Veteran Bio
The Kemp Sketch
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BORDEN, JOHN PETTIT -- Born in New York, December 30, 1812, the son of Gail Borden, Sr. In the Headright Certificate issued to him February 3, 1838 for a league and labor of land by the Harrisburg County Board it is stated that he came to Texas in 1831. In Service Record No. 1553 it is certified that he enrolled in Captain George M. Collinsworth's company October 7, 1835 and participated in the capture of Goliad on October 9th, after which he was transferred to Captain Philip Dimitt's company. He was discharged from the army January 11, 1836 but reenlisted and served from February 29 to May 30th. He again reenlisted and this time served from June 26 to September 25, 1836. He was First Lieutenant in Captain Moseley Baker's company at San Jacinto and received Donation Certificate No. 141 July 21, 1838 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On January 3, 1838 he was issued Bounty Certificate No. 1556 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from March 1 to June 1, 1836 and Bounty Certificate No. 1557 for 320 acres for his services from June 27 to September 27, 1836.
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He was a member of the Somervell Expedition in 1842 but did not join the Mier Expedition.
Mr. Borden was on June 21, 1837 appointed by President Houston the first Commissioner of the General Land Office. He resigned from office in 1841 and settled at Richmond, Texas where he practiced law. He was elected county judge of Fort Bend County, July 13, 1846. In 1855 he removed to San Patricio County where he engaged in stock raising until the close of the Civil War. He then moved to Borden in Colorado County and there died November 12, 1891. His wife before marriage was Mary Susan Hatch. She was born January 22, 1821 October 1, 1893. Both are buried in the cemetery at Weimer. Borden was an active member of the Texas Veterans Association.
Children of and Mrs. Borden were: Thaddeus H., who married Mary Sullivan; Sydney Gail; John Thomas; George S.; Fidelias, who married W. J. Duffel; Mary Elizabeth; Alice; Kate; and Lee De Witt Borden, who married Mary A. Green.
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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.
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Battle Statistics
- Died in Battle: No
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Company: Capt. Moseley Baker
Personal Statistics
- Date of Birth: 1812 Dec 30
- Birthplace: New York
- Came to Texas: 1831? 1829?
- Date of Death: 1891 Nov 12
- Burial Place: Weimer, Texas
- Other Battles: Goliad, Bexar
- Comments: Somervell Expedition
- Bounty Certificate: 1557
- Donation Certificate: 141
- Profession: lawyer, rancher, 1st commissioner of General Land Office
- Wife: 1. Elizabeth; 2. Mary Susan Hatch
- Children: Thaddeus H. Borden; Sydney Gail Borden; John Thomas Borden; George S. Borden; Fidelias Borden Duffel; Mary Elizabeth Borden; Alice Borden; Kate Borden; Lee DeWitt Borden
- Family at San Jacinto: Brother Paschal Borden at San Jacinto
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