Phillip Nolan

Phillip Nolan. , Born in Ireland and well educated, Nolan immigrated to America where he became associated with General James Wilkinson in Kentucky. He represented Wilkinson's business affairs in Natchez and New Orleans. In 1791 he traveled to Texas and returned with 50 horses. He made a second trip (1794-1795) and this time he returned with 250 horses. The Spanish became suspicious of his motives because of his work with Andrew Ellicott, U.S. Boundary Commissioner. The Spanish Governor wrote to the Viceroy of Mexico, warning him of foreigners such as Nolan, who were stirring up the Texas Indians against the Spanish. He made a third trip in 1797 returning to Natchez in 1799, with more than 1200 horses. He again returned to Texas this time without a passport. A Spanish force of 120 men left Nacogdoches in March of 1801 in pursuit of Nolan and his party. When they encountered him. Nolan refused to surrender, and was killed. His ears were cut off and sent to Spanish authorities to prove his death. Nolan is credited with being the first Anglo-American to map Texas, but his map has never been found. His observations of Texas and Louisiana were passed on to General Wilkinson, who did produce a map of the Texas Louisiana frontier sometime around 1804. The route that Phillip Nolan traveled from Natchez and New Orleans into Texas became known as Nolan's Trace.