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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MASON, CHARLES -- The surname Mason, without initials or given name, appears on the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 as a member of Captain Henry Teal's Company of Regulars. On page 144 of the army rolls in the General Land Office the names of the members of Captain Teal's Company when mustered August 31, 1836 are shown with initials or given names. Charles Mason's name is not on the roll. In fact, it is not on any of the army rolls in the General Land Office. The reason for its omission is explained in Donation Certificate No. 7054 for 32O acres of land issued in his name January 22, 1839 for his services from April 4 to July 4, 1836. He was, therefore, not a member of Captain Teal's Company on August 3l. In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 7255 it is stated that he was Commissar of Captain Teal's Company. Bounty Certificate No. 7055 for 320 acres of land was issued in his name January 22, 1839 for his services from September 26 to December 26, 1836. The rights to the two Bounty Certificates had been assigned to John Forbes.

The compiler does not know when Mr. Mason came to Texas. He did not apply for a Headright Certificate. Neither did he apply for donation of 640 acres of land due him for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

This is an indication that he left Texas shortly after being discharged from the army. Donation Certificates, unlike Bounty Certificates, were non-transferable and were therefore worthless unless the owner desired to have the land surveyed for his own use. Many soldiers of the regular army did not claim the donation lands due them.



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. Andrew Briscoe

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1812
  • Birthplace: Georgia
  • Came to Texas: 1834? 1833?
  • Date of Death: 1882 Nov 21
  • Other Battles: Gonzales, Bexar
  • Donation Certificate: 7054
  • Wife: Evaline DeWitt
  • Children: Charles W. Mason; Isham Mason; DeWitt Mason