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In mid-August 1821, about a month after the transfer of power, a descendant of [[Nicholas Vidal]] appeared before [[Wikipedia:Henry Marie Brackenridge|Henry M. Brackenridge]], whom Jackson had appointed ''alcalde'' (a sort of magistrate and administrator) regarding land bequeathed by Vidal to her family but occupied by Forbes & Company (the successor to [[Panton, Leslie and Company]]). She went on to say that Spanish governors had ruled that the land be returned to the Vidal family, but would not enforce the ruling. Pleading for Brackenridge's help, she stated that documents relevant to the situation were in the custody of Lieutenant Domingo Sousa, an aide to Colonel Callava, and that the documents were intended to be carried away to Havana. According to the woman, Sousa would allow the documents to be copied; however, the Vidal family was unable to afford the expense of having copied the several hundred pages. Under the [[Wikipedia:Adams-Onís Treaty|Adams-Onís Treaty]], such documents were to be surrendered to the United States; thus Brackenridge set out to retrieve them.<ref>Parton, [http://books.google.com/books?id=bGYFAAAAQAAJ&printsec=toc#PPA618,M1 p. 618].</ref>

{{cquote|Gentlemen, having been officially informed that there are a number of papers or documents in the possession of an individual of the name of Domingo Sousa, of a public nature, and which belong to the office of the Alcalde of this town, although not delivered with the other documents relating to private property, you are hereby authorized and instructed to proceed to the dwelling of the said Domingo Sousa, and to make a demand of all such papers or documents as may be in his possession. In case the said Sousa should refuse to exhibit and deliver the same, you will immediately report the fact to me in writing.<ref>Parton, [http://books.google.com/books?id=bGYFAAAAQAAJ&printsec=toc#PPA619,M1 p. 619].</ref>}}