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

HANCOCK, GEORGE DUNCAN -- Born in Adams County, Mississippi, April 22, 1809. His father John Allen Hancock, was born in 1780 in Virginia and died in January, 1856 in Alabama. He was married November 2, 1801 in Franklin County, Virginia to Sarah Ryan, daughter of William and Sarah (Swanson) Ryan. Their children were: Frances Hancock who was born January 21, 1902 in Patrick County, Virginia, and died in 1848 in San Saba County, Texas; George Duncan Hancock, subject of this sketch; John Hancock born October 24, 1824 near Bellefonte, Jackson County, Alabama; William Ryan Hancock who died in Bastrop County, Texas; Phoebe Hancock, who was married to Martin Forehand, and died in May 1878 in Bastrop County Texas; Lewis Hancock who died in Bastrop County July 18, 1850; and Celice Hancock who married a Mr. Nicholds.

George Duncan Hancock came to Texas in 1836, as is stated in the Headright Certificate issued to him by the Bastrop County Board, January 19, 1838 for one-third of league of land. On June 20, 1839, he received Bounty Certificate No. 9213 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army for a period of three months. In Service Record No. 31 it is certified that he served from March 15 to July 13, 1836. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 9837 for 320 acres of land, October 29, 1841 for his services from July, 13 to November 15, 1836. He was a member of Captain William Kimbro's San Augustine Company at San Jacinto and on March 14, 1835 was issued Donation Certificate No. 14 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle.

After the revolution Mr. Hancock settled in Bastrop County. He later moved to La Grange where he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1842 he enlisted in the Somervell Expedition. He joined the Mier Expedition as a member of Company E., Captain Charles K. Reese, but was left at the camp on the Texas side of the Rio Grande.

In 1845 Mr. Hancock moved to Austin where in 1855 was married to Louisa Lewis, daughter of Colonel Ira Randolph Lewis, who was born near Baton Rouge, Louisiana in December 1825 and died in Austin, Texas in 1909. Mr. Hancock died January 9, 1879. The two are buried in marked graves in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin.

Mr. Hancock represented Travis County in the House of Representatives of the Eleventh Legislature. He died January 9,1879. His widow died in 1909 and was buried by his side in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin.

Mr. and Mrs. Hancock had but one child, Lewis, who died Austin, February 11, 1920.



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

  • Date of Birth: 1809 Apr 22? 27?
  • Birthplace: Tennessee? Mississippi, Adams County?
  • Origin: Alabama
  • Came to Texas: 1836? 1835?
  • Date of Death: 1879 Jan 9
  • Burial Place: Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas
  • Comments: Somervell Expedition
  • Bounty Certificate: 9213
  • Donation Certificate: 14
  • Profession: Merchant
  • Wife: Louisa Lewis
  • Children: Lewis Hancock