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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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BURLESON, AARON -- Born in Tennessee, October 10, 1815, one of the fourteen children of James Burleson. In the Headright Certificate issued to him January 22, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Bastrop County Board it is stated that he came to Texas in 1831.

Mr. Burleson was a member of Captain Jesse Billingsley's Mina (Bastrop) Volunteers at San Jacinto and on May 25, 1838, he was issued Donation Certificate No. 63 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 4400 for 640 acres of land for haying served in the Army from February 28 to November 1, 1836. In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 8316 it is certified that he served in Captain Billingsley's Company from February 28 to June 1, 1836 when he was discharged at Mina and that he enlisted in Captain John J. McGehee's Company of Rangers June 1, and served until December 27, 1836.

Mr. Burleson returned to Tennessee to marry Minerva J. Seaton. Returning to Texas they settled at the mouth of Walnut Creek in what is now Travis County. There Mrs. Burleson died in 1855. Their children were (1) Nannie, (2) John, (3) Betty, (4) Jefferson W. (5) Maggie, (6) Volley Burleson and two who died in infancy.

On May 15, 1856 Mr. Burleson was married to Jane Tannehill, daughter of J. C. and Jane (Richardson) Tannehill who came to Texas from Tennessee in 1829. Mr. Burleson died at Govalle, two miles from Austin, January 13, 1885, while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. Mrs. Burleson, born March 6, 1833, died April 18, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Burleson are buried in marked graves in the Rogers Cemetery in Travis County.

Children of Mr. Burleson by his second marriage were (7) Edward, (8) Neeley (9) Lillie, (10) Jane, (11) Rufus, (12) William (13) Libbie, (14) Tinnie and (15) Mattie Burleson.

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. Jesse Billingsley

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1815 Oct 10
  • Birthplace: Alabama
  • Origin: Tennessee
  • Came to Texas: 1831? 1827?
  • Date of Death: 1885 Jan 13
  • Burial Place: Rogers Cemetery, Travis Co., Texas
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Bounty Certificate: 4400
  • Donation Certificate: 63
  • Profession: Farmer
  • Wife: 1. Minerva J. Seaton; 2. Jane Tannehill
  • Children: Nannie Burleson Taylor; John; Betty Burleson Fondville Fleet; Jefferson W.; Maggie; Volley Burleson Taylor; Edward; Neeley; Lillie Burleson Martin; Jane Burleson Deats; Rufus; William; Libbie Burleson Matthews; Tinnie Burleson Hill; Mattie Burleson
  • Family at San Jacinto: Brother Edward Burleson at San Jacinto