A member of the Junta General in Spanish Texas, Juan Manuel de Oliván Rebolledo (d. 1738) was involved in the trial of Canadian-French explorer Louis Juchereau de St. Denis and worked to prevent the French exploration and occupation of the region west of the Mississippi. After drawing a series of maps of the area north of Mexico based on St. Denis’ reports, Oliván Rebolledo was elected governor of Texas in 1719, though he declined the position. Later appointed judge advocate of Mexico, he recommended establishing presidios and forts along the Rio Grande River in order to fortify the region.
Thomas Phelipe de Winthuysen served as interim governor of Texas from 1741-1743. During his tenure, he authored a declaration of obedience and worked to quell conflicts with Native American tribes, especially the Apache, in the vicinity of San Antonio. Additionally, Winthuysen fortified and restored the Los Adaes settlement.
Sources:
Johnson, John G.
Magnaghi, Russell M.
A typescript composes the Juan de Oliván Rebolledo and Thomas Phelipe de Winthuysen Reports, 1691, 1744, documenting Rebolledo’s expedition to the province of Texas in 1691 and Winthuysen’s report on the progress of the province of Texas and the New Philippines in 1744. Rebolledo’s report discusses the Native American tribes, Spanish occupation, the establishment of missions and
This collection is open for research use.
Juan de Oliván Rebolledo and Thomas Phelipe de Winthuysen Reports, 1691, 1744, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s