Nuevo Santander - report and census document from 1757 Towns in Mexico Town of Camargo.

It was founded on the 5th of March of 1749, with the dedication to Senora Santa Ana, its captain Don Blas Maria De La Garza, it has 66 families of settlers with 378 persons to which are added 19 families which, according to the listing of said captain, have been added after the last registration of married couples with 24 persons from the outside because the others were sons and daughters of the same settlers and, with the previous ones, it comprises 85 families with 402 persons which, with the ones above, comprise 531 persons.

Its mission, Laredo with the dedication to San Agustin, the minister the R.F. Fray Juan Bautista Garcia has 500 persons of congregated, indoctrinated Indians and there will be many more which abound in the environs who will join, attracted to the good style of the said priest: he has already started his field of corn and of common seasonal beans for which he has farming tools and a good number of major and minor livestock: they have finished the construction of a decent convent of stone, mortar, and adobe, and its flat roof of beams and a kind of bitumen and now the construction of the church has begun: among the reported Indians there are many who are employed as workmen in the construction, as laborers in farming, in making adobe bricks, soap , and other very suitable jobs to which they apply themselves and, according to how it goes, it shall be, in short, one of the best missions of the Indies.

The settlers of this town are, as is evident from their registry, generally Spaniards: they came in with some major and minor livestock which has produced so much that it causes admiration: Goats commonly produce two, three, and four broods and the sheep two and all of them live, and the mules are commonly large bodied, with which they already find themselves rich due to the great fertility of the land: this last year they harvested a reasonable corn and seasonal bean crop to which they have taken a fancy.

The great flood of last year of 1751 did some damage to it for which reason I moved it a little farther down to a higher site. They have built some flat-roofed houses and the settlers are preparing for others.

The situation is beautiful and very merry at the eastern edge of the San Jaun River which forms a square with the one of the north (abundant in fish) which is introduced at a short distance and, for the extension of their livestock, they have passed part of them to the north of the latter one which has helped since it is very important to dominate that area, attract the many Indians that are there, facilitate the removal of salt, and the transit and communication with the Presidio and Mission de la Bahia del Espiritu Santo.

The irrigation canal which had been built at the said San Juan River, because of their not having trimmed the opening to the canal with stone and mortar: was destroyed by a large flood, but it is easy to build another although those, who ignore the method, think it is difficult, with whose benefit the perfection of the said town shall be complete, which offers much growth. It is situated 10 leagues to the west of that of Reinosa, 30 nearly to the North-northwest of that of Burgos, 25 nearly to the east of that of Cerralvo, boundary of the Nuevo Reino De Leon, and 10 to the southeast of the settlement of Mier.

Manuel Montalbo's family came from Monterey Nuevo Leon to help settle the town of Camargo, Tamaulipas Mexico in 1749.

The Census of May 31 1750 show that Antonio Montalvo was married to Dona Maria De la Garza, which theyhad three children Miguel Montalvo who was five, Juana Montalvo who was four and Dorotea one year of age.

Forty fiveyears later in the Census of December 31, 1795 in San Fernando Tejas lists Miguel Montalvo married to Juana Hernandez and having five children, Maria Thomasa fourteen, Juan Jose sixteen, Juan Simon eight, Maria Trinada three and Maria Josefa two.

The San Fernando church records show Juan Jose marrying Maria Simona Guerra on April 16, 1801 in San Fernando Tejas. A year later the baptismal records of the San Fernando church show Juan Manuel Anastacio Montalvo to be baptized in April of 1802. His Godfather was Jose Antonio Manchaca and his Godmother Maria Josefa Arocha.

The census of January 1, 1820 show Miguel Montalvo being Indian widowed, and a farmer. The next census of 1830 has citizens of Texas (A census of 6500 Pre-Revolutionary Texians.) Manuel Montalvo is listed as single age 45, which is not accurate. According to his birth certificate he is only 28 at the time. The 1840 census show Manuel Montalvo as single and owner of one League of land in San Antonio TX. In the census of 1850 of Bexar county, TX list him as 49 married to Polina (Apolonia Valdez.) They are listed as having six children Jose 14, Antonio 11, Blas 8, Manuel 6, and Brehada four and finally Simon one year of age. ( Simon being one of the children kidnapped by Indians when Resurreccion was attack by a large force of Indians in 1861. )

In October 28 of 1835 Manuel was in the battle of Conception under Juan Seguian. Later that year two companies of scouts were assembled to determine the best route to which to retake San Antonio. One company was led by Frank W. Johnson and the other by Ben Milam. The volunteers were outside of town in a standoff with Mexican General Perfecto de Cos with 1200 Mexican soldiers Milam realized that the Texans were going to withdraw to Goliad. He shouted the Famous words, Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio? Manuel was one of the people who went with him. In a statement made to the Republic of Texas dated Nov. 30th 1874 Manuel Montalvo states.

(The statement below is partial and not the entire statement made to the Republic of TX.)

"State of Texas on the 30th day of November A. D. 1874 County of Bexar before me John Rosenheimer a Notary Public in and for Said County and state Personally appeared Manuel Cebera a resident citizen of this County, to me well known, who being duly sworn, under his oath does hereby declare affirm and attest, that he was born in the year 1797 of Texian parents, that at the date of the declaration of Guadalupe he was a married man, and the head of family, that at that time he was living at the Rancho of Salvador Flores, on the San Antonio river, about 28 miles below the city of San Antonio, that he and Manuel Montalvo, left said rancho, with S. Flores and joined the Texian Force on the Salado, afliant was an active soldier on the battle of conception, and followed with the balance of the troops to the north of the city of San Antonio, when at the old mill (Molino Blanco) afliant, on the first organization was made a corporal when Manuel Montalvo his comrade was named honorary Sargeant, afliant continued to serve during the seige, and untied in the storming and taking of Bexar, during the fight he was in the Veramendi house.

Was present at the death of the lamented B. Milam and one of those who helped in burying him in the lot of the Veramendi house in the southern wall facing said lot."

After the Storming of San Antonio Manuel Montalvo continued in the military as Spy, soldier, and TX Ranger. A partial listing of the story about the storming of San Antonio explains the purpose of sending B. Milam, and gives a detailed description of the volunteers and associates surrounding his command.

The penalties affixed for a violation were to be inflicted by the sentence of a court-martial or a reprimand from the captain of the company to which the offender might belong, as the case might be. These regulations were highly satisfactory and had a very happy effect in the army, as they indicated a system which had the effect to establish confidence and guarantee security to the camp; every man, therefore, cheerfully respected and obeyed them. This gallant band of volunteers upon parade having undergone inspection and review for the first time, presented the appearance of an army of regular soldiers rather than undisciplined citizens of the country. All entertained the most implicit confidence in their commanding officer, and it was a pleasure to perform with promptness any duty assigned them. The commander-in- chief being under the impression that volunteers would press forward to join the army without delay from all parts of the country, and that as soon as the necessary preparations could be made for an attack upon San Antonio our forces would be sufficiently strong to insure a successful result, he determined to take up the line of march in that direction immediately. An efficient spy-company, consisting of experienced frontier citizens, was organized and placed in charge of Colonel Benjamin R. Milam, who was dispatched towards San Antonio for the purpose of watching the movements of the enemy and keeping our army constantly advised of their operations and everything of any importance that might be discovered.

Manuel Montalvo was honorably discharged on April the 23 of 1837. This discharge was by order of the President of the Republic of TX. In a statement made to the republic of TX a brief description and statement shows Manuel Becoming a spy.

"To all whom it may concern, Know ye that Manuel Montalvo a private in the 2nd regiment of Cavalry who was enlisted the 5th day of November 1836, to serve during the war is herbey formally discharged from the army of Texas, (by order of the president) was born in Bexar in the Republic of Texas is 36 years of age five feet four inches high, brown complexion, grey eyes, Black hair and by occupation was enlisted as a Hunter. Given at Bexar this 23rd day of April 1837.

Approved,
John N. Seguin     Manuel Flores, Capt."

It is well documented that Manuel Montalvo joined the TX Rangers under Seguin and Jose Maria Gonzales And Jack Hays. He continued as a TX Ranger through the 1840s.

In a letter of Grievance addressed to Stephen H. Darden, State Comptroller, From Hispanic Texian Heroes, dated January 12, 1875 Manuel and all his comrades state.

Sir. We the undersigned citizens of this country respectfully address you this communication to remove from your mind what seems to us an unjust impression as regards the application of certain Mexicans for pensions who participated in the Revolution which separated Texas from Mexico. We assert that the following named persons commanded companies at the taking of San Antonio in 1835. On the 20th of October 1835, Juan N. Seguin followed by thirty seven men of Mexican birth, joined on the Salado Creek according to previous appointment, the first Texan forces that gathered in order to oppose the Central Government proclaimed by Santa Anna in voilation of the Federal government constitutionally existing. Placido Benavides of (La Bahia) Goliad joined on the same creek with the revolutionary troops with 26 or 28 men, so that at the Battle of Concepcion, the Mexicans who took part in that fight numbered some seventy men if we add some isolated soldiers. Directly after the Concepcion fight it was agreed between the Texian Leaders to put the siege to the city of San Antonio and to remove the camp to the Northern part of the city. But before the removal, Salvador Flores was detailed to the Mexican ranches on the San Antonio River, and Manuel Leal to the Mexican with object of raising new forces that were very much needed: these two patriots returned soon after, Flores with 15 new men, and Manuel Leal with 26."

A conflict of authority took place at that moment between Juan N. Seguin and Placido Benavides both claiming to be Captain; it was amicably settled in favor of Seguin for the reason that he had raised more men than Benavides, but with the understanding that although Seguin was to be the Superior officer, Benavides would preserve the direct and immediate Command over the men he had brought from Goliad, and that agreement was intended to Manuel Leal and Salvador Flores; as soon as the troops reach their new camp, on the old mill, they were joined by fourteen privates of the old Company of the Alamo for the most part sons of San Antonio who deserted from Mexican forces of Gen. Cos and joined Seguin's Command with arms and baggage. There was not at that time any thing like a muster roll, or a regular register of enlistment; every volunteer who offered his services was readily accepted, and the men joined the party that suit them best, they acted with a liberty that had nothing in common with the disciplining of a regular army: generally the private followed the order of the officer who had brought them to Camp. During the stay of the troops, before San Antonio, several parties of Mexicans joined the patriots: namely, Miguel Alderete who in company with Mayor Collensworth came from Goliad with twenty odd men: Col. J. C. Neil and Phillip Dimmit who arrived also with a Mexican Company raised in Victoria and in the lower country, without countin isolated enlistment that took place every day. In fact, the company of Seguin alone amounted to over one hundred and sixty men on the day of the Storming of Bexar.

After the taking of the place, that company was sent out to protect the people of the Ranches, against the devastation made by the retiring Mexican troops. On their return they found that the Mexican volunteers of Benavides and Dimmitt had left for home, as well as the American patriots. There were not fourteen Americans in San Antonio, after the taking of the place. Col. J. C. Neil had received, first the military Command, but he was soon after superceded by B. Travis who had under his former company and that of Seguin. They continued in active service, for several months and relying on the false report that all was quiet on the Mexican borders, a large quantity of the Mexicans were authorized to retire in order to protect their families against the Indian depredations. At the coming of Santa Anna, the company of Seguin had been reduced, and the arrival of the enemy being entirely unsuspected: he most part of the men received the authorization to secure the safety of their families and to join the Texians at the Alamo: it is due to that circumstance that fifteen Mexicans only entered the Alamo with Travis.

At the gathering of the Texian Army at Gonzales, Seguin had a large Company, in fact the largest of the Army, but it was a new Company quite different from the one he had commanded at the taking of Bexar. He had above one hundred men: out of whom 25 were detached to protect the invaded population. From 15 to 20 were at the order of Deaf Smith; thirty odd were sent Eastward to escort and protect American Families, three men were sick at San Felipe, about ten at least were with the baggage at Harrisburg, four or five remained behind in charge of the horses at the moment of the battle of San Jacinto., so that he mustered only twenty two men, when he was ordered to give the names of those who had actually fought.

"We would respectfully remind you that we and our comrades took up arms against our own kindred and country, believing we were right, and now we feel humiliated to find that when we have testified on oath to the services rendered by us and our (own) old companions, many of whom are not only suffering from the infirmities of age but also from extreme poverty that their claims should be disregarded and forced to wait for weeks and months for their pensions, when Americans have been promptly paid upon what we consider no better evidence than our friends have furnished. We feel assured, honored Sir, that you must have been misled or misinformed as to the parties who have applied for pensions as well as their witnesses, and we address you this communication to disabuse your mind of any prejudice you may entertained, and to assure you that we entertained for you personally the kindest feelings and only ask for our old companions simply justice and nothing more.

Signed: Juan Jimenes, Ygnacio Expinosa, Martin Maldonado, Ignacio Arocha, Tomas Martines, Narciso Leal, Juan Martines, Antonio Olivia, Estevan Uron, Manuel Montalvo, Crescencio Montes, Pablo Salinas, Quirino Garza, Nepomuceno Flores, Juan N. Seguin, Antonio Menchaca, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Antonio Vasquez, Damaso de Los Reyes"

Manuel Montalvo died on the 20th of April, 1882 at 1:00 a.m. in Jiménez, Coahuila, Mexico.

"En la Villa de Jiménez a los beinte un dias del mes de Abril de mil Ochocientos Ochenta y Dos a las nuebe de la manana ante el Jeuz del Estado Civil C. Luis Faz, comparecio Apolonia Valdez viuda mayor de edad, y de esta vecindad, y expreso; que hoy a la una de la maana fallecio de paralis en esta villa, su esposo Manuel Montalvo era de noventa aos de edad originario de Bejar y vecino de esta Villa, e hijo lejitimo de Juan Montalvo y de Maria Guerra."

Angelita Hernandez

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