 He immigrated in 1816 to Alexandria, Louisiana, after suffering a fire and loss of his business.By the time he arrived in Texas from Louisiana in April 1830, he was married and had two sons, Samuel and Benjamin, and a married daughter, Adeliza Lewis Brigham.In December of the same year he was elected as "síndico procurador" in the precinct of Victoria and a year later elected "comisario" for the same precinct.