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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BEGLEY, JOHN -- The records of the Texas Veterans Association show that Mr. Begley was born in 1811 and had arrived in Texas in 1832. In the Headright Certificate issued to him March 2, 1838 for a league and labor of land by the Colorado County Board of Land Commissioners it is simply stated that Begley came to Texas before May 2, 1835. He married after the battle of San Jacinto. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 5032 for 320 acres of land for serving in the army from February 29 to May 28, 1836. He was a member of Captain William J. E. Heard's Company of Citizen Soldiers at San Jacinto but did not apply for the 640 acres due him for having participated in the battle. He was a member of Captain Ratcliff Hudson's Company on the Santa Fe Expedition in 1841.

Mr. Begley was evidently married twice. The Telegraph and Texas Register (Columbia) of August 26, 1836, carried this notice: "Married. John Begley and Elisha both of Colorado." He was next married to Alice Sigemore who died in Tennessee in 1875. Mr. Begley died at his home two miles east of War Gap, Tennessee in 1880, while an honorary member of the Texas Veterans Association. The post office of War Gap had been discontinued and Rogersville, Hawkins County, is now the nearest post office to Mr. Begley's former home.



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 J. E. Heard

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Bigley
  • Date of Birth: 1811
  • Birthplace: Colorado
  • Came to Texas: 1832
  • Date of Death: 1880
  • Burial Place: Tennessee
  • Comments: Santa Fe Expedition
  • Bounty Certificate: 5032
  • Wife: 1. Elisha Hewman; 2. Alice Sigemore
  • Children: Austin Begley; Houston Begley