Sullivans in Texas History

Many of the Irish were recruited by the Spanish to come from Ireland to Texas in the 1830s. Ships brought whole villages from Ireland directly to South Texas below Corpus Christi. They settled in San Patricio & Refugio. The poor people didn't know what was in store for them. 

Many died during and after the voyage. The survivors were subjected to the tremendous heat, mosquitoes, poisonous snakes, loneliness, tropical disease and the dreaded hostile Indians. It was a one way ticket. Many survived and eventually moved to Victoria, San Antonio and along the Rio Grande.

The name Sullivan and O'Sullivan occurs very frequently during early Texas history. Cpl. Denis Sullivan name appears before, at and after the Battle of San Jacinto, where Sam Houston and his outnumbered army defeated Santa Ana for Texas Independence. Incidentally, the land that the battle was fought on was owned by the widow McCormick from Ireland.

There were three O'Sullivans from Ireland who fought at the important Battle of Sabine Pass with Dick Dowling and his Irish Davis Guards. Many of the famous Texas Rangers were Sullivan/O'Sullivan. One in particular whose first name was Sullivan, was the famous Sullivan "Sul" Ross. He became governor of Texas and also the first president of the great Texas A & M University.

There is a Cultural Building called the Institute of Texan Cultures in downtown San Antonio (Hemis Fair Plaza ) dedicated to the various groups that settled in Texas. Contact the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Institutes telephone number. I'm sure that they have an 1 ( 800 ) number. You should be able to get the book and/or more information from them.