Veteran Bio
The Kemp Sketch
(What is this?) | Download the original typescript
BREWSTER, HENRY PERCY -- Born in Laurens District, South Carolina, November 22, 1816, where he was reared and educated. He arrived at Velasco early in 1836 from New Orleans and left at once to locate the Texas army where he enlisted in Captain Henry Teal's Company of the regular army. He was shortly afterwards made Private Secretary to General Houston. During the battle of San Jacinto he was attached to Captain Robert J. Calder's "Brazoria Company". He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 553 for 960 acres of land for serving in the army from March 2 to December 2, 1836. On August 19, 1842 he received Donation Certificate No. 1204 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.
Read The Full Bio
When General Houston went to New Orleans to have his wounds treated Mr. Brewster accompanied him.
In the District Court Records of Brazoria County it is shown that Mr. Brewster was granted authority to practice law in the Republic March 27, 1837 by Benjamin C. Franklin, Judge of the Second Judicial District, after being examined by Henry Austin, William H. Jack and Dr. Branch T. Archer. On July 13, 1840 he was appointed District Attorney of the Second Judicial District, which position he held until some time during the year 1843, when he resigned to resume the practice of law. In 1849 he was appointed Attorney General of the State of Texas to succeed John W. Harris, who had resigned. In 185l he was Acting Adjutant General.
Mr. Brewster moved to Washington, D. C., in 1855 where he devoted his time to the practice of international law. He returned to Texas in 1861 to join the Confederate Army, and was in time appointed adjutant General and Chief of Staff to General Albert Sidney Johnston. He was near General Johnston when he was killed at Shiloh. He later served in Hood's Brigade.
After the close of the war Mr. Brewster located in San Antonio and there practiced law. In 1881 he was appointed Commissioner of Insurance Statistics and History. He was holding this position at the time of his death from paralysis, November 27, 1894. Complying with his request that he be buried at sea his body was placed on board a State boat, Hygeia, and from it deposited in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico near Galveston.
Mr. Brewster had two sisters and a brother, all of whom were deaf and dumb. He was married March 16, 1843 at Matagorda to Ann Elizabeth Royall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Royall, by Richard Morris, Judge of the First Judicial District. One of their daughters, Miss Bettie Brewster, died in Austin in 1922.
Brewster County when created from Presidio County in 1887 was named in honor of Henry Percy Brewster, " a gallant soldier of the Republic and officer in the Confederate army." - Was issued a Headright Certificate February 13, 1850 for a league and labor of land.
Act approved February 11, 1850.
Living in Travis County. Does not state when he came to Texas.
Close
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.
Gallery
of
Battle Statistics
- Died in Battle: No
- Rank: Private
- Company: Capt. Robert J. Calder
Personal Statistics
- Date of Birth: 1816 Nov 22
- Birthplace: South Carolina
- Came to Texas: 1836
- Date of Death: 1894 Nov 27
- Burial Place: At sea
- Comments: Civil War, Confederate Army
- Bounty Certificate: 553
- Donation Certificate: 1204
- Profession: Lawyer
- Wife: Ann Elizabeth Royall
- Children: Bettie Brewster
Additional Resources
Related Artifacts
of