For our newsletter series Fronteras Reprints, we republish nineteenth and early twentieth-century documents of historical and cultural interest. David Woodman Jr.’s Guide to Texas Emigrants (1835) was a popular book for emigrants planning to move to Texas. Here we excerpt a list from his book of items Woodman recommended that emigrants take with them.
Directions to Emigrants
GENERAL DIRECTIONS.
Emigrants going to the grants, had better be provided with sufficient bread stuffs and groceries to last them for six or seven months.
The settler would do well to turn his little stock of money into Spanish dollars and doubloons. Although United States’ bills are generally above par, yet there would be difficulty in getting them changed, provided the settle were going inland. All Spanish silver money passes, and nothing will be lost in making use of it.
He should be provided with a passport.
A family should take the following medicines with them:
½ lb. calcined Magnesia and bottle $1 50
2 oz. Rhubarb Powder 0 38
3 lbs. best Epsom Salts, 1s. 6d 0 56
2 oz. Essence of Peppermint and vial 0 25
2 oz.. of Laudanum and vial 0 25
6 doz. Anti Billious Pills 0 50
2 doz. Clomel and Jalap 0 75
1 doz. Emetics 0 50
2 pint bottles Castor Oil 1 00
6 oz. Soap Liniment and vial 0 50
3 0z. Hartshorn and vial 0 31
2 oz. Spirits of Camphor and viol 0 25
Box 0 18
[total] $6 93
Emigrants should be well provided with necessary farming utensils, a wagon, comfortable clothing, principally of cotton stuff, a good rifle, and a strong dog. Seeds of useful plants and different grains must not be forgotten. It would be best to carry tents or sail cloth, for covering, until the house is built.
The settler who does not want to spend his money in luxuries, would find the following table of necessaries sufficient to last a family of five persons during a voyage from New York to Texas, (say twenty-five days), viz : ten lbs. of sugar. One and a half lb. of coffee, (ground, if possible.) One lb. tea. Two lb. soap. One pint salt. One oz. pepper. One quart vinegar, and a jar. Four lbs. cheese. One and a half lbs. rice. One cwt. biscuit. Two gallons flour. Thirty-seven lbs. beef, ham or bacon, or a proportion of each. One cwt. of potatoes. Half lb. of currants or raisins. Two doz. eggs. Six lbs. butter. Half gallon molasses. Two lbs. split peas. One dozen lemons, a pleasant drink, and allays sea-sickness. Half bushel apples. A loaf or two of bread cut into slices and toasted slowly. A small jar of pickles.
Some utensils should also be taken. The following would serve : two pots for boiling, (a large and small one), one hook pot ; one tin chamber and cover ; one tin water-can ; tinder-box and matches ; three lbs. candles ; one tin hand basin ; two tin pint cups ; two square, deep tin baking pans ; one wooden bowl to mix paste, &c.; three tin plates ; knives, forks and spoons ; and a small wash-tub.
The light travelling wagons of our own country are hardly strong enough for Texas. A party of emigrants who had to go inland, should have a strong large wagon, and buy a couple of oxen at the place of landing, and travel by the side of their baggage. These will be invaluable to the settler when he commences the working of his lands.
The farming utensils which are used in America and England, will be required in Texas. Wagon and yoke harness for horses, spades, ploughs, hoes, shovels and axes. Box of carpenter’s tool. Ropes, &c., will be found useful. Also, such articles of bedding as the family possesses.
