Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Harrisburg

The Kemp Sketch

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BERRY, JOHN BATE - Born in Indiana, May 8, 1813 and came to Texas in 1827 as is shown in the headright certificate issued to him March 9, 1838 for one-third of a league of land from the Bastrop County Board.

He was issued Donation Certificate No. 390, June 28, 1838 for 640 acres of land for having been detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg April 21, 1836.

In Service Record No. 1750 it is certified that he served in the permanent Volunteer Company under Captain Robert W. Williamson for 50 days. He entered the Mina Volunteers under Captain Jesse Billingsley February 28th and was discharged June 1, 1836. He next enlisted in Captain William W. Hill’s Ranger company from which he was discharged October 3, 1836.

He enlisted from Jackson County for the Somervell Expediton; joined the Mier Expedition and was among those captured. His brother, Joseph was killed at Mier, December 25, 1842.

Mr. Berry was a member of the Texas Veterans Association. He died December 20, 1891 at Mason, Texas and is buried in a marked grave in a cemetery a few miles from town.

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
  • Company: [Capt. Jesse Billingsley] guarding baggage at Harrisburg

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1813 May 8
  • Birthplace: Indiana
  • Came to Texas: 1827? 1826?
  • Date of Death: 1891 Dec 20
  • Burial Place: Mason, Texas
  • Comments: Somervell Expedition; Mier Expedition; Mexican War