Starting October 7, the San Jacinto Monument's Observation Floor will close for renovation, open on weekends, with discounted museum admission during this time.

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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CARUTHERS, ALLEN -- Born in Christian County, Kentucky May 31, 1804 and came to Texas in 1834 and settled in what is now Fayette County. He was living in Washington County January 12, 1838 when he received headright Certificate No. 151 for one-third of a league of land, in which it is simply stated that he had arrived in Texas prior to May 2, 1835.

In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 3219 it is certified that Mr. Caruthers enlisted in Captain Philip Poe's Company at Gonzales, March 5, 1836, and remained in it until it was disbanded, on about the first of April. He then joined Henry W. Karnes' Company of cavalry but fought at San Jacinto in Captain William Hill's Company. On November 25, 1839, he was issued Bounty Certificate No. 931 for 320 acres of land for serving in the army front March 5 to June 1, 1836. He was issued Donation Certificate No. 627 for 640 acres of land, November 26, 1838 for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.

In the Probate records of Washington County it is stated that on September 25, 1837, Mr. Caruthers was appointed administrator of the estates of Ewing and Young Caruthers. Ewing fell with Fannin and Young died in the army in September 1836.

Mr. Thomas M. Stell, Cuero, was well acquainted with Mr. Caruthers. He wrote to the compiler October 6, 1936 as follows: "Mr. Ewing Caruthers, son of Allen Caruthers, told me that in the battle of San Jacinto his father killed at least five Mexican soldiers who had fallen on their knees and raised their hands for mercy. 'This was nothing but murder', Mr. Allen Caruthers stated to his son, 'but my brother, Ewing Caruthers, was killed in Fannin's massacre only a few days before this, and I was crazed with anger'."

Mr. Caruthers moved to Lavaca County and in 1853 to De Witt County. In 1863 he started to Louisiana with a drove of horses and was stricken with pneumonia en route, dying in the old town of Mulberry, Lavaca County, May 29, 1863 and was buried in the cemetery there. The State of Texas erected a monument at his grave in 1936.

The marriage records of Washington County show that Mr. A. Caruthers was married to Martha Burditt, March 19, 1850 in Washington County. Mrs. Caruthers was born in North Carolina April 24, 1816 and died in De Witt County, Texas July 8, 1858. She is buried in the Caruthers Cemetery about eight miles southwest of Clinton. A cedar tree stands at the head of her grave.

The Marriage Records of Fayette County, Book A, page 386, show that Mr. Caruthers was married to Mrs. Cyrene Hunter November 11, 1861. Mrs. Hunter was the widow of Robert Hunter. In Book A, page 92 of the marriage Records, Robert Hunter is shown as having married Cyrene Sutton, November 30, 1843.

Children of Allen and Martha (Burditt) Caruthers were: Ewing Vaughn, who married Eliza Henel Mason; Mary Eliza who married William Airheart; Susia, who married John Bell, and John Clark Caruthers.

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: Lieut. Robert Stevenson

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Carruthers
  • Date of Birth: 1804 May 31
  • Birthplace: Kentucky, Christian County
  • Came to Texas: 1834
  • Date of Death: 1863 May 29
  • Burial Place: Mulberry, Texas
  • Comments: Lost a brother at Goliad
  • Bounty Certificate: 931
  • Donation Certificate: 627
  • Wife: 1. Martha Burditt; 2. Cyrene Sutton Hunter
  • Children: Ewing Vaught Caruthers; Mary Eliza Caruthers Airheart; Susia Caruthers Bell; John Clark Caruthers