American Stephen Fuller Austin in 1821 contracted with the Spanish colonial government to bring in 300 families of settlers to the fertile bottom lands of the lower Colorado and Brazos rivers. Among his original "Old 300" colonists were adventurers who, in November 1821, sailed from New Orleans on the schooner Lively and anchored near the mouth of the Brazos River. In 1822, a party from this group traveled upriver and built a two-room cabin on a bluff near a deep bend in the river. This cabin and site became known as both Fort Bend and Fort Settlement. After Mexico won independence from Spain and Texas became a Mexican state, the Fort Bend area was caught up in the war for Texas independence in 1836, when many residents fled from the advancing army of Mexican dictator Santa Anna. Segments of this army crossed the area before the Texan triumph at the Battle of San Jacinto and crossed it again in retreat. In May 1837, the Republic of Texas incorporated Richmond along with 18 other original cities, in December 1837 established Fort Bend County, and in January 1838 made Richmond the county seat.