Veteran Bio

John W. Anderson was issued a headright certificate February 1, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Nacogdoches County Board of Land Commissioners. He was in the San Jacinto campaign but his name is not on the rolls published in 1836 of those who participated in the battle. It appears, however, on the army rolls in the General Land Office of those who were detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836. Donation Certificate No. 98 for 640 acres of land was issued to Mr. Anderson February 13, 1860 for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto. It was not unusual for a soldier who remained at the camp to receive a certificate for land for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto. In the Court of Claims in the General Land Office there is an affidavit signed by John F. Gilbert, February 9, 1858 in which he said that Mr. Anderson was detailed to wait on the sick at the camp at Harrisburg and that it was his special duty to wait on Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter died April 20, 1836.

Mr. Anderson was married to Elizabeth Briley. Miss Briley was born in Mississippi in 1822 and died in January 1891. Mr. Anderson was a member of the Texas Veterans Association. He died in June 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are buried in marked graves in the cemetery in Cold Springs, Nacogdoches County.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Anderson were Missouri, who married N. K. Foote and now resides in Covington, Texas; Jack, who married first Ora Carroll and after her death, Lucy Pensey; Mary, who died unmarried; Mirah, who married Wiley Shipp; William, who died unmarried; Benjamin, who died unmarried; Sallie, who married Charles Strickland; Harriet, who married James Elders; Ellen, who married Wall Hunt and Omey Anderson, who married C. Peterson.

The names and addresses of some of the grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Anderson are J. T. Foote, Durant, Ok; G. H. Foote, Holdenville, Oklahoma; Ellen Griffin, Covington, Texas; J. C. Shipp, Garrison, Texas; J. H. Shipp, Garrison, Texas; Ben Strickland, Garrison; Mrs. Cora Keys, Route 3, Wortham, Texas; and Ada Foote Thomason, Mexia, Texas.

3-3-38

Mrs. H. K. Foote: I am writing short sketches of the prominent men and women of the Republic of Texas. You are receiving two copies of this sketch. One is for you to keep. I will appreciate it if you will correct any mistakes you may detect in the other and return it to L. W. Kemp, 214 Westmoreland Avenue, Houston, Texas.

The above correction is all that is necessary so far as I know. Respt. Mrs. H. K. Foote. Thanks for the copy you sent me.

Affidavits relative to the military record of Mr. Anderson are among the Pension papers in the Archives of the State Library, Austin

The following was copied from them:

The State of Texas

Nacogdoches County Personally appeared before the undersigned

Authority John W. Anderson the above applicant for pension, who after being by me duly sworn on his oath says: that he was a soldier in the Army of Texas from about the first day of March A. D. 1836 to about the first day of May A. D. 1836 – that he was a soldier in said army before and at the Battle of San Jacinto -- and served as such at that time -- that he was during said period a private in the company commanded by Captain Benjamin Bryant -- which company belonged to Colonel Sherman’s Regiment.

-JOHN W. ANDERSON

Sworn to and subscribed at Nacogdoches this the 30th day of December, A. D. 1870.

The State of Texas

Trinity County Personally came and appeared before me the undersigned authority, William Earl a credible citizen of said State and County, to me well know who being duly sworn according to law, says that he knows of his own personal knowledge that John W. Anderson was a soldier in the army of Texas in the year A. D. 1836 during the struggle for Independence, before and at the Battle of San Jacinto. Affiant states that said Anderson is a Citizen and Resident of the County of Nacogdoches in said State, and is aged about fifty five years. Affiant believes that said John W. Anderson is justly entitled to a pension for services under an “act granting pensions” etc. Approved August 13th A. D. 1870.

(signed) WM EARL

The State of Texas |

Nacogdoches County | Personally came and appeared before me the undersigned authority Jacob Lewis a credible citizen of Nacogdoches County and State aforesaid, to me well known, who being duly sworn according to law, on his oath says that he known of his knowledge that the applicant for pension named in the accompanying petition therefore, John W. Anderson was a soldier in the army of Texas in the year A. D. 1836 (One thousand eight hundred and thirty six) prior to the battle of San Jacinto—that he was a private and belonged to the Company of Captain Benjamin Bryant – which said company as affiant was informed and believes was engaged in said Battle – and as he was informed and believes that at that time he said John W. Anderson was then in the service and belonged to said company.

That said John W. Anderson is about Fifty five years old and is a citizen of Nacogdoches County and that he believes him to be justly entitled to a pension for services under the “Act granting pensions” etc. approved August 13th, 1870 (Erasure of the words Willis H. Landrum & interlineation of the words Benjamin Bryant made before signing -- )

JACOB LEWIS

Mr. Anderson was a member of the Texas Veterans Association. He is shown by that organization as having “served in the army in 1836” and his place of residence in 1874 is show as Nacogdoches County (Baker’s Scrap Book, P. 586.)

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