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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WINTERS, JOHN FRELAN -- Born in Giles County, Tennessee, July 13, 1814, the second son of James and Rhoda (Beal) Winters. In Headright Certificate No. 262 issued to him February 1, 1838, for a league and labor of land by the Montgomery County Board it is stated that he came to Texas in 1834. With him was his wife, who before marriage was Margaret Ella Miller, and they settled in what is now Walker County.

Winters was a member of Captain William Ware's Company at San Jacinto and on June 28, 1838, he was issued Donation Certificate No. 385 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 2573 dated March 15, 1838, for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from March 12, to June 12, 1S36.

After the death of his wife Mr. Winters married Henrietta R. Ramsdell. Mr. Winters died January 16, 1864 and is buried in the family cemetery on land that belonged to a Miss Hoat, two miles northeast of Hawthorne, Walker County. After the death of Mr. Winters, his widow was twice married. She died February l, 1906 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin. Children of Mr. Winters by his first marriage were (1) Ruth, who married J.M. Shopshire, they had one child J.T. Cameron Shopshire; (2) Rhoda, married Robert Love; no children survived them; (3) Bettie, married Henry H. Boyd, no children survived them; (4) Sherman, married Mollie Caldwell, no surviving children; (5) James, married Mary Ellison, they had one son, John G. Winters; (6) John F. Winters, Jr., was married and had three children, John F., Willie Wessh, and Ella Winters. After the death of his wife John F. Jr. married Ada Hardy, their children were, John F. Winters who lived in Merkel, TX; Pirson Winters; Roy E. Winters; Adolphus Winters; and Ada V. Winters who married a Mr. Carder. (7) William, married Martha Elmore Ellison and their only child, Willie E. Winters married D.R. Hardy; and (8) Ella Winters died in childhood. By the marriage of John F. Winters the San Jacinto veteran, to Henrietta R. Ramsdell Winters, two children were born, (1) Cora I. Winters married J.J. Walker and lived in Barstow, TX; and (2) Gertrude Winters, who died in childhood.

WINTERS, JOHN F.--Enlisted September 18, 1836; Lieutenant James T. Sprowl's Company at muster at Velaso September 25, 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 Ware

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: John Frelan
  • Date of Birth: 1814 Jul 13
  • Birthplace: Tennessee, Giles County
  • Came to Texas: 1834
  • Date of Death: 1864 Jan 16
  • Burial Place: Winters family cemetery, Walker County, Texas
  • Bounty Certificate: 2573
  • Donation Certificate: 385
  • Wife: 1. Margaret Ella Miller; 2. Henrietta R. Ramsdell Winters
  • Children: Ruth Winters Shopshire; Rhoda Winters Love; Bettie Winters Boyd; Sherman Winters; James Winters; John F. Winters; William Winters; Ella Winters; Cora I. Winters Walker; Gertrude Winters
  • Family at San Jacinto: Brothers James Washington Winters and William Carvin Winters fought at San Jacinto.