Veteran Bio

The name W. Baker is listed on pages 41 and 227 of the army rolls in the Land Office among those of the men of Captain Peyton R. Splane’s Company who were detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836.

Donation Certificate No. 694 for 640 acres of land was issued in the name of W. Barker, April 20, 1855, due him for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto. At the time the certificate was issued many of the former soldiers who had either participated in the battle or had been detailed to guard the baggage, when applying for the land due them for their services, were given Donation Certificates for 640 acres of land “for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.” Since Mr. Barker’s name appears on the Harrisburg rolls and does not appear on the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 the compiler does not list him as a San Jacinto Veteran.

It seems that Mr. Barker died before April 20, 1855 and that William W. Schrier of Travis County, who claimed to have been a cousin, and only heir, received Donation Certificate No. 694, mentioned above, and probably the headright and bounty certificates issued in Mr. Barker’s name. That he received the donation certificate is shown on pages 128 and 129, Book R. Deed Records of Travis County. The following was copied from page 128 of an affidavit made April 14, 1855 by Thomas W. Bundick before William Anders, a notary public:

“Be it remembered that on this day personally

appeared before me, an Acting Notary Public, duly

commissioned and qualified, Thomas W. Fundick, to

me well acquainted with William Barker in his life

time, late a Soldier in the Texian Army, and that he is

now dead, and that he left no father, Mother, brothers

or sisters, wife or children, surviving him, and the

only and nearest relation now surviving him is Wi-

liam W. Schrier who depondent knows to be a cousin of

said w. Barker.”

On page 129 of the deed records mentioned it is shown that April 24, 1855 Mr. Schrier sold Donation Certificate No. 694 issued in the name of W. Barker, to W. Wyatt for $200.

Donation Certificate No. 694 may be found in Travis County Donation File No. 616 in the General Land Office. In the file it is shown that the land on the certificate was surveyed in 1857 in Travis and Williamson Counties for A. H. Barnes. In the file also is a statement dated October 16, 1876 in which Mrs. Louisa Williams serves notice that she intends to recover the land. She claimed to have been a sister of William Barker, who died in 185_, and his only surviving heir.

Bounty Certificate No. 1990 for 320 acres of land was issued in the name of W. Barker, April 20, 1855, the same day Donation Certificate No. 694 was issued, due him for having served in the army from March 13, to _________(June 13), 1836. The certificate and papers pertaining to it should be in Fannin County Bounty File No. 576 but there were no papers in the file October 24, 1938 when it was examined by the compiler. The service for which the certificate was issued is shown on pages 550 and 551 of the Bounty Book in the General Land Office.

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