Sinton Texas History 


Although the majority of the present San Patricio County
fell within the Power and Hewetson Empresario Grant that
centered around Refugio, it was the grant issued to Jim McGloin
that gave the county its name and character.
San Patricio, the first county seat, is located on the Nueces
River about 35 miles west of Corpus Christi. It remains primarily
a ranching and farming community.
After receiving a grant from the Mexican government to establish
a colony of which not more than 50% were white and all were Catholic,
McGloin went to Ireland and enlisted 42 Irish families to come to
Texas. After locating what they considered an ideal spot, the
colonists named their new home San Patricio after their patron
saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.
The settlers, all of Irish decent, included lawyers,
doctors, priests, and engineers. The lack of farmers and ranchers
proved to be a great hardship to the little community. Later when
a railroad wanted to go through the small community, the city
fathers refused and the town of San Patricio has remained a small
village with few residents.
Empresario Col. James Power, born in Ireland, signer of the
Declaration of Independence of Texas, received a contract from the
Governor of Coahuila and Texas in 1828 for a settlement of 200
Catholic families, half Irish and half Mexican. They settled in the
Refugio area. Included in his settlement were Capt. Felipe Roque de la Portilla
and family.

Story to be continued