Victoria in Victoria County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

José María Jesús Carvajal

1809-1872

— Victoria Trail Through Time —

José María Jesús Carvajal Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, February 17, 2022

1. José María Jesús Carvajal Marker

Inscription.

José María Jesús Carvajal. José María Jesús Carvajal was the surveyor of Victoria's first plat.. He was born in 1809, directly descended from the original Canary Islanders who settled San Antonio in the 18th Century. Carvajal was a protégé of Stephen F. Austin, who sent him to Kentucky for an education. During his time there, he converted from Catholicism to Protestantism in 1826. Carvajal decided upon the profession of surveyor, completing his studies in his chosen field by 1831. His bilingual abilities gave him an advantage when communicating with Anglo settlers regarding the complex legal documents written in Spanish. Stephen F. Austin sponsored him in obtaining employment as the official surveyor for empresario Martín De León's colony. The town, Guadalupe Victoria, was platted according to Spanish Colonization Law, which dictated the width of streets, a market square, a public square, a square for government buildings and for the church, as well as blocks for schools and cemeteries. The Plaza de Mercado, Market Square, was the center of the town for the first twenty-five years of the town's history. Carvajal married De Leon's fourth daughter, María del Refugia De León and became one of the colonists who settled in the De Leon land grant. , During the Texas War of Independence, many Mexicans were opposed to Santa Anna's regime, but refused to take up arms against their own people. Carvajal counted himself among those conscientious objectors not in opposition to Mexico, but rather Santa Anna and the Centralist regime he had installed. In the spring of 1835 the legislature authorized him to publish the laws and decrees of the state in English and Spanish. , Mexicans who refused to take up arms were suspected as sympathizers, if not active allies, of the Santa Anna regime, and they were treated harshly. General Thomas Jefferson Rusk confiscated the homes of those who wished to remain neutral in the war. In July 1836, Rusk ordered the Carvajal and De Leon families of Victoria to leave their own land. The two families left for New Orleans, having been stripped of everything they owned. , Carvajal was later involved in the Republic of the Rio Grande, the Mexican-American War and the Merchant War, all involving Mexican uprisings. He died in 1872 in Mexico. , The spelling of Carvajal is historically accurate; however, some direct descendants use the spelling "Carbajal." , Captions Lower Right: "Forty-One Families" Original Illustration by Tom Jones, Upper Right: José María Jesús Carvajal

José María Jesús Carvajal
was the surveyor
of Victoria's first plat.
He was born in 1809, directly descended from the original Canary Islanders who settled San Antonio in the 18th Century. Carvajal was a protégé of Stephen F. Austin, who sent him to Kentucky for an education. During his time there, he converted from Catholicism to Protestantism in 1826. Carvajal decided upon the profession of surveyor, completing his studies in his chosen field by 1831. His bilingual abilities gave him an advantage when communicating with Anglo settlers regarding the complex legal documents written in Spanish. Stephen F. Austin sponsored him in obtaining employment as the official surveyor for empresario Martín De León's colony. The town, Guadalupe Victoria, was platted according to Spanish Colonization Law, which dictated the width of streets, a market square, a public square, a square for government buildings and for the church, as well as blocks for schools and cemeteries. The Plaza de Mercado, Market Square, was the center of the town for the first twenty-five years of the town's history. Carvajal married De Leon's fourth daughter, María del Refugia De León and became one of the colonists who settled in the De Leon land grant.

During the Texas War of Independence, many Mexicans were opposed to Santa

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Anna's regime, but refused to take up arms against their own people. Carvajal counted himself among those conscientious objectors not in opposition to Mexico, but rather Santa Anna and the Centralist regime he had installed. In the spring of 1835 the legislature authorized him to publish the laws and decrees of the state in English and Spanish.

Mexicans who refused to take up arms were suspected as sympathizers, if not active allies, of the Santa Anna regime, and they were treated harshly. General Thomas Jefferson Rusk confiscated the homes of those who wished to remain neutral in the war. In July 1836, Rusk ordered the Carvajal and De Leon families of Victoria to leave their own land. The two families left for New Orleans, having been stripped of everything they owned.

Carvajal was later involved in the Republic of the Rio Grande, the Mexican-American War and the Merchant War, all involving Mexican uprisings. He died in 1872 in Mexico.

The spelling of Carvajal is historically accurate; however, some direct descendants use the spelling "Carbajal."

Captions
Lower Right: "Forty-One Families"
Original Illustration by Tom Jones

Upper Right: José María Jesús Carvajal

Erected by City of Victoria.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:

Photographed By James Hulse, February 17, 2022

2. José María Jesús Carvajal Marker

Hispanic Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1836.

Location. 28° 47.84′ N, 97° 0.421′ W. Marker is in Victoria, Texas, in Victoria County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and West Juan Linn Street, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. The marker is located on the northeast corner of the Victoria City Municipal Court grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 West Juan Linn Street, Victoria TX 77901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of Round Top House (here, next to this marker); Fossati's Delicatessen (a few steps from this marker); Site of Victoria's First Church (within shouting distance of this marker); This Marker Faces the Homesite of John Joseph Linn (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Mary's Church, Catholic (about 300 feet away); In Memory of Edward Conrad (about 300 feet away); Home of Empresario Martín de León (about 400 feet away); Lorenzo Dow Heaton House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

Also see . . . Carbajal, José María Jesus (unknown–1874).

The view of the José María Jesús Carvajal Marker from across the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, February 17, 2022

3. The view of the José María Jesús Carvajal Marker from across the street

(Left marker of the two markers)

José Carbajal, son of José Antonio Carbajal Peña and María Gertrudis Sánchez Soto, was born in San Fernando de Béxar (San Antonio). In 1823 he went to Lexington, Kentucky, and worked two years as a tanner and saddle maker. Later he studied at Bethany, Virginia, under Alexander Campbell, renounced Catholicism, and became an ardent Protestant. Aided by Stephen F. Austin, he returned to Texas as the official surveyor for Martín De León, laid out the town of Victoria, and married De León's daughter, María del Refugio De León Garza, around 1830. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on February 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Mexican General José María Jesús Carvajal image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - Matthew Brady - Harper's Weekly, 13 Jan 1866, circa 1866

4. Mexican General José María Jesús Carvajal

Woodcut print after a photo by Matthew Brady

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.