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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PATE, WILLIAM H.--In the Pension Papers in the Archives of the Texas State Library there is an affidavit by Mr. Pate in which he stated that he was born in Georgia and had arrived in Texas in January, 1836. It is also stated that he came to Texas in January, 1836 in the Headright Certificate issued to him for one-third of a league of land by the Board of Land Commissioners of Houston County.

Mr. Pate was a member of Captain Benjamin F. Bryant's Company at San Jacinto and on June 20, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 348 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On June 20, 1838 he received Bounty Certificate No. 3898 for 320 acres for having served in the army from March 29, to April 29, 1836, when he was discharged for disability. He was living in Harrisburg County in 1839 and in 1856 he was a member of Woodville (Masonic) Lodge No. 62, Woodville, Texas.

Mr. Pate died in Victor, Erath County, August 29, 1879 while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. The following inscription is on the tombstone at his grave:
"Wm. H. Pate
Born
Oct. 31, 1813
Died
Aug. 29, 1879
Farewell my Wife and Children all
From you a father Christ doth call
Mourn not for me it is in vain
To call me to your sight again"

On Mrs. Pate's tombstone is the following inscription:
" Jane Pate
Born
March 10, 1837
Died
Mar. 18, 1906
Rest, Mother in Quiet Sleep
While friends in sorrow O'er thee weep".

Mr. T.S. Ross, Gorman, Texas in a letter to the compiler February 27, 1936 said: "I learn that Mr. and Mrs. Pate had two sons and two daughters. Some of the old citizens of Victor might be able to furnish more information."



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

  • Date of Birth: 1813 Oct 31
  • Birthplace: Georgia, Putnam
  • Came to Texas: 1836 Jan
  • Date of Death: 1879 Aug 29
  • Burial Place: Victor Cemetery, Erath County, Texas
  • Bounty Certificate: 3898
  • Donation Certificate: 348
  • Wife: Jane C. Nix
  • Children: Rebecca Pate; Malilder Pate; John Pate; Charles Ella Pate; E. A. Pate; M. L. Pate; William D. Pate; Martha Ophelia Pate; Benjamin F. Pate