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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DILLARD, ABRAHAM -- Born in Wythe County, Virginia in 1807. On page 65, Book A, List of applicants for Land in Austin's Colonies it is shown that in Mr. Dillard's application he stated that he had arrived in Texas from Missouri in 1827. On March 20, 1831, he was issued title to one-fourth of a league of land in Austin's Second Colony situated in the present County of Washington. On January 25, 1838, after marrying, he was issued Headright Certificate No. 180 for three-fourths of a league and one labor of land by the Washington County Board of Land Commissioners. In the certificate it is simply stated that he came to Texas prior to May 2, 1835.

Mr. Dillard was a member of Captain William W. Hill's Company at San Jacinto and on May 22, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No 186 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On May 19, 1838 he received Bounty Certificate No. 3471 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from March 1 to June 1, 1836. The land was surveyed in Gonzales County.

On an original roll of Captain Hill's Company at muster April 11, 1836, photostatic copy of which is in the Archives of the Texas State Library, the date and place of birth of Mr. Dillard are shown, together with the following information about him: He was enlisted at the home of Asa Mitchell by Captain Joseph P. Lynch. He was five feet, eleven inches in height; was of dark complexion and had blue eyes and light hair.

Sarah E. Dillard, daughter of Abraham Dillard, and granddaughter of Andrew J. Kent, who fell at the Alamo, was married in 1857 to Crawford Burnett. Mrs. Burnett was born in Washington County in 1838.

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

  • Date of Birth: 1807 May 4
  • Birthplace: Virginia, Wythe County
  • Origin: Missouri
  • Came to Texas: 1827
  • Date of Death: 1839 July 24
  • Bounty Certificate: 3471
  • Donation Certificate: 186
  • Wife: Sarah Clifton Kent Dillard Baldridge
  • Children: Sarah Elizabeth Dillard Burnett