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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SHREVE, JOHN MILTON -- Born near Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky August 1, 1811. He came to Texas in August, 1835, as is stated in Headright Certificate No. 216 issued to him February 7, 1838 for a league and a labor of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for Harrisburg County. In the certificate it is stated that he had married after March 2, 1836.

Mr. Shreve was a member of Captain William S. Fisher's Company at San Jacinto and on February 7, 1840 was issued Donation Certificate No. 99 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. In October 10, 1840 he received Bounty Certificate No. 9603 for 320 acres of land for his services in the army from March 16 to June 16, 1836. He was living in Travis County October 11, 1840 when he sold the certificate to Morgan C. Hamilton for $320.00

Mr. Shreve's first home in Texas was in Velasco. There he was married to Sarah Bailey in August, 1836. Mrs. Shreve died in June, 1838.

The following was copied from the Memoirs of Francis Richard Lubbock, page 33. Mr. Lubbock arrived at Velasco in October, 1836:

"My first night was spent in the hotel kept by J. M. Shreve, a Kentuckian (subsequently he was chief clerk of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas and I am assistant). His partner in the hotel proved to be Benjamin S. Grayson, of my native town, Beaufont. He was a brother of Capt. Thomas W. Grayson. We had not seen each other since our boyhood, and our pleasure was mutual upon meeting after so long a time in such a far away country."

Mrs. George D. Wright of Buechel, Kentucky a great great niece of Mr. Shreve furnished the following information regarding him in a letter dated December 26, 1933:

Mr. Shreve was the eighth child of Judge William Shreve and the second child of Judge Shreve and Mrs. Ann Barnett Shreve. Mr. John M. Shreve's second wife was Susan Lucket Simpson of Owen County, Kentucky. They were married June 22, 1843. Mrs. Shreve was born February 27, 1820 and died March 23, 1885. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Shreve were, Juliette Ann, William and Leven Fannin and James Simpson Shreve. William and Leven Fannin Shreve died in infancy.



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 S. Fisher

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1811 Aug 1
  • Birthplace: Kentucky, Jessamine County
  • Came to Texas: 1835 Aug
  • Date of Death: 1886 Feb 12
  • Burial Place: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky
  • Bounty Certificate: 9603
  • Donation Certificate: 99
  • Wife: 1. Sarah Bailey; 2. Susan Lucket Simpson
  • Children: Juliette Ann Shreve Nunez; William Shreve; Levin Fannin Shreve; James Simpson Shreve