Before colonization by Escandón, the land belonged to the heirs of Juan Guerra Cañamar, Captain of the presidio of Cerralvo. A ranch was established there around 1743 by Guerra's son-in-law, Nicolas de la Garza, a resident of Monterrey, at a place called Paso de los Moros, about 9 leagues from the future site of Revilla. Two more ranches were added before colonization: that of Jose Baez Benavides and his five brothers, who settled in 1747 three leagues from the future site of Revilla on the Rio Grande; and of Juan Antonio Tabares, an Indian and sheep herder from Queretaro, who in 1749 began pasturing his stock at Los Moros. They did not bring their families due to frequent attacks by Indians.

After hearing of Escandón's plans for the colony, Juan Guerra Cañamar's son Vicente Guerra, then a resident of Coahuila [Monclova], petitioned for the establishment of a town of the site. Escandón agreed and made Guerra captain of the town in 1750. Guerra then recruited several other families. Revilla was established at Los Moros for about a year before it was moved to its permanent site on the Rio Salado.

When Escandón arrived to formalize the settlement in 1753, Vicente Guerra had died and Miguel Martinez was serving as captain. At this time Jose Baez Benavides petitioned to be added to the roster of colonists along with his brothers, and Escandón appointed him captain.

None of the settlers received financial assistance from the government and the town was one of the few in Nuevo Santander that lacked a military squadron [1].

[1] Escandón, v. 56, f. 225-256f