Early Texas Land Grants27 by 36 inches framed. This map of the earliest settlements in Texas was issued in 1836, the first year of Texas' Independence. Drawn by E. F. Lee and published as part of David B. Edward's The History of Texas, or the Emigrant's Farmer's and Politician's Guide, the map contains excellent detail of the first land grants. To encourage development, the Mexican government licensed promoters, called empresarios, to attract settlers to Texas. Each