Karen, the Republic of Texas ceased to exist when Texas was admitted to statehood in Dec. 1845. I suspect he might have noted the date in a personal diary. It's quite possible he and others still thought of Texas as a Republic. Texas was a place where a man might make his fortune. Land was quite cheap. Of course, this was before a place called Sutter's Mill in California where gold was discovered in 1848. When Austin's colony and the others(De Witt's, Robertson's, et.al), formed under the Constitution of 1824 from Mexico, there were what were called Character Certificates where the individual was described as worthy of entry. Of the "old 300" settlers some non-related individuals were grouped together as a family, making it closer to 33 families. These character certificates are at the General Land Office and have been published. You might remember some of the battle flags of the Revolution carried the 1824 reference. General Lopez de Santa Ana became a dictator, taking away the rights from the Constitution of 1824. This would eventually lead to a rebellion in 1835. When the Mexican Army came many citizens fled leaving warm food on the table. This era was known as "The Runaway Scrape". Houston led his army over a good part of Texas as he trained them and tried to choose a place to fight. San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, was the decisive battle for Texas Independence. >From 1836 to 1845, Texas was a republic with its own navy, currency and foreign relations. The French Legation is one of the older buildings in Austin, the capital after it was moved from Harrisbug(Houston). Various problems during the Republic era, including finance, trade, Indian problems, and protection from Mexico( The Vasques Campaign of 1842 in which San Antonio was retaken by our friends to the south), resulted in the Republic applying for statehood. A statewide election was held in 1845, and some political manuvering in Congress, which had the blessing of the then President, allowed Texas to become a state, I believe December 29,1845, 2 days before the opportunity would have expired. >From that point until Secession, Texas was part of the US. Governor Sam Houston would never have agreed to secession, and was replaced before the secession resolution was passed. Texas rejoined the Union folling the "late unpleasantness'' but reconstruction continued in Texas until the mid 1870's. 1840 Citizens of Texas would show those present at that time. In 1850, there was a Federal Census meaning the US counted the inhabitants as part of the United States. A very brief sketch but not too bad for an old geezer's memory. Tom, descendant of Nathaniel Reed, Pvt., Army of Texas, Campaign of '36 who received several land grants for participation at San Jacinto.