Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

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CORZINE, HERSHEL -- A son of Judge Shelby Corzine. Judge Corzine received title to eighteen labors of land in Zavala's Colony situated in the present county of Jefferson, June 16, 1836. In the Headright Certificate issued to him for additional land in 1838 by the Board of Land Commissioners for San Augustine County it is stated that he came to Texas in February, 1835. In the Headright Certificate issued to Hershel Corzine January 10, 1838 for one-third of a league by the San Augustine County Board it is simply stated that he arrived in Texas prior to March 2, 1836.

Judge Shelby Corzine was elected Judge of the First Judicial District, December 16, 1836, while serving as a Senator from the San Augustine District in the First Congress of the Republic. He died in 1839.

In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 7158 it is stated that Hershel Corzine served in the army from November 7 to December 20, 1835, and participated in the Storming and Capture of Bexar, December 5 to 10, 1835. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 630 for 320 acres of land for his services in the army from November 7 to December 20, 1835. He was a member of Captain William Kimbro's San Augustine Company at San Jacinto and on November 5, 1838 was issued Donation Certificate No. 584 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He did not apply for the land due him for his service in the army immediately prior to and after the battle. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 1918 for 320 acres of land for having served from July 4 to October 4, 1836.

Lewellyn Temple, Hershel Corzine, and William G. Anderson were tried April 2, 1840 for the murder of William Nations and John Bodine and were acquitted.

Mr. Corzine was killed June 10, 1840 by John Conner at San Augustine. Conner was acquitted. Reverend George L. Crockett in his book "Two Centuries in East Texas" in writing of Mr. Corzine's tragic death said: "It was in front of this house that Hershel Corzine, son of Judge Corzine, was killed by John Conner. Conner was engaged to a young lady in town, but before their marriage was obligated to go to New York on business. He went by water through New Orleans, a trip which then required several months. After his departure Corzine, who was in love with the same lady, contrived to have published in the papers of Alexandria, Louisiana, an account telling of the loss of the ship on which he sailed with all on board. He then set himself to console the lady and succeeded so well that they were married. In the meantime Conner, whose ship had not been lost at all, finished his business and started for home with a trousseau for his bride, but alas! When he arrived he found her the bride of another. The next morning he met his rival at his gate and in the quarrel that ensued Corzine was killed."



Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. William Kimbro

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Corsine
  • Came to Texas: 1835 Feb
  • Date of Death: 1840 Jun 10
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Donation Certificate: 584