Early Texas Settlers 1700s-1800s

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If you have ancestors who lived in Texas before it became a state, this collection is an incredible resource. Covering the 1700s through the 1800s, it brings together eight essential books that provide remarkable detail about early Texas settlers. These volumes offer genealogical sketches, passenger lists, settlement histories, and vital community records, bringing to light around 94,000 individuals who helped shape Texas long before it became a state in 1845.

One of the most valuable aspects of this collection is that it reaches a time when federal records were scarce or non-existent for Texas. The first federal census that included Texas was taken in 1850, but much had already happened by then. To bridge this gap, the collection consists of a reconstructed 1846 “virtual census” based on original poll lists and tax rolls. This unique tool gives researchers a near-census snapshot just after Texas became a state—an opportunity that doesn’t exist anywhere else in quite the same form.

The early records in this set can help you discover:

  • Where your ancestors lived in the Spanish, Mexican, and Republic of Texas periods
  • Names of settlers who arrived through land grants, military service, or immigration
  • Early migration patterns into Texas from places like Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas, and even Europe
  • Family connections revealed through community rosters, church lists, and court documents

This resource also taps into the colonial and pioneer spirit that made Texas unique. You’ll find references to settlers involved in Austin’s Colony (the “Old Three Hundred”), land grant recipients under the Mexican government, and families who braved the frontier before railroads and formal towns were established.

For genealogists, especially those tracing lines that seem to vanish before 1850, these books offer vital clues. Whether you’re hunting for land ownership details, trying to verify an ancestor’s presence in early Texas, or learning more about the culture and challenges they faced, this collection provides rare and highly sought-after information.

If your ancestors were among the early builders of Texas, this collection could be the missing piece you’ve been looking for—opening the door to stories, connections, and a richer understanding of your family’s place in American history.

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