Haden Edwards

In 1825, Edwards received a land grant from the Mexican government, allowing him to settle families in East Texas.

He was forced to flee Mexico when the Mexican Army arrived to put down the rebellion, and did not return until after the Texas Revolution had broken out.

In 1824 the Mexican federal government passed a General Colonization Law, which for the first time permitted immigration into Texas.

It contained standard language requiring Edwards to recognize all pre-existing Spanish and Mexican land titles in his grant area, to raise a militia to protect the settlers in the area, and to allow the state land commissioner to certify all deeds that Edwards would award.

[2] To the west and north of the colony were lands controlled by several native tribes which had recently been driven out of the United States.

[3] Edwards's goal was to remove many of the less-prosperous settlers and assign their lands to wealthy planters from the southern United States.

On November 22, 1826, thirty-six armed men who supported Edwards, arrested the anti-Edwards alcalde Samuel Norris and other officials.

On December 21, 1826, Edwards signed a document declaring the Republic of Fredonia, which would comprise land from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande.