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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MURPHY, DANIEL -- Came to Texas in 1835 with the Riflemen recruited in Kentucky for the army of Texas by Lieutenant Colonel James Tarleton. He was among the nine men sent under command of Acting Lieutenant Samuel Sprague from San Felipe, February 9, 1836 to re-inforce Colonel Fannin, enrolled by the Advisory Committee of the General Council. The others were R.R. Jetty (or Petty), C.S. Hardwick, Nathaniel Hazen, James F. Pittman, John W. Thompson, Charles Linley, David J. Jones, and James Hannum.

Mr. Murphy's name was omitted from the official San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836. On page 197 of the muster rolls in the General Land Office it states that Charles W. Shain, Daniel Murphy and Nathaniel C. Hazen escaped the Fannin Massacre and fought at San Jacinto in Captain William H. Patton's Company. An Act of the Legislature approved January 6, 1862, directed that a Bounty Certificate for 640 acres be issued to him. In this certificate issued January 13 of that year it was stated that Mr. Murphy served in the army from January 9 to August 9, 1836, and had served "in the command of Fannin." On June 28, 1848, he was issued Donation Certificate No. 114 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.

Mr. Murphy was issued a Headright certificate for one-third of a league of land January 19, 1838, by the Jackson County Board of Land Commissioners and in it is stated that he came to Texas in 1835. This was lost and a duplicated was issued February 20, 1857.

Following is a copy of Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 308:
"Headquarters Coleto
9th August 1836
I certify that I enrolled Daniel Murphy in the service of Texas at the Town of Nacogdoches on or about the Seventh day of January last Since which time he has been engaged in the Service and was in the Battle of Coleto taken prisoner with Col. Fannin and afterwards marched out to be shot miraculously made his escape was wounded in his left knee and with a few of his unfortunate companions made his way to the Head Quarters of the Army then on the Brazos where he reached almost naked and starved and has continued with the army ever since was engaged in the Battle of San Jacinto where his distinguished himself by his bravery and good conduct and is hereby honorably discharged.

Thomas J. Rusk
Brig. Gen Com'g
Texas Army"

Mr. Murphy was living in Louisville, Kentucky in 1857 where he sold his Headright certificate to C.S. Harrison.

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. David Murphree

Personal Statistics

  • Origin: Kentucky
  • Came to Texas: 1835
  • Other Battles: Coleto
  • Comments: Escaped the Goliad Massacre
  • Donation Certificate: 114