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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PROCTOR, JOSEPH W.--Shown on the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 as a member of Captain William Kimbro's San Augustine Company at San Jacinto. Shown on page 52, army rolls in the General Land Office as having enlisted in Captain William D. Ratcliff's Company of SAN AUGUSTINE VOLUNTEERS April 1, 1836. While on the march to join the main army a disagreement arose between Captain Ratcliff and his men which culminated in Captain Ratcliff's resignation and the election of Leonard H. Mabbitt as Captain. About eighteen men withdrew from the company and did not join Captain Mabbitt's Company, Mr. Procter being one of the number. Captain Ratcliff, Philip Walker and others who had withdrawn reached the San Jacinto battlefield April 22, 1836. Mr. Proctor evidently reached it in time to take part in the battle. Donation Certificate No. 433 for 640 acres of land was issued for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto, in Mr. Proctor's name April 8, 1852. Mr. Proctor, however, had assigned his rights to the certificate October 11, 1838, while living in San Augustine County. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 3550 for 320 acres of land May 24, 1838 for having served from June 4 to September 4, 1836.

The compiler has been unable to determine when Mr. Proctor came to Texas. There was a J.W. Proctor who came to Texas in December, 1835, as is stated in the Headright Certificate issued to him February 3, 1838 by Board of Land Commissioners for Robertson County. This was evidently not the San Jacinto veteran of that name for his home was in San Augustine County.



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. William Kimbro

Personal Statistics

    • Bounty Certificate: 3550
    • Donation Certificate: 433