Part 11

A subscription of $100 to the publication fund was announced from Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet of New York. It was stated that the torpedo boat _O’Brien_ would probably be launched during September or October, the delay thus far experienced being due to the non-delivery of steel forgings. A communication was read from the builder of the _O’Brien_, stating that he would be happy to have the Society participate in the exercises of the launching.

Secretary-General Murray stated that the annual volume of the Society’s proceedings is now in course of preparation, and that the book would be issued at an early day. It will be uniform in size with the first volume issued, and will contain many new features and an increased number of portraits.

It was suggested that the Society erect a bronze tablet in Charlestown, Mass., to the memory of soldiers of Irish birth or lineage who took part in the battle of Bunker Hill, fighting in behalf of American liberty, and a committee, consisting of President-General Gargan, Dr. J. A. McDonald, the Rev. J. W. McMahon, D. D., the Rev. J. N. Supple, Dr. John Duff and Hon. John R. Murphy, all of Boston, was appointed to consider the matter. To this committee were subsequently added James Jeffrey Roche, editor of _The Pilot_; Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, Dr. W. H. Grainger and Bernard Corr, all of Boston; Joseph Smith of Lowell, Mass., and Hon. John C. Linehan of Concord, N. H.

The Council then discussed Newport from an historical standpoint. Its richness as a field for the Society’s work was dwelt upon. Many distinguished men of Irish blood who lived there were recalled,—Dean Berkeley, the famous Kilkenny scholar; the Rev. Marmaduke Brown, at one time pastor of old Trinity church; Capt. Wilkinson, a founder of the Newport Artillery; Commodore Perry, son of an Irish mother, who so splendidly defeated the British on Lake Erie, and his brother, Matthew Perry, to both of whom monuments now stand in Newport.

It was also recalled that at the outbreak of the Revolution a member of the Boston Charitable Irish Society, Colonel Knox, later a general, went to Newport and planned fortifications for the place; that many men of Irish lineage came with our French allies to Newport, including Colonel, the Count Dillon; Lieutenant-Colonel Dillon, his kinsman; McCarty, an officer of the French battleship _Le Conquerant_; Lynch, aide-de-camp to the Chevalier de Chastellux, and many others.

After the transaction of routine business the Council adjourned to meet at Elizabeth, N. J., on the occasion of the launching of the torpedo boat _O’Brien_.

In the evening, after the meeting of the Council, dinner was partaken of at the Aquidneck, there being present some twenty-five gentlemen, including members of the Society and prominent Newport residents who had been invited to attend.

Hon. Charles E. Gorman, of Providence, R. I., presided and grace was said by Rev. Louis J. Deady, of Newport.

In addition to these there were present: Hon. Patrick J. Boyle, mayor of Newport (who is also a member of the Society); Hon. John C. Linehan, Concord, N. H.; Thomas Hamilton Murray, Woonsocket, R. I.; J. Stacy Brown, city solicitor of Newport; Martin Fay, Boston, Mass.; Patrick J. McCarthy, Providence, R. I.; Pardon S. Kaull, chief of police, Newport; Dennis H. Tierney, Waterbury, Conn.; Henry S. Tierney, Waterbury, Conn.; Edmund O’Keefe, New Bedford, Mass.; M. E. Hennessy, Boston, Mass., and the following, all of Newport: Eugene C. O’Neill, Alderman J. E. O’Neill, Rev. W. A. Doran, Rev. Philip Cronan, Rev. Fr. Reddy, Frank F. Nolan, Philip F. Conroy, Patrick Nolan, Dr. McElroy, M. A. McCormack, Alexander O’Hanley, William Sullivan and Michael Driscoll.

The after-dinner exercises included an address of welcome by his Honor, Mayor Boyle; a paper by Thomas Hamilton Murray, on “The Battle of Rhode Island, 1778,” and addresses by Hon. Charles E. Gorman, Hon. John C. Linehan, Rev. Louis J. Deady, Dennis H. Tierney, Patrick J. McCarthy, J. Stacy Brown and Edmund O’Keefe.

An original letter written by Gen. John Sullivan in 1778, while in command of the Rhode Island department, was read and exhibited. The letter is the property of George E. Briggs, of New Bedford, Mass., and a vote of thanks was extended Mr. Briggs for his kindness in loaning the letter to the meeting.

Letters of regret at inability to attend the meeting were received from Hon. Elisha Dyer, governor of Rhode Island; Hon. R. Hammett Tilley, state record commissioner of Rhode Island; Hon. John D. Crimmins, New York city; and Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass.

FOUR STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS.

A MEETING IN BOSTON, MASS.,

HELD AT THE HOTEL BELLEVUE, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15, 1899.

A reception and banquet under the auspices of the Society took place at the Hotel Bellevue, Beacon street, Boston, Mass., on Wednesday evening, Nov. 15, 1899.

It was a very pleasant occasion, and fully equal in point of interest to previous events of the organization.

The reception lasted from 7 to 8 p. m., and the party then formed in line and marched to the dining hall.

Grace was said by Rev. James J. O’Brien, of Somerville, Mass., a son of the late Mayor O’Brien of Boston. Among those at the table were the following:

From Boston: Hon. Thomas J. Gargan, who presided; Hon. Patrick A. Collins, Judge Burke of the Municipal Court, Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, Edmund Reardon, William Doogue, Joseph P. Flatley, Patrick M. Keating, George F. McKellegett, James Jeffrey Roche, J. E. Reardon, Martin Fay, Bernard Corr, Michael J. Ward, M. A. Toland, James H. Devlin, James H. Devlin, Jr., Peter B. Corbett, N. D. Corbett, Michael McManus, John Shea, George E. Lynch and several others.

From other places there were present: Hon. John C. Linehan, Concord, N. H.; Thomas Hamilton Murray, Woonsocket, R. I.; Eneas Smyth and James B. Hand, Brookline, Mass.; James F. Brennan, Peterborough, N. H.; Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass.; Dr. M. F. Kelly, Fall River, Mass.; John Hayes, Manchester, N. H.; John T. F. Mac Donnell and John A. Mac Donnell, Holyoke, Mass.; W. J. Kelly, Kittery, Me.; John H. H. McNamee, Cambridge, Mass.; Thomas F. O’Malley, Somerville, Mass., and Timothy Donovan, Lynn, Mass.

William Ludwig, the celebrated Irish baritone, was present, as the guest of Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, and rendered several vocal selections during the evening.

The opening address of the post-prandial exercises was by President-General Gargan. In the course of his remarks he said: “As you are well aware the cost of collecting material and publishing is not small; may I not urge upon every member present to help in the important work in which we are engaged, and if you feel you cannot afford to contribute to our publishing fund, get at least one new member to join our Society. We belong to a race that has contributed to the glory of almost every nation. Here in this republic we are not subjects but citizens, either by birth or adoption, with all that title means. We are part of its life and history, and we will be unfaithful to the history and traditions of our fathers if we do not endeavor to preserve in lasting memorials the story of who they were and what they did in the building of this great Republic.”

Mr. Gargan called attention to the fact that on Dec. 14, 1899, occurs the centenary of the death of George Washington, for whom, he said, we still feel an affection and an awful reverence, notwithstanding the imperial policy of the government at Washington, which continues dangling with foreign alliances. Mr. Gargan requested the Society to coöperate with other historical associations in commemorating the event.

The paper of the evening was by Michael E. Hennessy, of the Boston _Daily Globe_, his topic being: “Men of Irish blood who have attained eminence in American journalism.” It was an able effort, showing much research.

Joseph Smith, of Lowell, Mass., spoke entertainingly, and then offered the following resolutions, which were adopted:

WHEREAS, The American-Irish Historical Society, a body representing all phases of religious and political opinions among members of the Irish race in this Republic, deems it its duty to reaffirm its faith in the principles of free self-government, and in God’s Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” and

WHEREAS, Freedom and honesty are the basis of all pure self-government, and any injury to them in any part of the world must in the end be an injury to this Republic and its citizens; be it

_Resolved_, That this Society send greeting and sympathy to the embattled farmers of the South African republics; that we express admiration for the courage, faith, and manhood of a race which has thrown down the gage of battle to a rich and powerful aggressor to maintain its freedom; and that it is our earnest prayer that the God of the weak, the righteous, and the brave may crown their heroic struggles with glorious victory and political independence.

_Resolved_, That any government which has entered upon a project to plunder and destroy two free republics is unfit to be allied to a nation whose basic principles are thus violated, and such alliance, political or moral, would make this Republic a confederate to the infamies thus perpetrated.

_Resolved_, That the American-Irish Historical Society is inflexibly opposed to any entangling foreign alliances, and particularly to any alliance between the United States and the government of England, which has so frequently sought by war and intrigue to destroy this Republic, and it pledges itself, through its membership, to strive to curtail the political career of any public official, who formulates, advocates, counsels, aids, or abets any such alliance.

_Resolved_, That copies of these resolutions be sent to the representatives of the South African republics in this country, and to such other persons as the secretary may deem expedient, connected with the executive and senate of the United States.

Hon. Patrick A. Collins was called upon and greeted as “the next mayor of Boston.” He said: “I came here to-night because this is a non-partisan gathering. Its object is the rescuing of the truth of history in this country. It is now not unpopular or unfashionable to be known as a man of Irish lineage or to bear the name of Patrick or Michael. There was a time within our memory when it meant condemnation to servility or obscurity. We have leavened the lump of Puritanism.”

After further interesting exercises the festivities were brought to a close.

PAPERS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SOCIETY,

DURING THE YEAR, FOR PUBLICATION.

THE IRISH PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

BY HON. JOHN C. LINEHAN, CONCORD, N. H.

Philip Nolan can well be styled the original “Texan Ranger.” He was one of the first, if not the very first, of the adventurous spirits to explore Texas, and whose daring and persistent bravery finally added the Lone Star state to the American Union. His romantic career and tragic fate, it is said, furnished a name for Edward Everett Hale’s “Man Without a Country.”

He was of direct Irish origin and a citizen of the United States. He left Natchez, Miss., in the summer of 1797, ostensibly to buy horses, but in reality to reconnoitre and survey the country. A second trip was made in 1800. He was accompanied by thirty armed men. The viceroy of Mexico, looking on his movements with suspicion, issued orders to arrest any foreigners who might enter the Spanish province.

He had been informed that a number of them had gone into Texas, and that Philip Nolan was considered the most dangerous among them; that he was authorized by General Wilkinson to reconnoitre the country, and make maps of it, and that it was of the utmost importance that he be captured and disposed of. In accordance with these instructions an expedition was fitted out to secure him.

It was composed of one hundred men, sixty-eight of whom were regulars, well armed, and possessed of one field piece. It started in pursuit on March 4, 1801. Two weeks later they reached the point where he had entrenched himself on the bank of a river. The Spanish commander thereupon sent a messenger, “Mr. William Barr, an Irishman,” who had joined his command as interpreter, to summon Nolan to surrender. Nolan and his men determined to fight, and at daybreak next morning, began the engagement by firing on the Spaniards. The contest lasted until nine o’clock a. m., when Nolan was struck and killed by a cannon ball. His party then surrendered.

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.