Moving to Texas Martin Parmer

article december 29, 1825 edition of national gazette , literary register published in philadelphia reporting missouri senator col. palmer [martin parmer] said have taken french leave , gone texas. .

martin parmer first came texas in 1825 part of haden edwards s colony. conditions between settlers edwards had relocated in texas , older settlers in area steadily deteriorated. on october 15, 1826, otto askins swore out affidavit stating parmer had murdered brother moton askins:

state of coahuila , texas

district of nacogdoches

this day otto askins apeared before me samuel norriss alcalde of said district , being sworn sayeth has cause believe martin parmer did shoot moton askins near house of daniel clark on angelline , said moten askins died on 13th of same month of said wound given under hand 15th of october 1826.

otto x mark askins

sworn , subscribed before me oct. 15th nacogdoches 1826.

samuel norriss,
alcalde of nacogdoches.

samuel norris, alcalde of nacogdoches, issued warrant parmer s arrest:

state of coahuila , texas () sheriff samuel mactor.

district of nacogdoches

whereas othe [otto] askins has day complained on oath martin parmer did on 10th of instant shoot motin askins pistol in area near house of daniel clark , died on 13th of same instant of said wound.

this command in name of state take body of said martin parmer , bring him forthwith before me may delt law directs in case of murder wherein fail not given under hand 15th oct. 1826.

samuel norriss.

with issuance of arrest warrant murder, parmer have had 2 options, 1) flee united states, or 2) allow himself arrested , stand trial murder. neither of these options appealed parmer, 6 weeks later, on november 23, 1826, martin parmer rode nacogdoches @ head of force of men ayish bayou district , arrested government officials including samuel norris , hayden edwards , assumed control of local government. 1 of parmer s first actions order americans in nacogdoches compelled bear arms.

you commanded bring forthwith every american in village , compel him bear arms- if refuses, put him under arrest.

martin parmer
col. commander in chief
november 23, 1826

parmer conducted courts martial of local government officials sat judge. exception of hayden edwards, martin parmer found government officials guilty , sentenced them death. commuted sentences on promise of each leave texas , never return. following trial, parmer left joseph durst in charge alcalde in nacogdoches , returned ayish bayou.

flag of fredonian republic. martin parmer president.

in december 1826, parmer led fredonian rebellion, declaring area around nacogdoches independent republic of fredonia. preamble of fredonian declaration of independence set out grievances of parties:

whereas, government of mexican united states, have repeated insults, treachery , oppression, reduced white , red immigrants united states of north america, living in province of texas, within territory of said government, have been deluded promises solemnly made, , basely broken, dreadful alternative of either submitting freeborn necks yoke of imbecile, faithless, , despotic government, miscalled republic; or of taking arms in defence of unalienable rights , asserting independence; they—viz:—the white emigrants assembled in town of nacogdoches, around independent standard, on 1 part, , red emigrants have espoused same holy cause, on other, in order prosecute more speedily , effectually war of independence, have mutually undertaken, successful issue, , bind ligaments of reciprocal interests , obligations, have resolved form treaty of union, league , confederation.

the fredonian declaration of independence signed follows:

in faith whereof agents of respective contracting parties hereunto affix names. done in town of nacogdoches, twenty-first day of december, in year of our lord 1 thousand 8 hundred , twenty-six.

b. w. edwards,
h. b. mayo,
richard fields,
john d. hunter

we, committee of independence, , committee of red people, ratify above treaty, , pledge ourselves maintain in faith. done on day , date above mentioned.

martin parmer, president

richard fields,
john d. hunter,
ne-ko-lake,
john bags,
cuk-to-keh,
haden edwards,
w. b. legon,
jno. sprow,
b. p. thompson,
jos. a. huber,
b. w. edwards,
h. b. mayo.

empresario stephen f. austin opposed fredonian rebels , encouraged settlers in colony fight on behalf of mexico in conflict. in letter colonists dated january 1, 1827, stephen f. austin mentioned martin parmer s role leader of rebellion:

a small party of infatuated madmen @ nacogdoches have declared independence , invited indians sabine rio grande join them , wage war of murder, plunder , desolation on innocent inhabitants of frontier--the leader of party martin parmer...

the fredonian republic stood on month; parmer fled louisiana when mexican army arrived in nacogdoches @ end of january 1827.