An autographed promissory note by James Bowie, hero of the Alamo, has sold for $62,500.

The lot led a sale of Texan memorabilia at Heritage Auctions in Dallas on March 14.

Bowie fought to defend the Alamo in the early stages of the Texas Revolution

It dates to May 15,1833 and reads: "One day after date I promise to pay Thos. Gary or leave the sum of one hundred and Twenty five dollars 82 Cents for value [illegible]."

Six weeks earlier, Bowie had attended the Colonial Convention in Texas. The event proved to be one of the tipping points into war between Texan settlers and Mexico.  

Heritage explains: "Bowie was one of fifty-six delegates to meet in San Felipe de Austin from April 1 through 13, 1833, to draft petitions to the Mexican government, including independent statehood from Coahuila and a lift to the ban on foreign immigration, during the Convention of 1833.

"Four months after writing this document, Bowie lost his wife, children, and in-laws to a cholera outbreak in Monclova."

A copy of Sam Houston's "Army Orders" broadside also sold well, realising $52,500.

It was written on the outbreak of war in 1836, eight days after the siege of the Alamo had begun, and reads: "War is raging on the frontiers. Bejar is besieged by two thousand of the enemy, under the command of Siezma…

"By the last report, our force in Bejar was only one hundred and fifty men strong. The citizens of Texas must rally to the aid of our army, or it will perish. Let the citizens of the East march to the combat…"

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