Veteran Bio

Mr. Wells received Donation Certificate No. 689 for 640 acres of land December 13, 1838 for "having been at San Jacinto with team and wagon. It is assumed that it was the ammunition wagon. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 5072 for 320 acres of land December 13, 1838, having served in the army from March 15, to April 29, 1836.

In a Comptroller's Service Record in the Archives of the Texas State Library Captain William M. Eastland on February 7, 1838, certified that the Government of Texas owed Mr. Wells thirty-six dollars "For provisions furnished part of my company on their route after cattle and ammunition."

The following is a copy of another Service Record signed December 21, 1837, by Mr. Wells: "Before me, A Rabb, Chief Justice of the county of Mina, republic of Texas, personally came James A. Wells, and after being duly sworn says, that he contracted with Col. A. Houston, Quartermaster General of Texas, for four dollars per day, for the time he should continue in the public service--That in addition to the time mentioned in the annexed discharge, he served twenty days more with his wagon and team; having received said discharge at San Jacinto twenty days more, after the date of said discharge, having been given him to return home to San Augustine, at which place he joined the service. That he has applied to Col. Houston for an official certificate of these facts, but has not received it. - That the statements made in the annexed certificates, with regard to a horse which died in consequence of having been in the public service are just and true."

Mr. Wells lived for a long time in Fayette County but eventually moved to Travis County where he died in 1867. John L. Haynie was appointed administrator of his estate April 6, 1867.

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