Blas Herrera Republic of Texas Pension Claim
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Pension Claim Application File
Herera, Blas
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State of Texas
County of Bexar
Know all men by these presents that I Blas Herrera of the County of Bexar and State of Texas, do hereby constitute and appoint David V. Whiting Esq of the County of Travis my attorney in fact with authority for me and in my name to appear before all Courts, Boards, or competent authority and to apply, ask for, and demand the Military pension to which I am justly entitled under the laws of the State, as one of the Surviving Veterans of the War that separated Texas from Mexico, to receive all moneys, State Bonds or Warrants or other title establishing my right and entitling me to the aforesaid Military pensions, to receive the same, and for me, and in my name to execute and deliver proper acquittances, and receipts, further to furnish all proofs establishing the justice of my right, and if necessary to procure and produce all additional proof of any one now
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required, and generally to do and perform all and every act and deed in the premises as I might lawfully do if personally present and acting for myself, giving him full power of substitution, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney or his substitute may do and cause to be done, to obtain that said pension, declaring if necessary that I am the same and identical person who performed the Military service, for which a pension claimed is granted by the State.
Witness my hand at San Antonio Bexar, this ___ day of ___ A.D. 1874
Blas Herera
Witness
The State of Texas
County of Bexar
Personally appeared before me John Rosenheimer, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, Blas Herrera to me well known, who to me acknowledged that he had signed and delivered
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the instrument of writing on the reverse hereof, and he declared the same to be his act and deed for the purposes and considerations therein stated.
Witness my hand and my official seal at office in San Antonio this 5th day of November A.D. 1874.
Jno. Rosenheimer
Notary Public B.C.
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Blas Herrera
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State of Texas
County of Bexar
Before me John Rosenheimer a Notary Public in and for the County of Bexar State of Texas, personally appeared Blas Herrera, a resident Citizen of Bexar County, who having been sworn by me according to law under his oath attests and affirms that he now born in the City of San Antonio at the beginning of the year 1802, he being at present near seventy three years of age; and that he has resided at said place all his life; that at the time of the first struggle against Mexico, he joined the Texian patriots, and was a volunteer at the Siege of Bexar; he took an active part in the storming of Bexar, and continued in the volunteer service till the month of February 1836. At said time he received from Col. Travis the order to escort and protect his father in law, Colonel Francisco Ruiz and José Antonio Navarro, who had been elected by the people to represent this section of the Country at the Convention that was to set at Washington, one Juan Gomez and Eusebio Garcigalas and Tio [Roe?] were sent for the same object together with affiant. Affiant has rendered service to Texas during she needed the help of all her children, and he believes himself in ready of his military service entitled to the pension granted by law to the surviving Veterans of the revolution. He is the same and identical person who rendered
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said service; he can prove the truth of his statements by the declarations of several honorable and credible witnesses, and he makes the present affidavit as a preparatory measure to obtain the pension aforesaid.
Blas Herera
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of November A.D. 1874. Witness whereof I hereunto sign my name and affix the impress of my official seal.
Jno. Rosenheimer
Notary Public B.C.
State of Texas
County of Bexar
Before me John Rosenheimer a Notary Public in and for said County & State personally appeared J. N. Seguin who having sworn by me according to law upon his oath declares & says that he is acquainted with the foregoing affiant Blas Herrera since his boyhood, that said Blas Herrera was the son in law of Colonel Franc. Ruiz one of the members of the Convention that proclaimed the Independence of Texas, that affiant has a distinct recollection that said Herrera joined the Texian patriots and fought at the Siege of Bexar and at the taking of the place; affiant cannot say that said Herrera enlisted in his Company, because the organization
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of the Texian troops was very incomplete, and that there was not such a thing as an enlisting list, every volunteer was to a great extent his own master, but affiant attests that said Herrera was among the men who had placed themselves under his command, that he made like all the other in Comp. service during the siege, and was an active member of the assaulting force at the taking of Bexar in 1835. That after the retreat of the Mexican troops under Genl. Cos said Herrera continued in the volunteer service till the following month of February, at that time he was detached by Col Travis order, and dispatched to protect in their trip to Washington Col. Fran.co Ruiz and José Anto. Navarro who had been elected as delegate to the Convention; that Blas Herrera is the same and identical person who rendered said military service and who now applies for a military pension to which he thinks himself justly entitled and that said Blas Herrera never served the Enemy.
Juan N. Seguin
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of November A.D. 1874. Witness my hand and the impress of my official seal.
Jno. Rosenheimer
Notary Public B.C.
The State of Texas
County of Bexar
Before me John Rosenheimer a Notary Public in and for said County & State personally appeared Ignacio Espinosa who having been duly sworn by me, under his oath taken in conformity with law declares and affirms that Blas Herrera joined the troops
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that besieged the City of San Antonio, as a volunteer and entered said City, being actively engaged in the storming of the place. Affiant attests that said Herrera served with him at that time, as a volunteer, and that a short time after said Blas Herrera was detached under order to escort the delegates that were leaving to attend to the Convention at Washington, that the man who rendered said military service is the identical person who does now apply for his pension as an old veteran of the revolutionary War, and that there is no doubt that he rendered the service stated in his foregoing affidavit & that the said Blas Herrera never served the Enemy.
Ignacio his X Espinosa
mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of November A.D. 1874. I certify which witness my hand and seal.
Jno. Rosenheimer
Notary Public B.C.
State of Texas
County of Bexar
Before me John Rosenheimer a Notary Public in and for the County of Bexar State of Texas personally appeared Antonio Menchaca
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who being sworn by me according to law upon his oath declares that he knew Blas Herrera since his youth, that said Blas Herrera was the son of one of the most respected Spanish family settled in the Country; that at the declaration of Independence Blas Herrera sided with the Texian troops and enlisted as a Volunteer in the service that he served in that capacity at the siege and taking of Bexar and was chosen by the Military Authorities to escort and protect the members from Bexar leaving to assist at the Convention that was to meet at Washington; said member were Col. F.co Ruiz and Dr Jose Ant.o Navarro, that his thorough knowledge of the Country rendered his service very valuable, that at the end of the year 1836 when Genl. Felix Houston sent the order to destroy the City of San Antonio and to remove the families to the East of the Brazos River, Col. John N. Seguin then in Command at that place, selected Blas Herrera as bearer of the dispatch for Genl. Sam Houston asking him the revocation of the order so disastrous for the citizens of that place. Genl. Sam Houston having granted the request Blas Herrera who in the middle of so many dangers threatening him had faithfully and happily fulfilled his Mission was detained by Genl. Felix Houston at Camp Preston near La Vacca whereupon he was several times entrusted with delicate Missions for different places and finally specially charged to attend on Col Ruiz then Senator
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who had fallen sick dangerously. The said Blas Herrera who rendered the services herein stated is the same and Identical person who has made the foregoing affidavit preparatory to his application for a Military pension, he is a most respectable Citizen of the County over 70 years of Age. & said said Blas Herrera never served the Enemy.
Antonio Menchaca
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of November A.D. 1874. Witness my hand and the impress of my official seal.
Jno. Rosenheimer
Notary Public B.C.
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Januy 5/75
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Blas Herrera
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No. 971
Pension Claim
of Blas Herera
Bexar Co. Texas
Filed Jan 5 1875
By D. V. Whiting
Disposition made of Approved
February 27 1875
Amount of Pension, $250.00
Native. 73 years of age.
Served in storming of Bexar 1835
Certificate issued
Feby 1st 1875
Rec’d Certificate
David V. Whiting
Source citation:
“Blas Herera pension claim application file,” no. 971, filed 5 January 1875, approved 27 February 1875, Bexar County, Texas
Blas Herera, Blas Herrera, David V. Whiting, John Rosenheimer, Jno. Rosenheimer, Col. Travis, Colonel Francisco Ruiz, Francisco Ruiz, Franc. Ruiz, F.co Ruiz, José Antonio Navarro, José Anto. Navarro, Jose Ant.o Navarro, Juan Gomez, Eusebio Garcigalas, Tio [Roe?], J. N. Seguin, Juan N. Seguin, Genl. Cos, Ignacio Espinosa, Antonio Menchaca, Genl. Felix Houston, Col. John N. Seguin, Genl. Sam Houston
Claimant: Blas Herera / Blas Herrera
Birth: about beginning of 1802, San Antonio, Texas. The affidavit says he was born in San Antonio at the beginning of 1802 and was “near seventy three years of age” in November 1874; the claim jacket says he was 73 years old in 1875. The file states Herrera was the son-in-law of Colonel Francisco Ruiz.
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