Reimbursement for costs associated with First Republic of Texas Congress

The large and increasing debt being incurred by the Republic of Texas meant the government was frequently unable to pay its debts from the Revolution. However, in this rare instance, merchant Nathan Townsend sought and was granted payment for the $117.13 owed to him by the Republic of Texas.    

Nathan Townsend owned a general store in San Felipe de Austin at the time of the Revolution. His store was destroyed when the entire town of San Felipe was burned in March 1836 in advance of the approaching Mexican Army. Townsend and his family fled east with the rest of the town's citizens. In Columbia the Republic Congress borrowed money from him, as this reimbursement request indicates. From April 1837 to September 1838 he lived in New Orleans, acting as the Republic's consul there. Townsend made his request for payment in December 1838, just three months after his term as consul ended. As a former government official serving at the request of President Sam Houston, Townsend's request seems to have received preferential treatment.