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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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HOWARD, WILLIAM C. -- Born William C. Hogg in Grahamville, Beauford District, South Carolina, September 3, 1817 and as William C. Hogg he participated in the battle of San Jacinto. In 1842 his name was legally changed to William C. Howard.

Mr. Hogg came to Texas in December 1835. He was a member of Captain Robert J. Calder's Company at San Jacinto and on November 9, 1853 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 529 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On November 9, 1853 he was issued Bounty Certificate No. 1397 for 320 acres of land November 9, 1853, for having served three months in the army of Texas in 1836, time of his enlistment and discharge not shown.

In the file in the General Land Office containing his Donation Certificate there is an instrument signed by Mr. Howard at his home in Grahamville, Beaufort District, South Carolina, October 3, 1853, appointing his brother Benjamin C. Howard of Travis County, Texas, his agent to secure all lands due him for services in the army of Texas in 1836. He did not secure a Headright Certificate.

The following is from the Pension Papers kept in the Archives of the Texas State Library, being but a part of the application of William C. Howard for a pension: "PENSION CLAIM NO. 1101: William C. Howard, formerly William C. Hogg, Grahamville So. Ca. Filed June 26th 1874, by Mail Approved June 26th 1874 for $250.00. Served in Army of Republic in Calder's Co. in Battle of San Jacinto. Recv'd Bounty Warrant Certificate issued June 30, 1875.

Application for Pension:
The State of South Carolina
Beauford County

Before me a Notary Public duly appointed commissioned & qualified by & under the Laws of the State of South Carolina, came this day, William C. Howard of the Village of Grahamville in the County and State aforesaid who being duly sworn says

That he is a native of the State of South Carolina was born in the aforesaid Village of Grahamville on 3rd day of September Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and seventeen. That he emigrated to the State of Texas in December Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and thirty five That immediately upon the invasion of Texas by General Santa Anna, Deponent Volunteered his service and joined the company the company (sic) of Captain Calder at Brazoria Texas -- that from this place he marched to join General Houston, for the relief of San Antonio whom they met on his retreat after the fall of San Antonio.

That after joining General Houston his company (Captain Calder's) was attached to Colonel Burleson's Regiment, with which Deponent's company & Deponent himself remained until the battle of San Jacinto on 21st April Eighteen hundred & thirty six. That Deponent was a member of said company participated fought, as a private, in said battle of San Jacinto.

That he remained in Service, until some time after the said battle when his company was disbanded returned home.

Deponent further swears that he volunteered under the name of William C. Hogg which was at time his lawful name & continued so to be until some time in the year Eighteen hundred and forty two when by virtue of a Decree of the Court of Equity of the State of South Carolina Deponent was authorized to change his name to William C. Howard, by which name he has ever since been known.

That living as he does in the State of South Carolina it is impossible for him to support his application and prays that recourse may be had in his behalf to the public Archives & Records.

That he has received neither bounty nor donation warrant for his services and that he makes this application for pension under provision of Act approved 21 April 1874 -- which has just been brought to his notice & of which up to this time he has been in total ignorance

Sworn before me this
15th June A. D. 1874

Charles E. Bell
Notary Public

(Signed) Wm C Howard X

Affidavit of W. F. Colcock:
South Carolina
Beauford County

Personally appeared before me W. F. Colcock, Counselor at law, and a citizen and resident of the State and County aforesaid aged seventy years who being duly sworn makes oath that he has known the gentleman now bearing the name of William C Howard from his youth and knows that his former name was William C Hogg which name was changed by due authority of law to William C Howard Deponent further swears that he knows that the said William C Howard whilst bearing the name of William C Hogg went to Texas in the year 1835 or 1836 and returned from thence saying that he had been in the War between Texas and Mexico. Deponent well remembers a narrative given about that time to him by the said W. C. Hogg of the battle of San Jacinto in which narrative, among other things he mentioned the particulars about General Houston being wounded in the foot and sitting down under a tree where General Santa Anna was brought before him in a very demoralized condition having been captured after a hot pursuit

Deponent in conclusion swears that he is certain that the said William C. Howard is the William C Hogg who served in the War between Texas and Mexico.

June 3d 1875
(Signed) W. F. Colcock

Affidavit of William C Howard:
The State of South Carolina
Beauford County

Personally appeared before me, William C. Howard of the Village of Grahamville in the County & State aforesaid who being duly sworn says on or about 19th February 1842, by certain proceedings in the Court of Equity of this state, from "Hogg" to "Howard"

That he is the same person who under the name of William C. Hogg volunteered in Captain Calder's Company - Col Burleson's Regiment, in the Texan Army in the war with Mexico.

That he left his home in Grahamville aforesaid sometime in the spring of 1835, to pay a visit to his uncle who resided at Alexandria in Louisiana -- while there news came of the invasion of Texas by the Mexicans -- Deponent left his uncles, for the purpose of aiding the Texans in their Struggle for Independence He traveled to Brazoria, in Company with one Joseph Calvert (a citizen of Brazoria, Texas) who was familiarly known as Uncle Joe -- under whose care, he had been placed by his Uncle. He reached Brazoria sometime in December 1835 -- he remained there until the invasion of Texas under Santa Anna in person.

That as soon as news of this invasion reached Brazoria Deponent with other Citizens of Brazoria joined the Company of aforesaid Captain Calder, under whose command he fought in the battle of San Jacinto on 21st April 1836.

June 1st 1875
(Signed) W. C. Howard
(Countersigned) Chas E. Bell

Affidavit of John H. Howard:
The State of South Carolina
Beauford County

Personally appeared before me, this 1st day of June 1875, John H. Howard of the County & State aforesaid, who being duly sworn, says that he is the older brother of William C. Howard of the Village of Grahamville in the County & State aforesaid

That their family name was originally "Hogg" That under & by virtue of certain proceedings had in the court of Equity of this State, their family name was changed from "Hogg" to "Howard" on the 19th day of February 1842.

That in the year 1835 (sometime in the spring) said William C. Howard then William C Hogg, left his home in South Carolina, on a visit to his Uncle's in the State of Louisiana

That from letters received by their mother from said uncle, he learned that said William C had left for the State of Texas.

That said William C. returned to his home in said Village of Grahamville in the County & State first above mentioned in the year 1837 and stated that he had left his Uncle's home in Louisiana and had gone to the State of Texas, where he had volunteered in the Texan Army, in the war with Mexico, and had fought in the battle of San Jacinto

Sworn and subscribed before me ("in the year 1837" first being interlined) this first day of June 1875

(Signed) Chas E. Bell Notary Public
(Signed) John H. Howard
(Certified to by H. G. Judd, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas)

Power of Attorney from William C. Howard to De Cordova Withers & Co.
June 12th, 1875, Signed William C Howard and Countersigned H. G. Judd.
Copy of Bounty Certificate No. 1397:

State of Texas. 320 acres. Know all men to whom these presents shall come.

That William C. Howard having served faithfully and honorably in the army of the Republic of Texas for the term of three months from the _____ day of _____ 1836 until the _____ day of _____ 1836 and having been honorably discharged is entitled to Three hundred and twenty acres Bounty Land, for which this is her Certificate. And the said William C. Howard is entitled to hold said Land Alianate, Convey, and Donate the same; and to exercise all rights of ownership over it. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Austin, this 9th day of November 1853

(Signed) James S. Gillett
Adjt. General.
Austin June 28-75

I certify that the above is a true & correct copy from the original now on file in this office

(Signed) Rhoads Fisher
Ch'f Cl'k & Act'g Commissioner



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. Robert J. Calder

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Hogg
  • Date of Birth: 1817 Sep 3
  • Birthplace: South Carolina, Grahamville
  • Came to Texas: 1835 Dec
  • Comments: Name legally changed in 1842 from Hogg to Howard
  • Bounty Certificate: 1397
  • Donation Certificate: 529