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: