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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NELSON, JAMES -- Was probably born in Indiana. In the Headright Certificate issued to him July 5, 1838 for one labor of land by the Board of Land Commissioners of Colorado County, it is stated that he came to Texas in 1823. He was one of the "Old Three Hundred" of Austin's colonists. His title to a league of land in what is now Colorado County was dated August 7, 1824. He was a member of Captain William J. E. Heard's Company of Citizen Soldiers at San Jacinto and on July 27, 1833 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 481 for 64O acres of land for having participated in the battle. On October 21, 1839 he received Bounty Certificate No. 9280 for having served in the army from March 4 to June 4, 1836.

In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 7992, it is certified that Mr. Nelson was wounded at San Jacinto.

Mr. Nelson was living in Colorado County December 31, 1847 when he sold his Headright Certificate to Joseph Tinkley. He died in 1849, as shown by the Probate Records of Fayette County. In his will, signed June 18, 1849, he left most of his property, including 640 acres of land in Colorado County, to his son William H. Nelson. To his son in Indiana he left a house and lot, a cording machine, a horse George Washington, and a buggy.



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
  • Wounded in Battle: Yes
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. William J. E. Heard

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1786?
  • Birthplace: Indiana
  • Came to Texas: 1821
  • Date of Death: 1849
  • Comments: Old Three Hundred
  • Bounty Certificate: 9280
  • Donation Certificate: 481
  • Profession: Farmer
  • Wife: 1. unknown; 2. Mary Slaughter
  • Children: William H. Nelson; three others