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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ALEXANDER, JEROME B. -- On January 18, 1838, Mr. Alexander appeared before the three members of the Board of Land Commissioners of Fayette County and made application for one-third of a league of land. He proved by two witnesses that he had arrived in Texas in January, 1832.

On page 23 of the army rolls in the General Land Office Mr. Alexander is shown as a member of Captain John York's Company in the Siege of Bexar. He was a member of Captain Moseley Baker's Company at San Jacinto and, on December 12, 1838, be was issued Donation Certificate No. 670 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He received Bounty Certificate No. 9662 for 320 acres of land for his services in the army from April 4 to July 4, 1836.

Retiring from the army, Mr. Alexander evidently settled in Fayette County. In 1839 he was District Clerk of the District in which Fayette County was embraced.

Mr. Alexander was a son of Samuel Alexander. Emily A. Alexander, daughter of Samuel Alexander, was married to Joel W. Robison. Jerome B. Alexander, subject of this sketch, was on December 21, 1841, married to Amanda Burnam, daughter of Jesse Burnam.

When General Woll unexpectedly invaded Texas and captured San Antonio, Mr. Alexander hastened to join the volunteer company raised by Captain Nicholas M. Dawson. Before doing so, however, as shown by the Probate Records of Fayette County, he made his will, leaving his property in case of his death to his wife, Mrs. Amanda Alexander, and their unborn child. Three days later, on September 18, 1842, he fell with thirty-five of his companions in what is now known as the "Dawson Massacre." The remains of the men who fell with Dawson and 16 of the men who drew the black beans at the Hacienda Salado, Mexico, on March 25, 1843, were gathered together and on September 18, 1848, were placed in a single vault on a prominence directly overlooking the Colorado River and the city of La Grange. On September 18, 1933, a new vault of granite, surrounding the old one, was dedicated.



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. Moseley Baker

Personal Statistics

  • Came to Texas: 1832 Jan
  • Date of Death: 1842 Sept 18
  • Burial Place: Monument Hill, La Grange, Texas
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Comments: Died at Dawson Massacre.
  • Bounty Certificate: 9662
  • Donation Certificate: 670
  • Wife: Amanda Burnam
  • Children: One posthumous?
  • Family at San Jacinto: Future brother-in-law Joel Robison at San Jacinto.