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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PACE, DEMPSY COUNCIL--Born in Virginia, a son of Gideon Pace, as is shown in the sketch of James Robert Pace. In headright certificate issued to him by the Bastrop County Board, February 2, 1838 for one-third of a league of land, it is stated that Mr. Pace came to Texas in 1828. He was a member of Captain John York's Company in the Storming and Capture of Bexar in 1835. In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 885 it is certified that he served in the army from February 28 to June 1, 1836, when he was discharged at Mina. He was a member of Captain Jesse Billingsley's Company at San Jacinto and on September 22, 1838 was issued Donation Certificate No. 550 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. It is further stated in Service Record No. 885 that Mr. Pace entered the Ranging Company of Mounted Riflemen under the command of Captain John G. McGehee, August 20, and was discharged at Colorado, November 20, 1836. For this service he received Bounty Certificate No. 3811 for 320 acres of land June 11, 1838.

Mr. Pace was sheriff of Colorado County in 1848. The Probate Records of that County show that he died suddenly in October, 1851. John Pinchback was appointed administrator of his estate October 27, 1851.



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. Jesse Billingsley

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Demry, Dempsy, Dempcy, Demcy, Counsil, Council
  • Date of Birth: 1815
  • Birthplace: Virginia
  • Origin: Tennessee
  • Came to Texas: 1828
  • Date of Death: 1851 Oct
  • Burial Place: Oak Lawn Cemetery, Travis County, Texas? Old City Cemetery, Columbus, Texas?
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Comments: Wife as a girl nursed wounded after San Jacinto
  • Donation Certificate: 550
  • Wife: Elizabeth Dabney
  • Children: Wayne Pace; Robert James Pace; Laura Pace; Dempsey Pace
  • Family at San Jacinto: Brothers James Robert Pace, William Carroll Pace, Wesley Walker Pace