The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. II, 1899Various
History
The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. II, 1899
Various
American-Irish Historical Society -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- United States -- Periodicals; Irish Americans -- Periodicals
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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