Born in County Antrim, Ireland, 1798; a pioneer
settler of Texas; was a member of the Texan
Congress; author of “Reminiscences of Fifty
Years in Texas.”
]
The stream on whose bank he was killed is known as Nolan’s Creek, and
Nolan county, Texas, was named in his memory. Three of his associates,
judging from their names, were of his blood, namely, Michael Moore,
William Dandlin and Simon McCoy. John Henry Brown, author of the History
of Texas, quotes the following from a Mr. Quintero: “The diary kept by
Nolan, and many of his letters which are in my possession, show
conclusively that he was not only a gallant and intelligent gentleman,
but an accomplished scholar. He was thoroughly acquainted with astronomy
and geography. He made the first map of Texas, which he presented to the
Baron Carondelet, on returning from his first trip in 1797.”
He was followed four years later by Capt. Zebulon Pike. A third invasion
was that of the party led by A. W. Magee, a native of Massachusetts, a
graduate of West Point, and an ex-officer of the United States Army.
This expedition like that of Nolan’s ended badly for those engaged.
Seventy or eighty of them who were captured by the Spaniards were shot
and buried in one grave. They had rendered material aid, however, to the
Mexican patriots in their struggle for independence.
In 1822, thirteen years after their death, the governor of Texas, under
the new republic of Mexico, collected their bleached bones, and had them
interred with military honors. A tablet on an oak tree, near the place
of sepulchre, bore the inscription: “Here lie the braves who, imitating
the immortal example of Leonidas, sacrificed their fortunes and their
lives contending against tyrants.” It is not possible to make an
estimate of the number in this expedition who were, like Nolan and
Magee, of Irish origin, as their names are not given, but that there
were many, the record of those who followed proves. From 1813 to 1819
others followed in the steps of Nolan and Magee.
Among them were the parties led by Perry and Young. The latter had
served in the United States Army during the war of 1812. He took an
active part in the Mexican war of Independence, and lived to see them
throw off the Spanish yoke. Perry was not so fortunate. In his last
fight with the enemy every man in his command was killed, and preferring
death to capture, he took his own life, blowing out his brains. Another
expedition left Natchez, the headquarters of the ill-fated Nolan, on the
17th of June, 1819. It numbered three hundred men. and was under the
command of Dr. James Long, a native of Tennessee, and surgeon in
Carroll’s brigade in the war of 1812 and 1815.
After suffering untold hardships, this, like the others preceding it,
failed to accomplish its purpose, and the survivors, not prisoners,
returned to the state. Later, Long made a second attempt. His party
consisted of fifty-two men; the names of thirty-two are known, among
them Lieutenant Eagan from New York, “Dr. Allen, an Irish surgeon, and
Capt. John McHenry, an Irishman.” Of the latter the historian quoted
says:
“It was my fortune in early life to be a neighbor and enjoy the sincere
friendship of that true-hearted son of Ireland, Capt. John McHenry....
He was a man utterly incapable of falsehood or deception, a true
patriot, and a friend to public and private virtue.... He was born in
Ireland in 1798, and arrived at New Orleans in 1812. He took part in
Long’s expedition, and, returning in 1822 with one hundred and fifty
others in the sloop-of-war _Eureka_, he participated in an expedition
organized in aid of the Revolutionists in South America. A year or so
later he entered the trade between New Orleans and the Texas coast, as
owner and commander of a schooner. In 1826 he settled permanently on the
Lavaca river, where he reared a family and lived until his death,
passing through the Revolutionary and Indian wars as a brave man and an
honorable citizen. He died honored by those who had known him for half a
century.”
Long’s expedition met the same fate as those preceding it. He and his
men were captured. Eagan died in prison, and Long, who was taken to the
City of Mexico, was shot dead by a soldier, said to be an assassin hired
for the purpose. The time had, however, arrived when largely to the
enterprise, tact and bravery of the descendants of the men who had
established the United States government, Texas was thrown open to all
who desired to create new homes on its broad expanse. The leader in this
new and successful colonization enterprise came from far-off New
England.
His name, now a household word in Texas, was Moses Austin. He was born
in Connecticut. Early in life he went to Philadelphia, later to
Virginia, and still later to Missouri, or what is now known as Missouri.
While here his adventurous nature was attracted toward Texas by the
reports of Nolan, Magee and their successors. His ventures heretofore
had been failures, and he became interested in the founding of a colony
in the territory coveted by all who had seen or heard of it. With this
object in view, and desirous of securing permission from the proper
authorities, he made a journey to San Antonio de Bexar in December,
1820.
His residence in Missouri, then under the dominion of Spain,
familiarized him with the language and customs of its people. His
mission was successful. He returned to his home, but like Moses, he was
not destined to see the promised land, for he died shortly afterwards,
transmitting to his son, Stephen F. Austin, the duty of executing his
plans.
His application for his grant of land for a colony had been approved by
the Spanish power, about eight months before its fall, and the fact that
this concession had been made, while the memories of the invasions of
Nolan, Magee and Long were still fresh, proves that Austin was a man of
tact and resources. His daughter had married James Bryan, so that here
in the beginning, the Saxon and the Gael intermixed. Three sons, the
product of this union, William J., Moses A., and Hon. Guy M. Bryan, have
been among its most honored citizens.
Not only was Austin’s application for land for a colony granted, but a
special commissioner was sent to the United States with instructions to
conduct the first band of immigrants into the country. Stephen F. Austin
returned with the commissioner to secure a transfer of the grant made to
his father, and was accompanied by fourteen persons, all of whom became
settlers. Of these were Erwin, Barre, Beard, Belew and Dr. James
Hewitson. The latter was born in Ireland, the others bear Irish names.
The overthrow of the Spanish power and the establishment of the Mexican
government, a year later, did not affect the concessions made to Austin.
They were confirmed by the new government, and the grantee’s powers to
colonize were increased. Others, as well as he, were granted similar
privileges. Each head of a family was to receive four thousand four
hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, and one thousand seventy-six
acres were assigned to each single man.
It will not be amiss to write that during the period mentioned, namely,
the struggle for Mexican independence, General Count O’Donoju was in
command of the Royal forces, and that his failure to bring about a
reconciliation between the Revolutionists and his government occasioned
his death, which occurred in the city of Mexico, July 5, 1821. Among the
original three hundred colonists led by Austin into Texas were the
following: Martin Allen, John and Edward R. Bradley, James Beard,
Charles Breen, William Barrett, James Cummins, John Cummins, William
Cummins, Morris Callahan, David Fitzgerald, Isaiah Flanagan, David
Fenton, Charles Garrett, C. S. Corbett, Daniel Gilliland, John W. Moore,
Michael Goulderich, William Holland, Francis Holland, Samuel Kennedy,
John Kelly, Alfred Cannon, James Kerr, James Lynch, Nathaniel Lynch,
Robert James, William Millican, William McWilliams, David McCormick,
James McCoy, James McNair, John McNeil, Luke Moore, Daniel, John G. and
Geo. W. McNiel, Arthur McCormick, John McFarland, John McClosky, Thomas
McKenny, Stirling and Pleasant D. McNeil, Frederick Rankin, Elijah
Rourk, Patrick Reels and John McCormick.
Among others to whom grants of land were made were “James Power and
James Hewitson, ‘Irishmen,’ for two hundred families on Arransas Bay.”
This colony was known as “Refugio,” and the grant was made on June 11,
1828. Another was to “John McMullen, and Patrick McGloin, ‘Irishmen,’
dated August 17, 1828, for two hundred families on the Nieces river.”
This colony was known as “San Patricio.”
Both were composed mainly of natives of Ireland, with a sprinkling of
Americans of their own blood and of mixed origin. The members of these
two colonies took an active part in the movements which ended in the
establishment of the Texan republic, and the ultimate annexation of
Texas to the American Union. This tribute is paid them by John Henry
Brown in his history of Texas, in connection with what he has written of
the other colonies:
“The colony of DeLeon had increased considerably by the incoming of a
good class of Mexicans, and quite a number of Americans, including
several Irishmen and their families from the United States, the younger
members being natives of that country, and among whom were the veteran
John McHenry, a settler since 1826; John Linn with his sons, John J.,
Charles, Henry and Edward Linn, and two daughters. Subsequently, the
wives of Major Kerr and John A. Moody, Mrs. Margaret Wright, Joseph
Wright and others.
“From 1829 to 1834 the colonies of Power and Hewitson, with headquarters
at the Mission of Refugio, and McMullen and McGloin, of which San
Patricio was the capital, received valuable additions in a worthy,
sober, industrial class of people, chiefly from Ireland, a few of Irish
extraction born in the United States, and others who were Americans.
“They were more exposed to Mexican oppression than the colonists further
East, and equally so to hostile Indians. Twenty-six of these colonists
signed the Goliad Declaration of Independence, Dec. 20, 1835. Four of
them signed the regular declaration of Texan independence, March 2,
1836, and fourteen of them fell in the slaughter of Fannin’s men, March
27, 1836. In the footnote below is given a partial list of these bold
and open-hearted pioneers in reclaiming the southwestern portion of our
territory.”
Those mentioned in the footnote are as follows: Signers of the Goliad
Declaration of Independence—Morgan Bryan, John Dunn, Spirce Dooley,
James Elder, E. B. W. Fitzgerald, Peter Hynes, Timothy Hart, Thomas
Hansom, J. B. Kirkpatrick, Michael Kelly, Walter Lambert, Charles
Malone, Edward McDonald, Hugh McMinn, Thomas O’Connor, C. J. O’Conner,
Patrick O’Leary, Michael O’Donnell, James O’Connor, John Pollan, William
Quinn, Dr. Alexander Lynch, Edward Quirk, John Shelly, Edward and James
St. John and John W. Welsh.
Those butchered with Fannin’s men were—Matthew Byrne, Daniel Buckley,
Matthew Eddy, John Fagan, John Gleason, John James, John Kelly, John
McGloin, Dennis McGowen, Dennis Mahoney, Patrick Nevin, Thomas Quirk,
Edward Ryan and Capt. Ira Westover.
Signers of the regular Declaration of Independence—Edward Conrad, James
Power, David Thomas and John Turner.
Others of the Irish colonies of Refugio and San Patricio who had
distinguished themselves otherwise in the cause of Texan independence
were—Lewis Ayers, Elkanah Brush, John Bowan, Michael Cahill, John
Coughlan, Robert Lawrence, John Carlisle, Festus Doyle, William Donahue,
Benjamin Dale, Patrick Downey and his sons Francis, Thomas, Patrick,
Jr., John and James Downey; Patrick Fitzsimmons, Nicholas Fagan, William
Gamble, John Hefferman, Robert Hern, William Hewes, Dr. James Hewitson,
James Hewitson, Jr., John Hynes, John Hart and his sons Patrick, John
and Luke Hart; Thomas Hennessy, Timothy Hoyt, Charles Kelly, John
Keating, John Malone, Thomas Mullen, Patrick, Edward and James McGloin,
Malcolm McAuley, John McMullen, Martin O’Toole, Daniel Driscoll, James
O’Connor, Daniel and John O’Doyle, Edward Parry, James and Martin Power,
Patrick and John Quinn, Michael Kelly, William Redmond, William St.
John, Peter, John and Thomas Scott and John Toole. The entire number of
names given is one hundred and two.
The historian adds: “Yet in a time of political frenzy in 1855, it was
charged that these colonists were not true to Texas in the Revolution of
1835–’36. It was the privilege of the author of this work to crush the
infamous slander by presenting the preceding facts, and many others
attesting their fidelity in suffering, heroism, and in death, till the
republic became the state of Texas in 1846.” The malignant slanders were
repeated a few years ago when the patriotism and loyalty of the Irish in
the Union army were assailed by the legitimate successors of the Know
Nothings of 1855—the A. P. A.’s of 1895.
The entire number of signers of the Goliad Declaration of Independence,
which was adopted more than two months before the signing of the general
Declaration of Independence, was ninety-one. Of this number,
twenty-seven, whose names have been given, were of the Irish colonies of
Refugio and San Patricio. In addition to these, the following names,
Irish in appearance, from the other colonies, were also appended to the
Declaration: George W. Welsh, John Shelly, Robert McClure, Andrew
Devereau, George W. Cash,—making thirty-two in all, or over a fraction
of one third of the whole number of signers.
Among those who went into Texas with DeWitt’s colony in 1828 were Maj.
James Kerr, Arthur and Squire Burns, George Blair, Matthew Caldwell,
John Daly, John Duncan, John Fennell, Michael Gillan, Daniel, John,
Joseph, Jesse, John, Jr. and Samuel McBay, Stephen Morrison, George
Monoghan, B. D. McClure, John A. Neill and James B. Patrick.
“Among the early most worthy settlers at the extreme northwestern corner
of Texas, on the Red river, was Collin McKinney.” He was the oldest man
who signed the Texan Declaration of Independence, being seventy when he
affixed his name to it. Capt. Thomas William Ward went to Texas, in
1835. He was a native of Ireland and at the outbreak of hostilities in
Texas was a member of the “New Orleans Grays.” He commanded an artillery
company at the capture of San Antonio, where he lost a leg.
He lived in Texas until his death in 1872, honored and respected by his
fellow-citizens. He had held honorable positions in the gift of both
state and nation. Elijah Rourk went from North Carolina to Texas in
1821. He was one of the pioneers of the state. While in company with
David McCormick and two others, on his way to San Antonio to market a
drove of hogs, he was killed by Indians, Dec. 25, 1829. Rourk’s son, who
was with him, and McCormick made their escape. The former died as late
as 1892. He had served in the War for Independence, and in himself was a
living reminder of the sufferings of the early colonists of Texas.
William M. Logan went to Texas in 1826, one of a family which has given
eminent men to the nation for over a century. With him were several of
the Moore family. In an Indian fight reported by the celebrated James
Bowie, Dec. 10, 1831, he mentions for bravery the names of ten persons;
three of them were Matthew Doyle, Daniel Buchanan, wounded, and Thomas
McCaslin, who was killed.
In an encounter with the enemy at Anahuac in 1832, the following were
mentioned: Thomas H. Brennan, James S. McGahey and Edward Miles.
“The good Father Muldoon” has mention in an account of the battle of
Velasco, June 26, 1832. He “was an Irish priest, resident of Mexico, and
held in high esteem by the colonists.” He is also spoken of in the
prison journal of Stephen Austin. Santa Anna gave him permission to
visit Austin while the latter was in prison. He is also mentioned in the
Quarterly of the Texas Historical Society of January, 1899, and a toast
given by him at a banquet held in Anahuac is printed therein. It showed
his sympathies for the colonies, although not one of the colonists, and
was as follows:
“May plow and harrow, spade and tack,
Remain the arms of Anahuac,
So that her rich and boundless plains
May yearly yield all sorts of grains.
May all religious discords fall
And friendship be the creed of all.
With tolerance your pastor views
All sects of Christians, Turks, and Jews.
I now demand three rousing cheers,
Great Austin’s health, and pioneers.”
Previous to the battle of Velasco, Father Muldoon was allowed to visit
the Mexican commander, and authorized to adjust the affairs in conflict.
His mission was a failure, the enemy deeming itself strong enough to
secure its end, a mistaken idea; after a contest in which two thirds of
the Mexicans were killed or wounded, the survivors surrendered to the
Americans.
Among those who are named as participating in the engagement were John
G. Stirling, Pinkney McNeal, George B. McKinistry and Andrew Scott.
Among the delegates to the first convention held in Texas, in October,
1832, were William D. Lacy, George W. McKinistry, James Kerr, Hugh
McGuffin, Joseph, Samuel and James Looney, John Connell, Jacob Garrett,
George Butler, John M. Bradley and James Morgan.
A second convention, held on April 1, 1833, had among its members George
Butler, John M. Bradley, Jesse Grimes, Jacob Garrett, Sam Houston, James
Kerr, John H. Moore, James Morgan, William McFarland and B. D. McClure.
Mention is made of William Donoho in connection with the massacre of the
survivors of the Grant colony by the Indians. He was a merchant in Santa
Fé.—“One of those great hearted, sympathetic men who honor humanity.”
His children are credited with being “the first American natives of the
ancient town of Santa Fé.” He was from Missouri. He is credited with
being the medium through whom three English ladies were released after
being captured by the Indians, survivors of an English colony in Texas,
and whose sufferings while in possession of the Indians were terrible.
He was born in Kentucky. He died in Clarksville, Texas, in 1845,
“lamented as a true son of Kentucky.” He is spoken of in the highest
terms in Brown’s History of Texas and the Texas Scrap Book.
Daniel McCoy has mention in an account of a fight with the Indians at
San Marcos in the spring of 1835, and with him were Matthew Caldwell and
B. D. McClure. In another fight with the Indians near the Brazos, at
Washington, in July, 1835, a detachment of three companies was commanded
by Col. John H. Moore. The adjutant was Joseph C. Neill, and others in
command were Capt. Robert M. Coleman and Capt. Coheen.
Among those in attendance at the “Navidad and Lavaca meeting on July 17,
1835,” were William Millican and Major James Kerr, “the veteran John
McHenry who had fought for liberty in South America,” and was with Long
and suffered imprisonment with Millan and Austin; Patrick Usher,
Coleman, Loony, McNutt, and Scott. Among those who made a reputation in
Texas in those early days were three brothers, Patrick C., William H.
and Spencer H. Jack. They were the sons of Capt. Patrick Jack of North
Carolina.
Captain Jack was the messenger selected by the Mecklenburg Convention,
held in May, 1775, to convey the Declaration of Independence adopted by
it to the Continental Congress in session at Philadelphia.
In a movement to prevent the taking away by the Mexicans of a
four-pounder left with the people of Gonzales for protection against the
Indians, the following participated: John H. Moore, Matthew Caldwell,
James Kerr, John J. Linn, and representatives of the McClure and McCoy
families. Mrs. Margaret Linn took an important part in the affair, and
this tribute is paid her by the writer quoted: “Pause a moment, reader,
to reflect that this note was written to a young bride, not yet a
mother, educated, refined and accomplished, as many were whose graces
gave tone to society in that period of danger and excitement.”
Mrs. Linn’s duty was to forward an important despatch to a point where
aid could be procured. These were exciting times in Texas. The storm
which was to end at San Jacinto was brewing, and the settlers were
constantly on the alert, in order to be prepared for it. A party of
forty men captured the Mexican fort, Lipantitlan, twelve miles from San
Patricio. Major James Kerr, John J. Linn and James Power distinguished
themselves in this affair. No doubt there were many of their kindred
with them whose names were not given. It was a gallant and daring
enterprise, and occurred on the 5th of November, 1835.
It prevented the three men named from attending the consultation which
took place at San Felipe on the third of the same month, but “it caused
the release of several Irish prisoners held by the Mexicans.”
Some time after this event, for reasons which he deemed sufficient,
Stephen F. Austin removed the commander of a company, many of which had
aided in the capture of this fort. The company adopted a resolution
against a change, every man but the captain, Dimmitt, signing it,
sixty-seven in all. Among them were: James O’Connor, George McKnight,
James Duncan, Edward Quirk, Spirse Dooly, Robert McClure, Thomas
O’Connor, Thomas Brien, Michael Riley, Andrew Devereau, J. B. Dale,
Michael O’Donnell, Chas. Malone, Thomas M. Blake, J. L. McKenzie, Morgan
Brien, Martin Lawlor, William Cumming, Patrick O’Beary, William Quinn,
John Bowan, Jeremiah Day, Patrick Quinn, John Dunn, Thomas Todd and
James Fagan.
A company, known as the New Orleans Grays, arrived at Brazoria to aid
the Texan cause. They numbered sixty-two. Among the members were Chas.
W. Connor, John Connell, Michael Cronican, Geo. H. Gill, William Harper,
“of Ireland;” Nicholas Herron, Francis Leonard, Dennis Mahoney, M. B.
McIver, John D. McLeod, John D. McNeill, James Nowland, Christopher
O’Brien, Richard Ross, Thomas William Ward, Allen O’Kenney,—sixteen in
all. Of these, Gill, Harper, Kenney and Mahoney were butchered with
Fannin.
Among the signers of resolutions declaring for independence at Columbia,
Dec. 25, 1835, were John Sweeney and P. R. Splane. Among those massacred
with Fannin, and not mentioned thus far, were George McKnight, James
Fagan, John Donoho, James McDonald, Robert Owens, R. R. Rainey, Lieut.
John Grace (brother of subsequent Bishop Grace of Minnesota), James
Logan, John O’Moore, John S. Scully, James McCoy, Moses Butler, J. M.
Powers, Michael Carroll, Dominick Gallagher, Martin Moran, Patrick
Osborne, J. B. Murphy, J. H. Moore, John McGowan, Cornelius Rooney,
Edward Fitzsimmons, John O’Donnell, —— Glennan, George W. Coghlan,
Lieut. J. B. Manomey, James Kelley, William McMurray, Z. O’Neill, Arthur
G. Foley, D. Moore, Alfred Dorsey, J. W. Duncan, John Kelly, W. E. and
James Vaughn and William Quinn.
S. Tucker Foley and James Foley, brothers of Frank G. Foley, were killed
by the Indians. Among the few who escaped the Fannin butchery were Capt.
James H. Callahan, Peter Griffin, J. McSherry, Nicholas Waters, W.
Welsh, A. M. Boyle, Capt. Wm. Sherlock, William Brennan, J. H. Neely, N.
J. Devenny, Bennett Butler and William Murphy.
During General Houston’s march he encamped at the ranch of a Mrs.
McCurley. The historian writes that the condition of affairs just before
the battle of Jacinto was such that the hopes and fears of the whole
American population west of the Trinity gathered around General Houston.
Many of those who inhabited the western portion were without means of
escape. Among the number were many of the Irish families of Refugio and
San Patricio, still weeping and wailing for their sons and brothers who
had been massacred with Fannin. The wife, sister and first-born child of
John J. Linn were of the number.
The battle of San Jacinto occurred on April 21, 1836. Among those who
participated of known Irish origin, or bearing Irish names, were the
following,—Gen. Sam Houston, Col. Robert M. Coleman, Surgeon J. P. T.
Fitzhugh, Lieut.-Col. J. C. Neill, John M. Wade, Willis Collins, J.
Neil, E. Nixon, Jacob Duncan, W. B. Sweeney, Lieut. Robert McClusky,
Daniel O’Driscoll, and Cassidy, Flynn, Farley, Montgomery, O’Niel,
Sullivan, Moore, Hogan, Callahan, Capt. Richard Roman, McStea,
McAllister, Morgan, McNeill, Donan, Gill, Adjutant Nicholas Lynch,
Griffin, Hayes, Welsh, Magill, Cunningham, Herron, Conley, Dempsey,
Blahey, Connell, McClelland, Bryan, Duncan, Maher, O’Conner, Connor,
McNeill, Malone, McLaughlin, Hagan, McCrabb, Sennatt, O’Connor, Ryan,
John, Lewis and Stephen T. Foley; Waters, Rainey, Cannon, Gentry, Dunn,
Adjutant B. McNelly, Kincannon, Mitchell, McCoy, McLinn, Logan; Patrick
Carnell, McManus, McFadden, Orr, Cornelius Devoy, Duffy, Cole, Lieut.
David Murphy, Bradley, Boyd, Barr, Sweeney, Gallaher, McGay, McCormick,
Hayes, Kenyon, Brennan, Corry, Capt. Thomas McIntire, Gill, Boyle,
Campbell, McCorley, Madden, Montgomery, John and Andrew Ferrall,
McMillan, O’Bamion, Capt. Bryan, Irvine, Clarke, McGary, Maxwell,
McGowan, Hughes and Hannan.
When Santa Anna was captured and brought before General Houston a youth
named Bryan, nineteen years old, acted as interpreter. Among those
butchered by the Indians pending the siege of the Alamo, was the
Dougherty family, but two members escaping. Of another party attacked
about the same time, five of the males were killed. Five persons more,
three of whom were females, were taken away by the Indians. One of the
latter was rescued in 1860, after being a captive nearly twenty-five
years.
Her recovery was made by Capt. Lawrence Sullivan Ross, commanding a
company of Texas Rangers, later a general in the Confederate army, and
still later governor of Texas. The counties of Refugio and San Patricio
had been almost depopulated by the ravages of Mexicans and Indians. In
consequence, the scattered exiles from these localities wherever they
might have been, were allowed to vote for representatives and senators
to represent their county in the first congress of the Texan republic.
This congress met on the third of October, 1836. Sam Houston had been
chosen president, receiving 5,119 votes of a total of 6,640. The two
Irish colonies were represented in congress as follows: Refugio, Elkanah
Brush; San Patricio, John Geraghty. The colony of Victoria had quite a
sprinkling of Irish settlers, among them the family of the McLinns. It
was represented by Richard Roman. It is not at all unlikely that this
may originally have been the name Ronan, a common Irish name. Sabine
sent John Boyd. Collin McKinney represented Red River, and Jesse Grimes,
Washington. Among the judges appointed by this congress were W. H.
McIntire, Massillion Farley, Patrick Usher, Bartlett McClure, Geo. B.
McKinstry, John Dunn, John Turner (the two latter were for Refugio and
San Patricio), William McFarland and John McHenry.
Stephen F. Austin died in December, 1836. “Among the touching episodes
connected with the death of General Austin was the presence with him in
the hour of death of perhaps his oldest friend, Major James Kerr, of
Lavaca, who had served with him in the territorial legislature of
Missouri, twenty years before, and who had ever been his warm and
confidential friend in Texas.” What this friendship meant to Austin none
but the readers of Texan history, or those who took part in the stirring
events of the period, can determine.
Among the commanders in the new Texan navy was Capt. J. D. Boyland, and
among the members of the second congress were Patrick J. Jack, James
Power, John Boyd, John J. Linn, Collin McKinney, Thomas H. Brennan and
John Dunn. In the third congress were Holland Coffee, James Kerr,
Richard Roman, Benjamin Odlum, John J. Linn and Anthony Butler, the
latter afterwards United States minister to Mexico.
Austin, the capital of Texas, was laid out and building begun in 1839.
Before November of that year, it was said to contain fifteen hundred
souls, and this was written of it: “Certainly in no settlement where
defence against savages depended upon the members of every household,
was there ever more enlightenment and refinement.”
Among the prominent residents at this period were Martin Carroll Wing,
Col. Hugh McLoud, A. C. McFarland, William H. Murrah, James Burke, H.
Mulholland, John D. McLoud and Richard F. Brennan. Among the killed and
wounded in an affair with the Indians at San Antonio in March, 1840,
were a Mr. Casey and Private Kelley. In an engagement brought about by
an Indian raid on Victoria and Linnville, in August, 1840, the following
took part: John H. Moore, Capt. Matthew Caldwell, Capt. Thomas William
Ward, Capt. Andrew Neill and W. H. Magill.
One of the three commissioners accompanying the expedition to New
Mexico, under command of Gen. Hugh McLoud, in June, 1841, was Dr.
Richard F. Brannan, “as gallant a gentleman as was ever born on the soil
of Kentucky,” and accompanying him was a Mr. Fitzgerald. This
expedition, partly owing to the treachery of one of its officers, was
obliged to surrender to the Mexicans. Many were taken captives to the
City of Mexico, and were treated in the most inhuman manner by those
having them in charge. One of them, John McAllister, being unable to
march, was shot dead by the brutal commander, who cut off his ears as
trophies.
Among other officers in the Texan navy, were Captains Brennan and
McKinney, Lieutenant Gallaher and Doctor Quinn. James Morgan and William
Bryan were appointed commissioners by President Houston to take
possession of vessels of the Texan navy on the Mississippi, in 1843.
During Houston’s second term, James Reilly was minister to the United
States, and Captain Thomas William Ward was commissioner of the land
office.
William Bryan represented Texas as a local agent in New Orleans in 1835.
It was through his influence largely that the services of the New
Orleans Grays were secured. M. A. Bryan was secretary of legation at
Washington under the presidency of Lamar, 1838 to 1841. James Reilly was
one of four commissioners to effect a foreign loan under the same
administration, and two of the United States ministers to Texas during
the same period were William H. Murphy and George H. Flood, both of whom
died in Galveston.
In the movement to repel the attack of Vasquez on San Antonio, in 1842,
the following took a prominent part: Capt. John C. Hayes, Cols. Matthew
Caldwell and John H. Moore, Capt. James H. Callahan, John R. Cunningham,
John Twohig, James Dunn, Capt. Andrew Neill, James P. Kincannon, Stewart
Foley, Maj. James Kerr, Matthew Talbott, John J. Linn, David Murphy,
John Sweeney and M. A. Bryan. The name of Capt. William M. Ryan appears
as the commander of a company for the invasion of Mexico about the same
period. Among others were Capt. S. McNeill, Capt. John C. Hayes, Maj.
David Murphree, John Sweeney, Edward Linn, Lieut. M. A. Bryan, Jr., and
Adjutant Thomas A. Murray.
Among the “doomed seventeen” Texans shot by the Mexicans after their
surrender at the Battle of Mier were P. Mahoney, Henry Whaling, J. L.
Cash, W. N. Cowan and Martin Farrell Wing. Among those shot in the City
of Mexico was Capt. Ewen Cameron, a “Highlander” native of Scotland. He
had been the loved and trusted leader of his band of Rangers for seven
years. Among the others killed or butchered, connected with this
expedition, were James Urie, W. J. McIllrea, Dr. Richard F. Brennan, A.
Fitzgerald, Patrick Lyons, L. L. Cash, Patrick Mahan, William Rowen and
James Neely. Among those who died in prison were W. B. C. Bryan, John
Irvin, Mr. McDade, John Owen and Patrick Usher. Among the prisoners who
survived were Nathan Mullin, Jerry Lehan, Thomas A. Murray, Patrick
Doherty, John Fitzgerald, John Morgan, Major McQueen, John Canty, ——
Donnell, John Brennan, Thomas Burke, Frank Hughes, Edward and Richard
Queen, John Lacy, Patrick and S. G. Lyon, P. M. Maxwell, William Moore,
G. McFall, John McGinley. Charles McLaughlin, —— McMath, James McMicken,
John McMullin, James B. and H. Neely, Francis Kelly, A. J. Rourk,
William M. Ryan, Daniel C. Sullivan, John Twohig, Andrew Neill and
Francis McCoy.
In January, 1842, Henri De Castro received authority from President
Houston to settle a colony west of the Medina, and before his labors
were completed, he had introduced over five thousand emigrants from the
Rhenish provinces of France. Castro and his colony are spoken of in the
highest terms by all Texan writers. They received a cordial welcome from
the Texans, many of whom visited them in person. These new immigrants,
added to the others preceding them, furnished the new republic with a
most composite population. In the convention of 1845, which voted for
annexation to the United States, among others were: Philip M. Cuney,
John Caldwell, A. S. Cunningham, Spearman Holland, H. L. Kinney, Andrew
McGowan, John T. McNeill, Francis Moore, James Scott and James Power.
Sam Houston was chosen one of the two first United States senators to
represent the new state. Among those whom the historian of Texas writes
should be held in grateful remembrance for what they have done for Texas
are: Sam Houston, David Crockett, Patrick C. Jack, Thomas William Ward,
Robert C. Wallace, Henry W. Karnes, John Forbes, James Power, John
McMullen, Patrick McGloin, Francis Moore, Thomas McKinney, Holland
McKinney, Jesse Grimes and John H. Moore.
The outbreak of the Mexican War, which followed annexation, furnished
opportunity to settle old scores, and here Irish names galore appear,
battling in a contest which was to extend still farther the boundaries
of the United States. Their history, however, more properly belongs to
the nation than the state. Many of those mentioned heretofore, surviving
the contests with the Indians and the Mexicans, participated in the
Mexican War, and with them many of their kindred of Irish origin,—men
like General William S. Harney, the immortal Phil Kearney, who fell at
Chantilly; Commodore Kearney, Maj. Andrew McReynolds, a native of
historic Dungannon, and a schoolmate of Gen. James Shields, and who,
like Shields, lived to take part in the Civil War, being a major-general
in the Union army; and many others.
Among the signers of the Texan secession ordinance were: Lewis F. Casey,
Lewis W., Thomas and Burns C. Moore, Thomas McCraw, T. C. Neal, Thomas
J. Devine, Edward Dougherty, John N. Fall, John H. Feeney, John Ireland,
W. C. Kelly, J. R. Hayes, W. N. Neyland, D. M. Pendergast, John H.
Reagan, W. T. Scott and J. S. Lester. John H. Reagan became
postmaster-general of the Southern Confederacy, and T. J. Devine took a
prominent part in public affairs during the Civil War.
Among the Texans who distinguished themselves in that war in the
Confederate army were: Col. James Bowland, Maj. Joseph A. Carroll, Gen.
Lawrence Sullivan Ross; Colonels: Hugh McLoud, James E. McCord, James
Duff, John C. Burke, James Reilly, Harry McNeill, W. H. Griffin, F. I.
Malone; Majors: John Ireland and Thomas Flynn, and Gen. John D. McAdoo.
James W. Flannigan was the first lieutenant-governor of Texas elected
under the reconstruction period, November, 1869. Later, James W.
Flannigan was elected United States senator. Webster Flannigan was
president of the state senate in 1871, and Guy M. Bryan speaker of the
house in 1874.
John H. Reagan was chosen United States senator in 1887. Among the
representatives chosen since the Civil War to congress were: John C.
Conner, W. P. McLean, W. H. Martin, L. W. Moore and Silas Hare.
S. B. Donley was one of the judges of the supreme court in 1867, and
associated later with him was John D. McAdoo. On the reorganization of
the supreme court in 1874, George F. Moore, Thomas J. Devine, and,
later, John Ireland were appointed judges of the supreme court. John
Ireland was elected governor in 1882, serving two terms. He was
succeeded by Gen. Lawrence Sullivan Ross, who also served the same
number of years.
Father Timon was the first priest to say mass in the new towns of
Galveston, Houston and Austin, in 1838. He did not remain in Texas. A
year later Fathers Joseph Hayden and Edward A. Clarke came from
Bardstown, Kentucky, to minister to the Catholics, who were numerous in
Lavaca county, and many of whom came from Missouri, Pennsylvania and
Kentucky.
Father Hayden also attended to the spiritual wants of the Catholics in
Refugio and San Patricio, and the other settlements in the coast
country. He died less than two years after his arrival. Father Clarke
labored in Texas for eighteen years, dying in Houston. Rev. John Murray
Odin was ordained bishop of Galveston in 1847. In 1893 there were three
Catholic bishops, namely: Gallagher of Galveston, Nerez of San Antonio,
and Brennan of Dallas. Rev. Daniel Carl, Rev. A. Rourk and Rev. Andrew
McGowan were Methodist clergymen laboring in Texas in 1837.
Dr. Francis Moore was one of the proprietors of the _Telegraph and Texas
Register_ in 1837; Martin Carroll Wing was assistant editor of the
_Texas Sentinel_ in 1840; and Michael Cronican was one of the
proprietors of the _National Register_. B. F. Neill was one of the
founders of the _Galveston News_ in 1842, and John D. Logan of the
_Texan Advocate_. Robert Loughery in 1848 established the _Texas
Republican_.
Among the counties named in honor of persons of Irish origin are:
Callahan, Coleman, Collin, Cochran, Crockett, Donley, Foley, Grimes,
Hayes, Karnes, Kinney, Linn, McLennand, McMullen, Montgomery, Moore,
Martin, Mitchell, Nolan, Terry, and the two Irish colonies are
remembered in two counties named San Patricio and Refugio.
Sam Houston, in a speech made in 1855, during the Know-Nothing period,
is quoted by the _New Hampshire Patriot_ of June 30, 1855, as saying:
“Every drop of blood in my body comes from an Irish source.” It is also
stated in the Quarterly of the Texas Historical Association for January,
1899, that when he first went to Texas he was baptized a Catholic, his
godmother being Mrs. Eva Catherine Rosine Sterne, wife of Capt. Adolphus
Sterne, and mother of Mrs. W. A. Ryan of Houston, Texas.
The Quarterly of the same association for October, 1898, contains an
article on Rutersville college. It was founded in 1838 by the Methodist
denomination, and the first teacher was Rev. D. N. V. Sullivan. The
trustees and honorary trustees, or among them, were: Joseph, William, A.
W., Lewis N., Quincy S. and Clarke D. Nail, E. L. and John C. Moore,
Daniel Barrett, Jordan Sweeney and Mr. Sweeney, Martha Reagan, Miss
Reagan and Elvira Nail. An article in the same Quarterly, written by A.
M. Kenny, states that the first school in Austin’s colony was opened in
1835, and was taught by an Irishman named Cahill. Another, in 1836, had
for a teacher a Miss McHenry, and a third was taught by a Mr. Dyas, “an
old Irish gentleman.”
The Texas Historical Association is but two or three years old. One of
its founders is Hon. John H. Reagan, ex-postmaster-general of the late
Southern Confederacy. Its only life-member in January, 1899, was D. M.
O’Connor of Victoria county. Associated with him as honorary
life-members were Guy M. and Joel Bryan and John H. Reagan. The Texas
_Scrap-Book_ states that the father of David Crockett was an Irishman,
and his mother a native of Maryland. He was born in Tennessee.
Most of the material for this paper was compiled from Ramsay’s History
of Tennessee, Pickett’s History of Alabama, and Brown’s History of
Texas.
The latter can well be considered one of the fairest historical works,
so far as nationality and creed are concerned, of any published since
Ramsay’s History of the United States. It is about the only work
relating to the early history of a state in which the Irish, as a race,
have had due credit given. The term “Scotch-Irish” is not found in
either volume of the work.
No attempt has been made in this paper to give a history of the stirring
events which brought about the separation of Texas from the Mexican
republic. The only object was to place on record in proper form the
names of those whose character denotes the origin of those who bore
them, and at the same time to endeavor to arrange them, partially, in
the shape of a narrative, in order, if possible, to make it interesting
to the reader.
The part taken by the Irish in Texas is pleasant reading for those of
that element. Three Texas members of the American-Irish Historical
Society, all bearing distinguished Irish names, are: Gen. A. G. Malloy,
Capt. Moses Dillon and Mr. Charles Mehan, of El Paso, Texas, and to them
this paper is respectfully dedicated.
NOTE.—Since writing this paper on Texas I have received a
communication from the Rev. T. K. Crowley, of Dennison, Texas. He
writes that having seen mention of what I was preparing, he took the
liberty of sending me a book entitled “Reminiscences of Fifty Years
in Texas,” published in 1853 and written by Hon. John J. Linn, who
is one of the Irish-American pioneers mentioned in this paper. Mr.
Linn was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, in the year 1798.
His father was identified with the United Irishmen Association, and
being one of those fortunate enough to escape death or imprisonment,
came to this country with his family early in the nineteenth
century. They were Catholics, true adherents of the old faith, and
this fact evokes the thought that had the Linns been Presbyterians
instead of Catholics, and had they immigrated to New Hampshire
instead of to Texas, their descendants would, undoubtedly, in our
day, have styled them Scotch-Irish, and as is the custom, claimed
they were of pure Saxon blood.
Father Crowley wrote that he knew Mr. Linn very well, and that he
served Mass for him in the cathedral in Galveston when he was eighty
years of age. He was truly one of the original pioneers of the Lone
Star state, going there as early as 1829. This is but a little over
a quarter of a century after the death of the ill-fated Philip
Nolan.
The very fact that the mention of this paper in the press brought
this communication from Father Crowley, is proof that the leaven is
working, and many facts now hidden will, in time, through the labors
of the Society, be brought to light.