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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REESE, CHARLES KELLER -- Born in Tennessee, November 13, 1810, a son of Joseph and Margaret (Bowman) Reese. On page _____, Book _____, List of applicants for land in Austin's Colonies, it is shown that when Mr. Reese applied for land he stated that he had arrived in Texas in February, 1830. On June 20, 1831 Mr. Reese and Abraham Bowman, both being single, received jointly a league of land in Austin's Third Colony. On February 1, 1838 Mr. Reese was issued Headright Certificate No. 227 for one-twelfth of a league of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for Brazoria County. In the certificate it is merely stated that he came to Texas before May 2, 1835.

On page 23 of the army rolls in the General Land Office Mr. Reese is shown as a member of Captain John York's Company in 1835 and on May 22, 1838, he was issued Donation Certificate No. 164 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the storming and capture of Bexar December 5 to 10, 1835. At the same time, he received Bounty Certificate No. 3492 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from October 7 to December 13, 1835. He was a member of Captain Robert J. Calder's Brazoria. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 2493 for 640 acres of land for having served in the army from March 15 to October 10, 1836.

Captain Reese commanded Company E on the Mier Expedition in 1842-43. He surrendered at Mier along with the other volunteers and was placed in prison in the famous Castle Perote, from which he escaped July 2, 1843.

Captain Reese was married in Matagorda County to Sarah Tate.

He died at his home on Cedar Lake, Matagorda County, October 14, 1858, some time after the death of his wife and was survived by the following minor children: Mary Ellen, James Norris, Charles Stephen, Joseph Perry, Sarah Emma, Kate Burford and Henry Jones Reese.

Mrs. Hattie Reese Brockenbrough, daughter of Joseph Perry Reese, was living in Brazoria County in 1926.



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. Robert J. Calder

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1810 Nov 13
  • Birthplace: Tennessee? Kentucky?
  • Came to Texas: 1830 Feb
  • Date of Death: 1858 Oct 14
  • Burial Place: Cedar Lake, Brazoria County, Texas
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Comments: Somervell Expedition; Mier Expedition, escaped;
  • Bounty Certificate: 2493
  • Wife: Sarah Tate Norris
  • Children: Mary Ellen Reese; James Norris Reese; Charles Stephen Reese; Joseph Perry Reese; Sarah Emma Reese; Kate Burford Reese; Henry Jones Reese
  • Family at San Jacinto: Brother Washington P. Reese fought at San Jacinto.