Hale Family

Hale / Milmo Connections - One Theory

Like many descendants of Thomas Robert Hale of Laredo, Texas, I grew up hearing amazing stories from my grandmother about him. She told me that Thomas grew up in Monterrey in the house of Patricio Milmo, the wealthy Irish-Mexican financier who grew immensely wealthy at the time of the U.S. Civil War. But these were just stories I thought.

While in graduate school, I came across a book from 1890 about famous people from County Sligo, Ireland and read a passage which states that after Patricio Milmo took "an apprenticeship in the fine business house of Mr. M.J. MADDEN CAMPHILL, he emigrated to Mexico, where his cousins, the Messers. HALE, had long preceded him, and had formed a commercial firm... On his arrival Mr. MILMO joined the firm . . ."

So there now appeared to be documentary proof of some family connection between Patricio Milmo and my Hale family. I believe that I've since discovered more clues of this connection.

First, it does appear Patricio Milmo had a business relationship with a New Orleans-based merchant house, called the "House of Peter and Thomas Hale," which did business in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. In June 1896, when Patricio Milmo's daughter married a Russian Prince, there were several national articles about Mr. Milmo. One of these articles states this about Mr. Milmo's start: "The father of the now princess Radziwill was Patrick Milmo, an Irish gentleman, who first went to Mexico in the [18]50s as the Matamoras [sic] representative of the New Orleans House of Peter and Thomas Hale." See Omaha Daily Bee (Omaha, Nebraska), Jun 28, 1896.

Second, a 1875 Louisiana Supreme Court opinion verifies that Thomas Hale lived or had a house in Matamoros. Specifically the case involved a lawsuit brought by the widow of "Thomas Hale" against James Hale, who was legatee (or heir) of Peter Hale, about certain debts that were owed. Among the assets and debts described was this entry: "James Hale also had a claim against her deceased husband for $25,000, the price of a house in Matamoros, sold by him to her husband." See Josephine H. Ames v. James Hale, Cause No. 4080 (New Orleans, LA., April 1875).

Third, based on his 1867 obituary, Thomas Hale was from Ireland and had lived in New Orleans for about 45 years. See The Times Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), Jun 12, 1867.

Fourth, it appears that Thomas Hale and Peter Hale were likely brothers (or cousins), and James Hale was a nephew of Thomas Hale and Peter Hale. An 1899 obituary for an "Edmund J. Hale" in Uganda indicates that he was the son of the late James C. Hale of Templeview, County Sligo, Ireland, and he was grand-nephew of the late Thomas Hale of New Orleans. See The Times-Democrat (New Orleans, Louisiana), Oct 15, 1899. As noted, James Hale was the legatee under Peter Hale's will. See Josephine H. Ames v. James Hale, Cause No. 4080 (New Orleans, LA., April 1875). Further, according to an article about County Sligo, James Hale was a nephew of Peter Hale, and when Peter Hale died, James may have inherited the "Templeview" estate in County Sligo. See Hidden Histories: Political/Historical Perspectives of Sligo. (I also think it noteworthy that there was a "James Hale" involved with the business given that my 3d great grandfather named his oldest son James or "Santiago.").

Fifth, an individual named Thomas Hale had at least two "natural" or illegitimate children in Matamoros with a woman named Guadalupe Garcia. These children include: Delfina Hale (baptized November 2, 1829) and Tomas Hale (baptized July 13, 1836). See "México, Tamaulipas, registros parroquiales, 1703-1964," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-11056-42429-33?cc=1790934 : 21 May 2014), Matamoros > Nuestra Señora del Refugio > Bautismos 1800-1854 > image 727 of 2202; paróquias Católicas, Tamaulipas (Catholic Church parishes, Tamaulipas). & "México, Tamaulipas, registros parroquiales, 1703-1964," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-11056-33468-41?cc=1790934 : 21 May 2014), Matamoros > Nuestra Señora del Refugio > Bautismos 1800-1854 > image 393 of 2202; paróquias Católicas, Tamaulipas (Catholic Church parishes, Tamaulipas).

Sixth, Thomas Robert Hale, my 3d great grandfather named his daughter Delfina, according to the 1880 Census for Laredo, Webb County. In other words, it appears he may have named his oldest daughter after his sister Delfina.

So, to put this altogether, I believe that the "Tomas Hale" baptized in 1836, who was the "natural" son of Thomas Hale and Guadalupe Garcia, is my 3d great grandfather, Thomas Robert Hale, who later moved to Laredo, Texas and lived there until he died. While I'm aware that Thomas Robert Hale's death certificate state states that he was born in 1855, I have never been about to find (to date) any birth or baptism record to confirm an 1855 birth date.

The implication of this is that the of Thomas Robert Hale of Laredo, TX, was a merchant from County Sligo who was living in New Orleans since the early 1820s.