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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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REAMS, SHERWOOD YOUNG - The name S. Y. Reams was listed on the 1874 membership roll of The Texas Veterans Association. His age was given as 62. He was shown as having been born in South Carolina; and as having been in the Battle of San Jacinto. (See D. W. Bakers A Texas Scrap-Book, page 611.)

The records in the General Land Office, Austin show that Mr. Reams was among those detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg on April 21, 1836 and did not participate in the Battle of San Jacinto.

In the first class headright certificate issued to Mr. Reams January 28, 1838 for a league and labor of land by the Board of Land Commissioners of Austin County, it is stated that he came to Texas in February, 1835. He was a member of Captain James C. Neill’s Company in the siege of Bexar in 1835 and of Captain Gibson Kuykendall’s Company in the early part of the year 1836. On July 1, 1936 he enlisted in Captain H. N. Company of “Mill Creek Volunteers.” Benjamin F. Reavile became captain of the company on August 16, 1836.

Mr. Reams was issued Bounty Certificate No. 4173 for 960 acres of land, August 8, 1838 for having served in the army from September 28, 1835 to May 30, 1836. On August 2, 1838 he received Donation Certificate No. 501 for 640 acres of land for having been detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836.

Mr. Reams died in 1887 and is buried in an unmarked grave in the cemetery at Buck Horn, Austin County, Texas.

As late as the year 1939 some of the surviving grandchildren of Mr. Reams were John G. Bell, Batson; Mrs. Clara Fabraguze, Devers; and Mrs. Louella Williams, Corsicana.

Inasmuch as the membership rolls of the Texas Veterans Association in 1874 listed Mr. Reams as S. Y. REAMOS that name was put on the bronze plaque in the San Jacinto Monument among those who guarded the baggage on April 21, 1836. Later, however, a signature of this veteran in the General Land Office is definitely REAMS.

On June 30, 1955 Miss Bessie Finklea an employee of the Dallas Railway and Terminal Company, Interurban Building, Dallas wrote a letter to L. W. Kemp, Houston in which among other things she said: “the name should be REAMES. He was my mother’s uncle, and the family bible gives his record as being born March 4, 1812 and married to Sarah Atkinson on September 14, 1837.”

On February 18, 1956 she wrote “The “Y” in his name is for Young.” He passed away in the year 1887, but I do not know the date.”

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: First Sergeant
  • Company: Capt. Gibson Kuykendall

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Reamos, S. Y., Reames
  • Date of Birth: 1812 Mar 4
  • Birthplace: South Carolina
  • Came to Texas: 1835 Feb
  • Date of Death: 1887 Jan 15
  • Burial Place: Buck Horn, Austin County, Texas
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Bounty Certificate: 4173
  • Donation Certificate: 501
  • Wife: Sarah Atkinson
  • Children: yes