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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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IRVINE, REV. JAMES THOMAS PATTON -- Born in Lawrence County, Tennessee, May 21, 1815, son of Josephus and Jane (Patton) Irvine. He arrived in Texas November 11, 1830 with his widowed mother and her children, and settled in what is now San Augustine County. He was a member of Captain Benjamin F. Bryant's Company at San Jacinto and on May 8, 1846 was issued Donation Certificate No. 17 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle.

Mr. Irvine was Baptized by Rev. R. Alexander in 1837 and later became a Methodist preacher. Assigned as pastor of Shelbyville Circuit of the Methodist Church at the third annual Conference held at Bastrop December 22-27, 1842.

He was married twice, first on June 25 1833, to Susan Y. McMahon, who was born September 6, 1817 and died December 22, 1853. Rev. Irvine was married October 23, 1856 to Mrs. Mary B. Anderson Broocke. Mrs. Irvine died June 18, 1868. Rev. Irvine died in Kaufman County March 27, 1871.

Children of Rev. Irvine by his first wife were Phebe Eliza, born July 16, 1834 and married to James Halbert, November 15, 1855; Josephus Boyd, born March 19, 1839 and died September 23, 1849; Mary Jane, born July 21, 1840 and died September 18, 1843; Susan Elizabeth Caroline, born March 6, 1844 and died January 18, 1845; Samuel Doak McMahon, born December 2, 1845, and married Emma Gillespie; Benjamin, born February 10, 1840; and James Perkins, born September 24, 1850 and died September 17, 1851. Children by his second wife were Frances Virginia, born July 13, 1857; Nathan Smith, born July 12, 1859; James Thomas Patton, born September 13, 1862 and died June 18, 1868; James Patton, born April 2, 1864; Mary Anderson, born June 25, 1866; and Bell Parmer Irvine, born June 18, 1868.



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. Benjamin F. Bryant

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Irven
  • Date of Birth: 1815 May 21
  • Birthplace: Tennessee, Lawrence County
  • Came to Texas: 1830 Nov 11
  • Date of Death: 1871 Mar 27
  • Donation Certificate: 17
  • Profession: Preacher
  • Wife: 1. Susan Y. McMahon; 2. Mary B. Anderson Broocke
  • Children: Phebe Eliza Irvine Halbert; Josephus Boyd; Mary Jane Irvine; Susan Elizabeth Caroline Irvine; Samuel Doak McMahon; Benjamin; James Perkins; Frances Virginia Irvine; Nathan Smith; James Thomas Patton; James Patton; Mary Anderson Irvine; Bell Palmer Irvine