A Texas merchant, Ayers was the recipient of the last letter written by William Barret Travis, sent before the fall of the Alamo on the morning of March 6, 1836. Travis’ brief letter began “Take care of my little boy. If the country should be saved, I may make for him a splendid fortune.” Ink docketing signature, “D. Ayers,” on the reverse of a one-page manuscript land survey, 8 x 12.5, dated November 10, 1837. The survey reads, in part: “Surveyed for Loveic P. More one Eighth of a league of land containing 3125000 lg.” Signed at the bottom by surveyor J. E. Scott, and also signed by L. P. More, S. Connell, and James Connell. In the upper left corner, the surveyor has drawn a map of the area indicating “Scale 2000 lg per inch.” Signed on the reverse, “D. Ayers,” with “Center Hill,” written in another hand under Ayers’s signature. Intersecting folds, a couple light pencil notations to either side, scattered toning and foxing, small mounting remnants to top edge of reverse, and scattered edge wear, otherwise very good condition. Although deafness prevented his participation in active service, Sam Houston assigned Ayers to protect the families fleeing in the Runaway Scrape. Returning home after the victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, he found his property in ruins and moved to Washington-on-the-Brazos. By the following year, he had sufficiently recovered financially to purchase land at Center Hill, near Bellville, in Austin County. A rare offering from one of Travis’s most trusted friends. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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