Veteran Bio

Mr. John W. Cassidy arrived in Texas in February, 1836, as is shown in the headright Certificate issued to him March 20, 1838, for one-third of a league of land by the Harrisburg County Board of Land Commissioners. He joined Captain Henry Teal's Company of the Regular Army March 17, participated in the Battle of San Jacinto, and was discharged December 27, 1836. He received Bounty Certificate No. 383 for 960 acres of land for having served nine months in the army for the period mentioned, but did not receive a Donation Certificate for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. Mr. Cassidy's name appears on a muster roll at the General Land Office as a clerk in the Adjutant General's office, October 31, 1836, being assigned to such duty by General Sam Houston. He enlisted in Captain Thomas Leftwich's Company February 20, 1837, and served until February 20, 1838. For this service he was issued Bounty Certificate no. 2672 for, 1280 acres of land.

On March 9, 1859, the mother and brothers and sisters of Mr. Cassidy, living at No. 23 Renwick Street, New York, applied to the Commissioner of claims for the land due Mr. Cassidy from the State of Texas. The depositions in the case are in the files of the Court of Claims, General Land Office, Austin. Mrs. Cassidy claimed that she read in a paper that her son had died in California while on a pleasure trip and that later this was confirmed. Much of the history of the Cassidy family was given in her deposition. She stated that the family had always resided in New York City with the exception of three years when they lived on a farm on Staten Island.

Mr. Cassidy, in spite of the rumors of his death, was living at Vasalia, Tulare County, California, October 24, 1874. This is shown in the Pension Papers, Archives, Texas State Library. Mr. Cassidy in applying for a pension made the following affidavits:

"John W. Cassidy of the town of Visalia, county of Tulare in the State of California on this 22nd day of October one thousand eight hundred and seventy four personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a County Clerk for the count and state above mentioned, John W. Cassidy who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical John W. Cassidy who was a Private in Captain Henry Teal's company of Colonel Millard's Regiment of Texas Regulars; that he enlisted on the 15th day of March, 1836 for the term of nine months and was discharged at Texana in the State of Texas on the 15th day, of December 1836 by reason of expiration of Service; that he enlisted again as Private in Captain Leftwich of Huntsville, Ala., Colonel Wilkinson's Regt. in January 1837 and was discharged for expiration of service at Camp Johnson, Texas."

"Personally came before me, a County Clerk in and for afore-said County and State, John W. Cassidy citizen of the County of Tulare, State of California, reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid claim, as follows: That he is the claimant above named and resides at Visalia, Tulare County, California; That he desires to submit the following sworn statement or facts and events of the Texas Revolution known to him to further prove that he is the identical John W. Cassidy the claimant above named who served as stated in his application now on file; The Battle of San Jacinto was fought April 21st 1836 and commenced about three o'clock in the afternoon and only lasted a short time. Genl. Sam Houston commanded and was shot in the leg. The Mexicans were defeated and Gen'l Santa Anna captured. The Texas troops remained about ten days and then moved to Harrisburg on their way toward the west. He was discharged at Texana in Dec. 1836. Captain Teale was assassinated at Camp Johnson late in the night, a very stormy night, by some person unknown. He thinks Captain Teale was shot through the heart and he saw him in the morning after his death and attended his funeral. At the time of Teale's death, he, this affiant, was a clerk in assist Adjt Gen'l Bills office engaged in making out rolls and writing and was in that office when discharged."

R.R. Sparks, Supt. Viralia County made a thorough search. No records.

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