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The Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company was founded in New York in 1830 for the purpose of colonizing the lands in East Texas. The company was a real-estate promotion firm with agents, land counselors, surveyors, and salesmen. It did not own land itself but sold scrip that allowed the settlers simply to move into the area. The settlers had to meet the requirements of Mexican law before they could obtain title. As with all enticements to settle, this is a glowing description of the land, climate and opportunities available to the people who would occupy this new territory. John Wilson (1782-1869), from Deerfield, Massachusetts, proposed to travel with the settlers and aid them in obtaining their land. The Greenfield Gazette and Franklin Herald was the newspaper in Greenfield, Massachusetts, from June 26, 1827 to June 27, 1837. It changed its name to the Gazette & Mercury.