James Nowlan was born 1809 in either England or Ireland. He was severely wounded in the Siege of Béxar. He died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
The Siege of Béxar Descendants
The Soldiers and their Descendants
2005 SOBD Meeting
The Siege of Bexar Descendants met for their 20th anniversary, on the 170th anniversary of the Siege of Bexar, at Alamo Hall, the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas December 9-11, 2005. THE SIEGE OF BEXAR DESCENDANTS “The Storming of San Antonio”December 5-10, 1835 HOWDY MEMBERS AND GUESTS Welcome to San Antonio and BexarTo CELEBRATEOur20th ANNIVERSARY 12/9/05 […]
Castoñon, Luis Zertuche
Luis Zertuche Castañon was born on March 18, 1820, to Jesus Castañon, a soldier stationed in Bexar, and Guadalupe Zertuche Castañon. According to 1830 census records, Luis spent his early years at San Jose Mission in San Antonio playing alongside his brother Pedro and sister Maria. Other siblings would come later. By age thirteen he […]
Daniel Nowlan says
Some more detail on James:
James Nowlan immigrated to America, intending to go settle and or offer his services to the Texas army. It is possible he disembarked from a ship in New Orleans (New Orleans may have been the closest area for a larger ship to port. He disembarking in New Orleans. James Nowlin encountered the company of men who told him about problems of settlers with the Mexican Government,
PVT James Nowlan enlisted in the New Orleans Greys, commanded by Capt. William Gordon Cooke. PVT James traveled to Texas as member of the New Orleans Greys.
The company arrived in Bexar colony in time for the Siege of Bexar in latter 1835 and was classed as a marksman serving in Cook’s New Oleans Greys. During that war (Siege of Bexar), poor PVT James Nowlan was severely wounded in the siege of Bexar.
Following the Siege of Bexar, PVT James Nowlan remained with the Garrison, most likely in the Alamo Garrison hospital. PVT James Nowlan had a brother, John Nowlin in Texas, thus he had left a will leaving any benefits to his brother. It seems his brother John went on home as he resided in Austin, TX as did many of the men due to their having families to tend to. John Nolan was killed in a dual on the streets of Austin, TX, on Pecan St.(now named 6th street) and Congress . This info regarding John Nowlan was in a newspaper in Austin, TX around 1843 as it seems John & the other man had an ongoing disagreement regarding where the capitol of TX should be ..Austin or Houston. John Nowlan wanted it to be in Austin, TX and it is noted Sam Houston wanted it to be in Houston.
When the Siege of the Alamo started Feb 23, 1836, Pvt Nowlan had not recovered, thus he was likely not able to give much assistance during the Battle of the Alamo. Pvt Nowlan was killed in the Battle of the Alamo March 6, 1836. The remains were buried in San Fernando Cathedral
Dan Jacobs says
Daniel – Interesting story. I may have some additional details regarding John and James. You may contact me at DanJacobs550@gmail.com.