Texas" is a bad location since J. R. Harris came to Texas in 1824 and laid out the town of Harrisburg in 1825 & surveyed it in 1826. <NHBTx:3-475, 479>.

m. 1785 in Screven Co, GA

Flora Ann (Strickland) (b. 1755 , Bladen Co, NC, d. Harrisburg Co, TX). :

Children were:

(1) Allen, b. 1785, Tennessee ( Screven, Ga. <Internet, World Connect Project> )

(2) Sarah, b. 1787 SC (Screven, GA <Internet, World Connect Project>)

(3) Richard, b. 1789, Screven, GA. <Internet, World Connect Project>

(4) Susan, b. 1791 (also listed as 1789, in S.C., which is also the same year as Richard) (about 1789 in Screven, GA <Internet, World Connect Project>) probably 1795 in S.C. <Tombstone & 1860 & 1870 Census>

(5) Robert, b. 1791 in SC (1793 Tattnall, GA. <Internet, World Connect Project>)

(6) Mary Elizabeth, b. 1791, Tattnall, GA <Internet, World Connect Project>

(7) John Thomas, b. 1793 in SC, <Humphry-84> 1795 in Tattnall, Ga. <Internet, World Connect Project><internet>

(8) William, b. 1795 in SC. (about 1797 in Tattnall, GA <Internet, World Connect Project>)

(9) Joseph R., b. 1792 in SC, stayed in Mississippi. (About 1799, in Tattnall, Ga <Internet, World Connect Project>)

Bibliography or Return to Vincebridge marker

10.02.04