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

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

(What is this?) | Download the original typescript

DUNBAR, WILLIAM -- Born in Tennessee in 1818. He arrived at Velasco, January 28, 1836 on the schooner Pennsylvania, having been recruited for the army of Texas by Captain Amasa Turner. The fact that he came to Texas in 1836 is verified in the Headright Certificate issued to him March 23, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Harrisburg County Board. He was a member of Captain Richard Roman's company at San Jacinto and on January 15, 1835 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 338 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On December 23, 1859 he received duplicate Bounty Certificate No. 308 for 640 acres of land for having served in the army for a period of six months.

At a convention held on the San Jacinto battlefield April 21, 1860, General Sam Houston was endorsed for President of the United States as "the people's candidate". Isaac L. Hill, a San Jacinto veteran, was elected president of the convention and among the vice-presidents chosen were the following who had served under General Houston at San Jacinto: Samuel Paschall, Ellis Benson, William S. Taylor, William Dunbar and David H. Love.

Mr. Dunbar died in Galveston in 1881, while a member of the Texas Veterans Association, and is buried in a Catholic cemetery there.

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. Richard Roman

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1818
  • Birthplace: Tennessee
  • Origin: Louisiana
  • Came to Texas: 1836 Jan 28
  • Date of Death: 1881
  • Burial Place: Catholic cemetery, Galveston, Texas
  • Bounty Certificate: 308
  • Donation Certificate: 338