Philip Nolan, Namesake of Nolan County

Philip Nolan was an early mustanger and filibusterer in the area that became Texas when it was under the control of Spain. In historical terms, and in contrast to the current political usage, “filibusterer” referred to a person or group who made unauthorized ventures or expeditions into areas controlled by others. The term originated from Spanish/Dutch words referring to a pirate or a freebooter. The individuals’ filibustering intentions could include a desire to seek income or financial gain by taking resources, a goal of establishing settlements and also to attempt to overcome the prevailing government’s control over the territory.

According to some online genealogy databases, Nolan is said to have been born in 1771 in Belfast, Northern Ireland leading to him being referred to as an Irish immigrant. By the time he was about twenty years old, he was residing in the United States. He is associated with a controversial individual named General James Wilkinson, a Revolutionary War veteran. Wilkinson is usually described as a soldier during conflicts with the British and the native tribes. Wilkinson is also known as a trader and Nolan was believed to have been in his employ at times.

Between 1791 and 1801 Nolan staged four expeditions into the lands that became Texas. It is important to note that the borders of the United States looked vastly different then than they did a few years later. Almost 2/3 of the current continental area was owned by Spain in the late 1700s. There were two political subdivisions of the Spanish holdings: Colony of Louisiana (formerly controlled by France until around 1762) to the east and Viceroyalty of New Spain extending from the Gulf of Mexico to most of the current west coast. The United States is believed to have strongly desired the Spanish properties for future expansion and national security. At some point either officially or unofficially Wilkinson was authorized to work in that regard.

Nolan’s four expeditions:

• Nolan is thought to have staged his first foray into the area in 1791. His trade goods were seized by the authorities but for the next two years, he remained in the area, living among the Comanches and learning. At the end of his time in Texas, he returned to Louisiana with a herd of several dozen mustangs to be sold.
• His second journey began in 1794 and lasted around two years. He traded goods and returned with around 250 wild mustangs, to be sold to the Louisiana Militia.
• On his third journey, he is said to have begun it around 1797 and ended around 1799. On this excursion, he was able to return with over 1,200 horses also to be sold to the Louisiana Militia.
• His fourth and final trip began in late 1800. Nolan brought with him around 30 armed individuals allegedly with promises of horses and land. Some time later the party was found out and ambushed. At least one account suggested that the Spanish authorities may have been notified in advance of Nolan’s plans. Nolan had also previously aroused the interest of the Spanish government after an alleged affair with the wife of a local individual in or near Bexar. On March 21, 1801, Nolan was killed by Spanish troops led by Miguel Musquiz. Some may have escaped, but others in his party were either killed or captured.

One survivor of the fourth expedition was Ellis Bean, Nolan’s second in command. Bean was incarcerated by the Spanish for a while but was later released and able to publish his memoirs. Bean went on to have a rather unusual future as he lived in Texas. He served as in Indian agent, acted as a negotiator during the Fredonian Rebellion, served in the Mexican Army during the Texas Revolution but was opposed to the Centralist regime (a reference to Santa Anna). He was believed to have been briefly incarcerated after the Texas Revolution but pardoned by Sam Houston.

Before leaving on his final trip, Nolan married Fanny Lintot of Natchez, Mississippi. Online genealogy records suggest that he and Fanny had one son, Philip, Jr., who was born about 1801. Fanny died in 1801 is buried in Natchez. Philip, Jr. died while still a young man, around 1822, and was also buried in Natchez. Philip Nolan, Sr’s. actual place of burial is unknown but is presumed to be near where he was killed, a location in the general area of the current community of Blum, Texas in Hill County. A historical marker commemorating the event was placed there in 1965.

The question would arise as to Nolan’s intentions. While it could be argued that his expeditions had a political element, it would not be unreasonable to assume that Nolan was mainly trying to derive income from them.

Though the events concerning him have been overshadowed by the Texas Revolution, Nolan’s reputation has endured and his significance has been enhanced for being one of the earliest people to try and venture into Texas. Articles note that except for his last trip, Nolan always had a “passport” or other formal approval to enter the area. Without regard to his lack of authorization on the last journey, Nolan has become acknowledged as the first so called filibusterer of that era. His death added to hostile feelings against the Spanish government, keeping in mind that the United States was no doubt already desirous of acquiring more land to the west of Louisiana.

The following greatly condenses the events pertaining to Texas in the 1800s after the Louisiana Purchase (from France) had occurred in 1803. By that time, France had once again regained control of the area from Spain. To the west of Louisiana, Spain had also lost control of the area that included Texas, yielding it to Mexico in the late summer of 1821. The Texas Revolution’s conclusion in the spring of 1836 led to the formation of the Republic of Texas, though it did not end all hostilities between Texas and Mexico. Texas was admitted as a State of the union in 1845. The Mexican-American War was concluded in 1948.

Seventy-five years after Nolan’s death, the Texas Legislature created Nolan County, formerly part of the Bexar Land District in Central West Texas. the date was August 21, 1876. The area amounted to around 900 square miles. Its creation date was followed by its formal organization date of July 5, 1881 and the newly conceived town of Sweetwater was designated as its county seat. It was not a smooth start. The Franco-Texan Land Company had been encouraging developments along its various Texas railroad rights of way. About six weeks earlier the Graham Leader had reported in its May 20, 1881 issue that Franco-Texan railroad executive V. G. Frost had disappeared after having promised to donate funds for the construction of a new courthouse if county residents were to select Sweetwater as the county seat. The residents still consented and Sweetwater has remained as the county seat.

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