Veteran Bio

In 1860 the heirs of Major Poe petitioned the Commissioner of Claims for the land due him from the State of Texas. The following is a copy of the deposition of General Sam Houston, signed May 7,1860, which is in the files of the Court of Claims, General Land Office: "Personally appeared before me W.S Hotchkiss, Comr. of Claims General Sam Houston who on oath says that he was acquainted with Geo. W. Poe during the spring campaign of 1836, that the said Poe was a Captain of Artillery and fought gallantly on the 20th April at San Jacinto. On the evening of the 20th of April, it was reported as understood that his wife was on the opposite side of the San Jacinto in great distress; that he went to her relief and did not get back until after the Battle. Affiant make this affidavit to enable the heirs of said Poe to obtain the Donation Warrant to which he knows they are entitled under the law, granting lands to those who participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

General Thomas Green, who manned one of the cannon at San Jacinto said in his deposition ,that Mr. Poe commanded one of the cannon on April 20th but was not in the battle of the 21st. He said he returned to the army on the 22nd or 23rd of April.

Major Poe was issued Bounty Certificate No. 4399 for 1280 acres of land November 3, 1838, for serving in the army from December 20, to March 3, 1837. He gave Harrisburg County as his home November 6,, 1838, when he sold the certificate to Samuel Powell for $500.00. Major Poe was Pay Master of the Army of Texas, 1836-1837.

Mr. Poe was appointed Third Lieutenant of Artillery by the General Council of the Provisional Government, December 17, 1835. He was Marshall of the procession at the funeral of Stephen F. Austin, December 29, 1836. He resigned as Paymaster General of the army in March 1837. In 1838 he was appointed Stock Commissioner. He died in 1840.

Mr. Poe was a charter member of the first Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge of Texas, organized at Houston, July 25, 1838.

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