Barbara Holy was born in Bohemia (most likely the Czech Republic); her youngest son, Henry Edward, entered Vienna, Austria on her death certificate in error.
She emmigrated to the United States along with her parents, two sisters and three brothers. One brother, John (possibly named Frederick), died and was buried at sea before arrival in the Port of Galveston in January of 1854. Both parents and another brother died of Yellow Fever in October of that year along with still-born twin sisters.
Barbara and her two sisters were taken by Father Nicholas Feltin to be raised by the Sisters at the Ursuline Convent in Galveston after the children were orphaned. Both of her sisters would later take vows and join the convent as nuns; one sister eventually becoming a Mother Superior.
When Barbara's sister, Theresa (Sister Joseph), took her vows and denounced her name, the Mother Superior layed her hands on Barbara and told her she would be Theresa from that day forward. She then took Theresa's name, but kept her own as her middle name. Nearly all original records show her last name as Holy, including her marriage license, Widow's Pension Application, and the letter her brother-in-law wrote supporting her pension request.
Theresa Barbara met Joseph Ely Sullivan in Galveston or San Patricio where she was a tutor to two small French-speaking girls, and they were married in Galveston by the Reverend Father Belecear on December 1st, 1871. No other girl in South Texas was allowed to be courted by the handsome young man because he had been a Union Soldier, arriving in Texas at the end of the Civil War.
Their children:
Joseph John Evangelist aka Joseph Ely Jr Sullivan 1873 – 1928
Infant Son Sullivan 1874 – 1874
Annette Sullivan 1875 – 1900
John Pius Sullivan 1878 – 1960
James Robert "Robert" Sullivan 1880 – 1946
Emelia Rachel "Millie" Sullivan 1882 – 1947
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1882 – 1882
Henry Edward Sullivan 1886 – 1965
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1888 – 1888
Joe and Theresa lived in San Patricio County on Round Lake where they farmed and ranched until September 3, 1903 when Joe shot Theresa in the shoulder, and thinking she was dead, ended his life when he turned his pistol on himself.
According to Theresa, Joe had come home from town, angry after learning that his daughter had eloped against his wishes, but with permission of Theresa. When she admitted it was true, he said, "Say your prayers, Woman," and fired his pistol.
Theresa recovered and did not remarry. She lived nearly 17 years more. She passed away on March 9, 1920, at the home of her daughter, Millie Timon, the very one who had eloped.
She is buried in St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, beside her son, Joseph, and just above her granddaughter, Arline Sullivan Byrd.
Biography by Constance Marshall Byrd
She emmigrated to the United States along with her parents, two sisters and three brothers. One brother, John (possibly named Frederick), died and was buried at sea before arrival in the Port of Galveston in January of 1854. Both parents and another brother died of Yellow Fever in October of that year along with still-born twin sisters.
Barbara and her two sisters were taken by Father Nicholas Feltin to be raised by the Sisters at the Ursuline Convent in Galveston after the children were orphaned. Both of her sisters would later take vows and join the convent as nuns; one sister eventually becoming a Mother Superior.
When Barbara's sister, Theresa (Sister Joseph), took her vows and denounced her name, the Mother Superior layed her hands on Barbara and told her she would be Theresa from that day forward. She then took Theresa's name, but kept her own as her middle name. Nearly all original records show her last name as Holy, including her marriage license, Widow's Pension Application, and the letter her brother-in-law wrote supporting her pension request.
Theresa Barbara met Joseph Ely Sullivan in Galveston or San Patricio where she was a tutor to two small French-speaking girls, and they were married in Galveston by the Reverend Father Belecear on December 1st, 1871. No other girl in South Texas was allowed to be courted by the handsome young man because he had been a Union Soldier, arriving in Texas at the end of the Civil War.
Their children:
Joseph John Evangelist aka Joseph Ely Jr Sullivan 1873 – 1928
Infant Son Sullivan 1874 – 1874
Annette Sullivan 1875 – 1900
John Pius Sullivan 1878 – 1960
James Robert "Robert" Sullivan 1880 – 1946
Emelia Rachel "Millie" Sullivan 1882 – 1947
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1882 – 1882
Henry Edward Sullivan 1886 – 1965
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1888 – 1888
Joe and Theresa lived in San Patricio County on Round Lake where they farmed and ranched until September 3, 1903 when Joe shot Theresa in the shoulder, and thinking she was dead, ended his life when he turned his pistol on himself.
According to Theresa, Joe had come home from town, angry after learning that his daughter had eloped against his wishes, but with permission of Theresa. When she admitted it was true, he said, "Say your prayers, Woman," and fired his pistol.
Theresa recovered and did not remarry. She lived nearly 17 years more. She passed away on March 9, 1920, at the home of her daughter, Millie Timon, the very one who had eloped.
She is buried in St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, beside her son, Joseph, and just above her granddaughter, Arline Sullivan Byrd.
Biography by Constance Marshall Byrd
Barbara Holy was born in Bohemia (most likely the Czech Republic); her youngest son, Henry Edward, entered Vienna, Austria on her death certificate in error.
She emmigrated to the United States along with her parents, two sisters and three brothers. One brother, John (possibly named Frederick), died and was buried at sea before arrival in the Port of Galveston in January of 1854. Both parents and another brother died of Yellow Fever in October of that year along with still-born twin sisters.
Barbara and her two sisters were taken by Father Nicholas Feltin to be raised by the Sisters at the Ursuline Convent in Galveston after the children were orphaned. Both of her sisters would later take vows and join the convent as nuns; one sister eventually becoming a Mother Superior.
When Barbara's sister, Theresa (Sister Joseph), took her vows and denounced her name, the Mother Superior layed her hands on Barbara and told her she would be Theresa from that day forward. She then took Theresa's name, but kept her own as her middle name. Nearly all original records show her last name as Holy, including her marriage license, Widow's Pension Application, and the letter her brother-in-law wrote supporting her pension request.
Theresa Barbara met Joseph Ely Sullivan in Galveston or San Patricio where she was a tutor to two small French-speaking girls, and they were married in Galveston by the Reverend Father Belecear on December 1st, 1871. No other girl in South Texas was allowed to be courted by the handsome young man because he had been a Union Soldier, arriving in Texas at the end of the Civil War.
Their children:
Joseph John Evangelist aka Joseph Ely Jr Sullivan 1873 – 1928
Infant Son Sullivan 1874 – 1874
Annette Sullivan 1875 – 1900
John Pius Sullivan 1878 – 1960
James Robert "Robert" Sullivan 1880 – 1946
Emelia Rachel "Millie" Sullivan 1882 – 1947
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1882 – 1882
Henry Edward Sullivan 1886 – 1965
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1888 – 1888
Joe and Theresa lived in San Patricio County on Round Lake where they farmed and ranched until September 3, 1903 when Joe shot Theresa in the shoulder, and thinking she was dead, ended his life when he turned his pistol on himself.
According to Theresa, Joe had come home from town, angry after learning that his daughter had eloped against his wishes, but with permission of Theresa. When she admitted it was true, he said, "Say your prayers, Woman," and fired his pistol.
Theresa recovered and did not remarry. She lived nearly 17 years more. She passed away on March 9, 1920, at the home of her daughter, Millie Timon, the very one who had eloped.
She is buried in St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, beside her son, Joseph, and just above her granddaughter, Arline Sullivan Byrd.
Biography by Constance Marshall Byrd
She emmigrated to the United States along with her parents, two sisters and three brothers. One brother, John (possibly named Frederick), died and was buried at sea before arrival in the Port of Galveston in January of 1854. Both parents and another brother died of Yellow Fever in October of that year along with still-born twin sisters.
Barbara and her two sisters were taken by Father Nicholas Feltin to be raised by the Sisters at the Ursuline Convent in Galveston after the children were orphaned. Both of her sisters would later take vows and join the convent as nuns; one sister eventually becoming a Mother Superior.
When Barbara's sister, Theresa (Sister Joseph), took her vows and denounced her name, the Mother Superior layed her hands on Barbara and told her she would be Theresa from that day forward. She then took Theresa's name, but kept her own as her middle name. Nearly all original records show her last name as Holy, including her marriage license, Widow's Pension Application, and the letter her brother-in-law wrote supporting her pension request.
Theresa Barbara met Joseph Ely Sullivan in Galveston or San Patricio where she was a tutor to two small French-speaking girls, and they were married in Galveston by the Reverend Father Belecear on December 1st, 1871. No other girl in South Texas was allowed to be courted by the handsome young man because he had been a Union Soldier, arriving in Texas at the end of the Civil War.
Their children:
Joseph John Evangelist aka Joseph Ely Jr Sullivan 1873 – 1928
Infant Son Sullivan 1874 – 1874
Annette Sullivan 1875 – 1900
John Pius Sullivan 1878 – 1960
James Robert "Robert" Sullivan 1880 – 1946
Emelia Rachel "Millie" Sullivan 1882 – 1947
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1882 – 1882
Henry Edward Sullivan 1886 – 1965
Infant Daughter Sullivan 1888 – 1888
Joe and Theresa lived in San Patricio County on Round Lake where they farmed and ranched until September 3, 1903 when Joe shot Theresa in the shoulder, and thinking she was dead, ended his life when he turned his pistol on himself.
According to Theresa, Joe had come home from town, angry after learning that his daughter had eloped against his wishes, but with permission of Theresa. When she admitted it was true, he said, "Say your prayers, Woman," and fired his pistol.
Theresa recovered and did not remarry. She lived nearly 17 years more. She passed away on March 9, 1920, at the home of her daughter, Millie Timon, the very one who had eloped.
She is buried in St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, beside her son, Joseph, and just above her granddaughter, Arline Sullivan Byrd.
Biography by Constance Marshall Byrd
Family Members
Parents
