I've just uncovered the names of two Carlins and two Carolans in early Texas
history. Actually, since we've arbitrarily defined "early Texas history" to
mean
prior to the end of the Civil War, technically only two of these four Carlins
qualifies. But since we're inclusive folks, we're listing all four --
particularly since one of them was a Texas Ranger!
DANIEL CARLIN was a member of the Army of the Republic of Texas, which served
from 1836-1845, when Texas became the 28th state of the United States. The 1850
Census shows a listing for a Daniel Carlin, a 60-year-old male laborer who had
been born in Ireland and who lived in Jackson County, TX. I don't know if the
Daniel Carlin listed in the 1850 Census is the same Daniel Carlin who served in
the Army of the Republic of Texas, so I'm listing them as separate individuals
pending verification.
THOMAS CARLIN was a member of the Texas Volunteer Guard. That unit served in
1881 and from 1896 to 1903. I don't know anything more about this Thomas
Carlin, or the years in which he specifically served in the Texas Volunteer
Guard. Further research is necessary from the State Adjutant General's records
and from Census data and tax records.
EDWARD HENRY CAROLAN was a member of the Special Rangers, a unit which existed
from 1916-1934. Again, all we have is a name and this particular affiliation,
and further research is necessary in the State Adjutant General's records and
from Census and tax records.
Finally, we have PATRICK CAROLAN, who was a member of the Army of the Republic
of Texas, which served from 1836 to 1845. We have a reference on the webpage to
a PATRICK CARLIN, who first arrived in Texas between March 2, 1836 and Oct. 1,
1837. Patrick CARLIN received a class 2 land grant of 640 acres in 1840 in
either Harris County or, more probably, Harrison County. (Our records showed
Harris County, but Virginia Simms Toney has pointed out that Harris County is
Houston, and that we probably should have said Harrison County.) (640 acres in
Houston would have been a good investment!).
But we have no idea whether PATRICK CAROLAN and PATRICK CARLIN are one and the
same person, and, in fact, there's a very strong probability that they're not.
Our records show that PATRICK CARLIN's original name was CURLING, but was
changed to Carlin prior to his arrival in Texas. Therefore, we're adding the
name PATRICK CAROLAN, who served in the Army of the Republic, to the list of
Carlins in Early Texas, and leaving the other listing, for PATRICK CARLIN (nee
Curling), as it is. Once again, this will require further research at the State
Adjutant General's office, and among Census and tax records.
The list of "Carlins in Early Texas" appears on The Carlin Archives Online at
http://www.carlin.net/attorney/CA-texas.htm. These four new names -- Daniel
Carlin, Thomas Carlin, Edward Henry Carolan (the Special Ranger) and Patrick
Carolan -- will be added to the webpage within the next 24 hours.
Female descendants of Hugh Carlin and Patrick Carlin (nee Curling), who arrived
in Texas prior to its joining the United States, are potentially eligible for
membership in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, an excellent and
highly-respected organization that, among other things, created and maintains a
superb library and reference center at the Alamo. Descendants of Daniel Carlin,
mentioned above, who served in the Army of the Republic of Texas, are also
potentially eligible for membership in he Daughters. And, of course, if Patrick
Carolan is a different person than Patrick Carlin (nee Curling), then his female
descendants are also eligible for membership. The URL for the Daughters of the
Republic of Texas is
http://www.drtl.org.
If any Carlins have time to volunteer to search some of these records at the
Office of the State Adjutant General of Texas, as well as other Census records,
we'd enthusiastically welcome your help! Please let us know if you're descended
from any of these people, so we can add whatever information you have to our
records.
Thanks everyone,
Fred
Fredric M. Carlin
fred(a)ucsd.com