Veteran Bio

The name A. R. Stevens is listed on page 15 of the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 as Second Corporal of Captain William W. Hill's Company. On page 6 of the rolls A. R. Stephens is listed among those who were wounded in the battle.

Colonel John M. Swisher in his published memoirs in writing of Mr. Stephens said "....Ashly R. Stephens, another member of our Company, was wounded - shot through the calf of both legs - no bones were broken and we looked upon his wounds as being slight, yet he died on the ninth day afterwards."

The following information pertaining to Mr. Stephens is found on an original roll of Captain Hill's Company at muster April 11, 1836. A photostatic copy of the roll is in the Archives of the State Library. Mr. Stephens is shown to have been born in Wayne County, North Carolina in 1808. He was described as being five feet, ten and one half inches high, of dark complexion with black eyes and black hair. He was enlisted at the home of Asa Mitchell's by Captain Joseph P. Lynch. He was a farmer.

William W. Hawkins, a brother-in-law of Mr. Stephens was appointed administrator of his estate in Washington County, February 22, 1837. His estate received Bounty Certificate No. 9084 for 960 acres of land issued in the name of A. R. Stevens, due him for his services in the army from March 1 to April 29, 1836, and for having died in the service, and Donation Certificate No. 863 on May 2, 1839 for 640 acres issued in the name of A. R. Stevens due him for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.

Mr. Stephens was married to a Miss Hawkins, sister of William W. Hawkins, a San Jacinto Veteran. Mrs. Stephens evidently died before her husband did. The Probate Records of Washington County show that Adolphus Hope and Thomas S. Saul were appointed guardians of their son, John Stephens, September 25, 1837.

Following is the inventory of Mr. Stephens estate: 1 Gray Mare, $20.; 1 Brown Mare, $25.; 1 yoke of 4 yrs. old oxen, $40.; 2 three years old steers, $25.; 1 cow and calf, $10.; 2 cows, $16.; 2 yearlings $6.; 2 gilt sows, $6.; 2 shoats, 1 year old, $9.; 1 rifle, $20.; 2 two years old heifers, $18.; 1 lot of tools, $7.; 1 bell, $3.; 3 plow and shoes, $3.; 1 metal pot, $3.; 1 grindstone, $2.50; 355 1/2 acres of land of the one-fourth of a league granted to Nicholas Whitehead, $355.50. Total $619.00.

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