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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RUSSELL, ROBERT BENEDICT -- Born April 1, 1817 near Utica, New York, a son of Everitt Russell. On October 13, 1835 he received title to one-fourth of a league of land in Zavala's Colony situated in Sabine County. In the Headright Certificate issued to him March 8, 1838 for one-twelfth of a league of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for San Augustine County it is stated that he came to Texas in 1835.

In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 6177, Captain William Kimbro certified that Mr. Russell enlisted in Captain Benjamin F. Bryant's Company on March 31, and was discharged May 2, 1836, at the disbandment of Captain Bryant's Company. He enlisted in Captain Kembro's Company on May 2 and was discharged at San Augustine June 15, 1836. On November 13, 1851 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 3 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

Mr. Russell was married to Lavina E. Brownrigg, who was born in Woodville, Mississippi, August 29, 1821. Her father, Dr. G. B. Brownrigg, was born and reared in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. He moved to Alabama and there married a daughter of Benjamin Thomas, Sr., who later moved to San Augustine, Texas. Dr. Brownrigg and wife moved to Mississippi and in 1830 came to Texas and settled at San Augustine.

Mr. Russell and family moved to Sabine Pass in 1848 and to Orange in 1854. There Mr. Russell died November 30, 1880. Mrs. Russell died May 4, 1899 and was buried beside her husband in a cemetery in Orange. Their graves are marked. Mr. Russell was a mason and was a member of the Texas Veterans Association.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Russell are: Georgianna E.; Henry H.; Robert E. Russell; Junius B.; Julia E.; Charles Alanson ; Laura A. and Granville S. Russell.

Georgianna E. Russell was born March 1, 1843. She was married to J. W. T. Sims, January 2, 1862. They had no children. Mrs. Sims died September 13, 1865, in Grange County from the effects received in a severe storm.

Henry H. Russell was born May 24, 1845. He was twice married. First, on October 12, 1868 he was married to Susan Hardy. By this union there were three children, Robert H., George M., and Julia. Second, after his first wife's death, he married Mrs., Buelah Smith. They had two children, Vinette and Louise.

Robert E. Russell was born October 10, 1047. He was married to Katharine C. McFarland, October 19, 1871. They had four children, Cecile , Mary, Robert B., and Lavinia. Mary married Arthur C. Fleig.

Junius B. Russell was born January 17, 1850 and died of yellow fever at Columbus, Texas, October 19, 1873.

Julia E. Russell was born October 12, 1852. She was married to Florentine W. Moss. They had four children, Claude, Julia, Besse and Georgia.

Charles Alanson Russell, last surviving child of Robert B. Russell and wife was born August 29, 1859. He was married to Mary Anderson, daughter of Wilson Livingston Anderson. Mr. and Mrs. Russell had three children (1) Leah B., who married Arthur McDonald, September 18, 1899. Mrs. McDonald died August 23, 1910.; (2) Charles A, Jr.; and (3) Junius B., who married Lily McIllroy, May 14, 1917.

Laura A. Russell was born December 9, 1862 and died May 22,1863.

Granville S. Russell, youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Russell, was born May 13, 1866. He was married to Maggie O. Bland, March 17, 1877. They had five children (1) Susie, (2) Lonie, (3) Henry, (4) Josephine, and (5) Georgia.

Grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Russell are: Cecile Russell; Robert B. Russell, Jr.; Mrs. Arthur C. Fleig; Miss Bessie Moss; Miss Georgia Moss; Charles A. Russell; Junius B. Russell; and Henry Russell.



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. Benjamin F. Bryant

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1817 Apr 1
  • Birthplace: New York, Utica
  • Origin: New York, Hamilton
  • Came to Texas: 1835
  • Date of Death: 1880 Nov 29
  • Donation Certificate: 3
  • Profession: Carpenter, lumberman
  • Wife: Lavinia E. Brownrigg
  • Children: Georgianna E. Russell Sims, Henry H. Russell, Robert E. Russell, Junius B. Russell, Julia E. Russell Moss, Charles Alanson Russell, Laura A. Russell, Granville S. Russell
  • Family at San Jacinto: Wife's uncle Benjamin Thomas fought at San Jacinto.