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Texas
| Texas Ghost Towns
LOS ADAES,
TEXAS
Capital of
the Province of Texas
from 1721 to 1773
“Ghost Town” since
1773
LA 485
12 Miles SW of Natchitoches |
Los Adaes,
Texas
Named for a friendly
group of Indians, this all-but-forgotten capital of Texas – remains
in place - in Louisiana.
The purpose of the Spanish in forming Los Adaes was to check the encroachment
of the French into Spanish territory. This plan called for the pairing
of a fort (presidio) with a mission. The military protected the mission
and the mission fed the garrison – through the farming efforts of
the Indians – whose souls were being saved by the priests. |
| In this particular
case the fort was the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Presidio and
the mission was named San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes. The
Adaes Indians were sworn enemies of the Lipan Apaches – constant thorns
in the side of Spanish settlement in western Texas. |
Presidio Nuestra
Señora del Pilar de Los Adais Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2010 |
 |
Initial
founding of the settlement (by Domingo Ramon) occurred in 1717 but
the site was abandoned two years later when the French showed signs
of aggression. Reestablishment occurred in 1721 near present-day Robeline,
Louisiana. The man in charge was the Marques de Aguayo.
Aguayo established the presidio and reoccupied the abandoned mission.
His work done, Aguayo left to pursue other duties, leaving a detachment
of 100 mounted troops to protect a handful of Franciscan priests.
The “success” of Los Adaes resulted in its being declared the capital
of Texas in 1729 by the Spanish Viceroy.
That same year the garrison was reduced from 100 to 60 troops – in
a cost saving measure. The friendly Indians protected the settlement
from the hostiles, although they resisted living at the mission, preferring
to live in scattered villages. In 1768 the overseeing College of
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Zacatecas acknowledged its difficulties
by abandoning all missionary efforts.
Los Adaes and other Spanish settlements in East
Texas were so isolated and distant from New Spain – that they
were forced to trade with the French at Natchitoches – the
enemies they were sent to blockade. Even the Spanish acknowledged
that it was easier to trade (foodstuffs) with the French than to supply
their thinly-stretched colonists.
Over time trade in other goods developed – despite the frowns of Spanish
officials – and Los Adaes became virtually dependent upon the French
settlement.
In 1762 French Louisiana was transferred to New Spain and ten years
later the capital of Texas was transferred to the slightly-less-distant
San Antonio de Béxar (present-day San
Antonio).
The estimated 500 residents of Los Adaes were ordered to relocate.
Some moved and some never left. The Adaesans eventually gravitated
back the region and lifestyle they had grown to love and established
what would become Nacogdoches. |
Los Adaes State
Historic Site
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2010 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories
and recent or vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
| Los
Adaes - Texas Escapes' 2500th Town, June 29, 2010 |
|
|
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