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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WARE, WILLIAM -- Born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, January 15, 1800, the eldest son of Joseph Ware of Scotch-Irish descent, who emigrated to Kentucky in a very early day. The father was a gunsmith. With his wife and three children, William Ware emigrated to Texas in 1831, settling on Ware's Creek, two miles west of the present town of Willis. In 1835 he raised a company of recruits in what is now Montgomery county and as Captain participated in the Storming and Capture of Bexar, being wounded in the hand during the engagement. His company was disbanded and his men returned to their homes. At the call for volunteers early in the year 1836, he raised a second company in that part of Washington Municipality now embraced by Montgomery County. This Company, the Second Company of the Second Regiment of the Texas Volunteers, he commanded at San Jacinto. He received Bounty Certificate No. 1002 for 320 acres of land November 18, 1845, for having served in the army from March 12 to June 12, 1836. On August 4, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 493 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle.

In Headright Certificate No. 260 issued to Captain Ware March 2, 1838 for one labor of land by the Board of Land Commissioners of Montgomery County it is stated that he came to Texas in 1831. He sold the certificate January 19, 1842 to George E. Hunter for $100. He could not sign his name but made his mark to the deed of transfer. (Montgomery First Class Headright File No. 166 in the General Land Office.) His military correspondence was attended to by First Lieutenant Job. S. Collard.

Captain Ware received title to a league of land August 17, 1835 in Vehlein's Colony situated in what is now Montgomery. Apparently due to his inability to spell his name the title was made in the name of William Wier.

After the death of his wife, Captain Ware, in 1836 was married to Elizabeth Ann Crane, daughter of Captain John Crane, who commanded a company at the siege of Bexar in 1835 and lost his life in the campaign against the Cherokees in 1839.

In 1844 Captain Ware with his wife and family pushed northward into Kaufman County, remaining there until 1849 when he loaded his family into ox-drawn wagons and headed south. They spent their first winter on York's Creek twelve miles southeast of New Braunfels, and there on December 20, 1849, his wife died. The following spring, Captain Ware and his children settled on the Cibolo in Bexar County remaining there until 1852 when they moved to Uvalde County. They pitched camp at their future home, Waresville, one mile south of the present town of Utopia, August 17, 1852, establishing the first permanent Anglo-American settlement between D'Hanis and the Rio Grande River. Captain Ware died March 9, 1853 and is buried in the Waresville Cemetery, south of Utopia, Uvalde County, Texas.

Children of Captain Ware by his first marriage were (a) Richard, (b) Polly and (c) "Sis" Ware.

Children of Captain Ware by his second marriage were (1) John C., (2) Sarah, (3) Eliza, (4) Amanda, (5) Texana, (6) Emaline and (7) Betty Ware.

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: Captain
  • Company: Second Regiment Texas Volunteers

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Wier
  • Date of Birth: 1800 Jan 15? 1801 Jan 15?
  • Birthplace: Kentucky, Muhlenburg County
  • Came to Texas: 1831? 1828?
  • Date of Death: 1853 Mar 9
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Comments: Could not sign name, signed by mark.
  • Bounty Certificate: 1002
  • Donation Certificate: 493
  • Wife: 1. unknown; 2. Elizabeth Ann Crane
  • Children: Richard Ware; Polly Ware Davenport; Sis Ware Wood; John C. Ware; Sarah Ware Kincheloe; Eliza Ware Fenley; Amanda Ware Boles; Texana Ware Watson; Emaline Ware Taylor; Betty Ware