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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BOYD, JAMES C. -- In the Headright Certificate issued to him May 28, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Bexar County Board of Land Commissioners it is stated that Mr. Boyd arrived in Texas in April, 1835. He was a member of Captain William H. Patton's Columbia Company at San Jacinto and on December 22, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 714 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. Bounty Certificate No. 4128 for 640 acres of land was issued in Mr. Boyd's name July 31, 1838, due him for having served in the army from March 5 to September 6, 1836. The certificate had been assigned to David White. In Comptroller's Military Service Record it is certified that Mr. Boyd served in Captain Patton's Company from March 5 to June 5, 1836.

President M. B. Lamar on January 24, 1839, signed a joint resolution of Congress providing for the payment to Mr. Boyd of $150.0O for six months service as a spy in the army at $25.0O per month, and $125.00 for a horse he lost in the service. Mr. Boyd's home at that time was in San Antonio.

In the Deed Records of Bexar County, Book Dl, page 5 is a partnership agreement between Mr. Boyd, then living in Harrisburg County, and A. M. Berry and Joseph L. Hood, from which the following is quoted: "....Whereas the said James C. Boyd owns a league and a half of land upon Corpus Christi Bay and the coast fronting on said bay and coast; and whereas the said parties (A. M. Berry and Joseph L. Hood) contemplated the erection of a town upon said land, the said Boyd has day bargained and sold one league of said land to said Hood and Berry reserving the right to one third of the interest in said league to himself...."

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

  • Came to Texas: 1835 Apr
  • Donation Certificate: 714