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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STANCELL, JOHN F. -- The name appears on page 11 of the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 as B. F. Starkley, a member of Captain William S. Fisher's Company of Velasco Blues. It also appears as B. F. Starkley on page 32 of the San Jacinto rolls in the General Land Office. On the same roll the fourth name from the last is S. Tancell both being intended for John F. Stancell.

Mr. Stancell arrived in Texas in 1835, as is shown in the Headright Certificate issued to him March 10, 1838 by the Harrisburg County Board of Land Commissioners for one-third of a league of land. He gave his home as Harrisburg County August 27, 1847 when he sold the certificate to William K. Wilson. In Service Record No. 1196 it is certified that he enrolled in Captain Daniel Perry's Company March 6, 1836 and served in it until it was united with Captain William S. Fisher's Company. He was discharged June 4, 1836. He received Bounty Certificate No. 840 for 1280 acres of land ________ for having served in the army from June 4, 1836 to December 8, 1837. He sold the certificate to Henry Smith at Houston, June 10, 1838 for $250.00. He was a member of Captain Fisher's Company at San Jacinto and his heirs received Donation Certificate No. 483 February 17, 1853, due him for having participated in the battle. William C. Smith was the guardian of the minor children, Reuben, John F. and James Stancell of John F. Stancell. For value received I transfer all my rights, title and interest to three hundred and twenty acres of land coming to me for military service by virtue of the within certificate of discharge to William Fairfax Gray his heirs or assigns. I also authorize the said W. F. Gray or such person as he may appoint to select, locate and survey said land in any part of the Republic the law may direct in such cases, with full power to expense. Done at the City of Houston this 28th day of August 1837.

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us witnesses

JOHN F. STANCELL Seal

I. HITTERA GRAHAM N. B. GIDDINGS

Velasco Jan. 9th, 1838 This certifys that Private John F. Stancell was enrolled in the services of the Republic of Texas on the fifth day of March 1836 and served in Capt. Danl. Perrys Company until its union with Capt. Fisher. He was in the battle of San Jacinto on the 21st April last and has otherwise done his duty in a faithful and soldier-like manner and in Consequence of having served his term of Enrollment (three months) is now honorable discharged from the army of the Republic.

WILLIAM S. FISHER, Capt.

Approved

Wm. H. Jack

Acting Sec. of War

10th June 1836.

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

  • Alternate Names: Starkley, Tancell
  • Came to Texas: 1835
  • Donation Certificate: 483
  • Children: Reuben Stancell; John F. Stancell; James Stancell