Veteran Bio

Mr. Ownsby, like many of the men of Captain Roman's Company, probably left Texas shortly after the expiration of his service in the army. He did not apply for a Headright or for the land due him for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.

Note: Shown on the Convention election returns as J. P. Ownby.

OWNSBY, JAMES P. -- Arrived in Texas January 28, 1836, as is stated in Headright Certificate No. 47 for one-third of a league, of land issued to him in 1838 by the Board of Land Commissioners for Harrisburg County. (Clerk's Return Book A, General Land Office). As a matter of fact, be had arrived at Velasco January 28, 1836 on the schooner Pennsylvania, having been recruited in New Orleans for the army by Captain Amasa Turner. On January 6, 1838 James Wharton testified that he had arrived in Texas on the same boat with Mr. Ownsby (Page 17, Harrisburg Headright Book in the General Land Office, Austin).

Although Mr. Ownsby did not reach Velasco until January 28, 1836, he voted in the election held February 1 throughout Texas to select delegates to the Constitutional Convention to be held at Washington-on-the-Brazos. (Election returns, Archives, Texas State Library, Austin).

Mr. Ownsby's name appears on page 27 of the army rolls in the General Land Office as a member of Captain John Hart's company at Velasco, January 29, 1836. Captain Roman succeeded Captain Hart as commander of the company and Mr. Ownsby served Captain Roman's Company at San Jacinto. On June 9, 1838, Bounty Certificate No. 3769 for 1280 acres of land was issued in his name, but assigned to Sidney E. Collins, for his services in the army from January 29, 1836, to January 31, 1837.

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