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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CARPENTER, JOHN W. -- The name John Carpenter appears on page 9 of the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 as a member of Captain William H. Smith's Company of Cavalry. The name J. W. Carpenter is shown on page 15 of the rolls as a member of Captain Hayden Arnold's Nacogdoches Company. The compiler is convinced that John W. Carpenter, a member or Captain Arnold's Company was transferred to the cavalry for the battle and thus had his name entered through error on two rolls. The compiler has removed the name from the cavalry company.

The records of the General Land Office do not show that John Carpenter received either headright, bounty, or donation land.

It is shown on page 115 of the army rolls in the General Land Office that when John A. Carpenter swore allegiance to the government of Texas January 14, 1836 he gave his age as 29 and the place of his birth as Tennessee. In the headright certificate issued to him February 1, 1838 for a league and labor of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for San Augustine County it is stated that he came to Texas in 1835. On December 28, 1840 Donation Certificate No. 1104 for 640 acres of land was issued to John W Carpenter for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto. Bounty Certificate No. 2531 for 320 acres of land was issued to John W. Carpenter March 3, 1833 for having served in the army from March 7 to June 6, 1836. He was living in San Augustine County April 5, 1830 when he sold the certificate to James Perkins for $100.00.

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 Lieutenant
  • Company: Capt. William H. Smith

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1807
  • Birthplace: Tennessee
  • Came to Texas: 1835
  • Bounty Certificate: 2531
  • Donation Certificate: 1104