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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TOWNSEND, P. JOHN - Came to Texas in 1834, as is shown in the headright certificate issued to him March 2, 1838 for one-twelfth of a league of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for Fayette County. He had previously received one-fourth of a league from the Mexican Government.

Mr. Townsend is listed on page 42 of the army rolls in the General Land Office as one of the men of Company E, Captain Kuykendall, who was detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836. His name is not on the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 or on the San Jacinto rolls in the General Land Office. Yet on January 15, 1851 Donation Certificate No. 257 for 640 acres of land was issued in Mr. Townsend’s name, due him for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto. Mr. Townsend was living in Washington County, January 20, 1849 when he sold his rights to the certificate to Moses Evans for $640.00. In the bill of sale Mr. Townsend stated that he had been a member of Captain Gibson Kuykendall’s Company and been detailed by Major McNutt to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836. All of this is shown in ________ County Donation file No. ___ in the General Land Office.

Mr. Townsend was issued Bounty Certificate No. 3007 for 320 acres of land _____ for having served in the army from March 30 to May 30, 1836. The rights to the certificate had been assigned to Reddin Andrews.

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. Gibson Kuykendall

Personal Statistics

  • Came to Texas: 1834
  • Bounty Certificate: 3007
  • Donation Certificate: 257