Alsatian Immigration Through Lavaca Bay

Duane's take

Here's the story as the official marker at Lavaca Bay tells it. You know, some tales start with a contract, and a contract is exactly where this one begins. Henri Castro, a Texas land empresario, made a deal in 1842 to bring colonists of various European nationalities to Texas.

And the first group he set his sights on were the Alsatians. Most of them spoke German, held German sympathies, and were about to cross an ocean to stake a claim in a place they'd only heard about. Early in 1843, one hundred and fourteen passengers arrived at Galveston, their official port of entry, having sailed all the way from France.

Galveston was just the doorstep, though. Most of them turned right around and sailed again, this time for Lavaca, a port town that would later be called Port Lavaca. They waited there, catching their breath, before beginning the overland journey to what would become Medina County and the town of Castroville.

That was just the first wave. On January 1, 1844, another largely Alsatian group, one hundred and twenty-nine strong, arrived at Galveston. About forty of them continued on to Lavaca, landing there on the tenth.

Now, here's where the story gets heavy. Conditions were difficult. Many of those immigrants succumbed to various coastal fevers.

The coast could be unforgiving, and it was. More ships followed in 1845 and then 1846, the crossings kept coming. Castro's contract finally expired in 1847.

By then, he had transported more than two thousand colonists to Texas, most of them passing through Lavaca Bay. Two thousand people, an ocean crossed, a coast endured, and a town built in the Texas hill country. That bay saw all of it.

What the marker says

Texas land empresario Henri Castro contracted to bring colonists of various European nationalities to Texas beginning in 1842. The first of these were Alsatians, most of whom spoke German and held German sympathies. They arrived at Galveston, their official port of entry, with 114 passengers from France in early 1843; most then sailed for Lavaca (later Port Lavaca). They waited here before beginning their overland journey to what became Medina County, to establish the town of Castroville. Another, largely Alsatian, group of 129 arrived at Galveston January 1, 1844. About 40 continued to Lavaca, landing on the 10th. Conditions were difficult, and many immigrants succumbed to various coastal fevers. Other ships followed in 1845 and 1846. Castro's contact expired in 1847, after he had transported more than 2,000 colonists to Texas, most through Lavaca Bay. (1999)