, 1935-01-27


January Is, IS36-Jared z. Groce,
one Of The Original Three Hun
bred of Austin's Colony, was a
native OF Virginia. Impressed with
Austin's empire visions. he came to
Texas from Georgia in 1921 and OBJ
tanned land grants totaling over
10000 acres IN present Grimes, Wal
Ter and Brazoria counties. Groce
owned over 100 slaves. Fifty OK
drawn wagons were required to
transport the women and children
and plantation equipment. Horses,
mules. COWS, sheep and hogs were
hcrded along the route; and pom
toon bridges were used to cross the
streams the caravan encountered.
Under colony regulations. Groce was
entitled TO 80 acres for each slave
introduced; the additional grants
came 10 him because Austin 'felt as
Ii he might be useful on account OF
the property he brought" The food
and clothing needs and medical care
Of such a force was "A great reSpon-
sibility IN the earlier years when
shelter was being built and the lands
we're being put in a state OF cultiva-
ton. In time, Groce came TO live III
true baronial style al his mansion
about four miles south OF present
Hampstead. Groceis. on the BrazoS
River. was o steamboat landing about
Is miles above san Felipe: 1t was
the location Of the plantation store.
AT this time, Groce had divided his
immense properties. and was living
a. Retreat. on Wallace'S Prairie. IN
present Grimes County. VIM. Fl.
Wharton, a distinguished Texan,
was a son-in-law. IL was at Whar-
tons Eagle Island home that Cen
eral Mexia was so lavishly enter
tanned III 1892. when a visit charged
with fateful consequences to Tex
ans was changed to n Of merry
meeting.
January q, 1S35.-Thirteen years
previous TO the time Of which we
write, Stephen r. Austin and ten
followers he had picked up At
Natchit0cheS. La. were camped AZ
the LaBahia roSsing OF the Brazos
River and on a creek which they
had appropriately named New Year
Greek. The site Is IN present Wash
inqton county. II was AuStin's sec
ond trip to Texas. You will recall
the first was IN company OF Span
ish commissioners. who, IN July, 1921.
had escorted him and IA followers
to san Antonio. where Austin re-
ceiped from the Spanish Governor.
MARTINEZ. recognition OF the trans
fer OF the Moses Austin EmpreSariO
rights. Subsequent TO that first trip.
Stephen r Austin received aid from
joseph Hawkins. a New Orleans
friend. and together they fitted The
lively. a sailing ship. TO TRANSPORT
Is coloniStS and the necessary pro-
visions and equipment to Texas. The
Lively sailed from New Orleans III
November. 1921. Austin proceeded
overland by way OF Natchitoches
The Lively was TO put in &C q mvthi-
cal port recommended by Governor
Martinez as being at the mouth Of
the Colorado River. Leaving his
comnani0nS on New Year Creek.
Austin i0urneyed west 70 the Colo
rado River and down that stream
tn IS mouth. where. as planned. he
hnd expected 70 meet The Lively
The ship never reached its destina-
tirn. but deposited its passengers
and CARO- elsewhere on the coast
The lively ras never herd Of aft
prwards. Many explanations have
been advanced. but the fate OF the
shin has remained a mvsterv. Fall
,,rp ~ meet il wss the first Of
series OF disappointnents which
wnuId have sent a less determined
mar than stephen F. Austin scurry-
inr hack to civilization