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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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FORD, SIMON PETER -- The records of the Texas Veterans Association, of which he was a member, show that Mr. Ford was born in Mississippi in about 1816, and that he was living in Jefferson County, Texas, in 1874.

A Headright Certificate for one-third of a league of land was issued in Mr. Ford's name, but assigned to B. F. Mott, June 22, 1838 by the Board of Land Commissioners for Jasper County. In the file containing the certificate in the General Land Office there is an affidavit signed by Mr. Ford September 3, 1836 before Joseph Mott, who on December 20, 1836 became Chief Justice of Jasper County, in which he stated that he arrived at Matagorda, Texas, as a member of Captain C. W. Vickery's Company from Mississippi, January 10, 1836, and continued to serve in it until March 3, when Captain Vickery and most of his men left Texas. Mr. Ford stated that he joined Captain Sidney Sherman's company, which was commanded by Captain William Wood at San Jacinto, March 10, 1836. He gave as references Joseph Rhodes and Edward Miles, formerly of Natchez, Mississippi and William Loughridge, formerly of Greene County, Alabama.

Mr. Ford was issued Bounty Certificate No. 9629 for 320 acres of land November 7, 1840 for having served in the army from March 10 to June 23, 1836. On February 13, 1860 he received Donation Certificate No. 100 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.

Mr. Ford was living at, or near, Waelder, Gonzales County, in 1886. The Deed Records of Jefferson County, where he formerly lived, show that he died at or near Flatonia, Fayette County, in 1896.

Mr. Cole P. Hopkins, Garwood, Texas, wrote the compiler July 24, 1939:

"Mr. Ford was a friend of my fathers. He would often stay at our house when I was a young boy. He would sit up until late at night telling us of the battle of San Jacinto. He died in dire poverty on a little rented farm about four or five miles west of Muldoon, Fayette County.

My father and some other men prepared him for burial. My mother took up a public subscription to bury him and to buy food for his widowed daughter and her children."

Mr. Hopkins stated that Mr. Ford is buried in an unmarked grave in the Pittman Cemetery about three miles west of Muldoon. Mr. Ford was a widower when Mr. Hopkins knew him. He does not know the name of Mr. Ford's wife and he does not know when and where Mr. and Mrs. Ford were born.

Mrs. L. W. Moore, Muldoon, Texas wrote to Mr. Houston Wade, Houston, August 14, 1939 that on that day she and Mr. Dade Miller of Muldoon visited Mr. Ford's grave in the Pittman Cemetery. A rock stands at the head of the grave. Mr. Miller helped to dig Mr. Ford's grave.



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. William Wood

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Foard
  • Date of Birth: 1816
  • Birthplace: Mississippi
  • Came to Texas: 1836 Jan 10
  • Date of Death: 1896
  • Burial Place: Pittman Cemetery, Fayette County, Texas
  • Bounty Certificate: 9629
  • Donation Certificate: 100
  • Wife: 1. Martha Brack; 2. Millie Cook; 3. unknown
  • Children: Mary Ford Rankin; Martha Ford Kirkham; Cintha Ann Ford Westbrook