Veteran Bio
The Kemp Sketch
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BURCH, VALENTINE – Born on a farm near Bardstown, Kenducky, in 1804, a son of Samuel Lewis and Dorothy Burch. The Burch family came to Texas in about 1825 from Illinois with the caravan headed by Rev. John Parker. They settled in Nacogdoches County.
Mr. Burch was a member of Captain William Kimbro’s company and his name, as “R. Burch” appears on the rolls printed in 1836 of those who had participated in the battle of San Jacinto, and it does not appear on the Harrisburg rolls in the General Land Office. Since however, he accepted Donation Certificate No. 1125 for 640 acres of land issued in his name January 16, 1841 for “having been detailed to guard camp near Harrisburg”, April 21, 1836 it is assumed by the compiler that he performed that service. In Comptroller’s Military Service Record No. 4660 signed by Captains William Kimbro and Henry Reed it is certified that Mr. Burch enlisted in Captain Kimbro’s company March 15, and was discharged at San Augustine, June 15, 1836. That he enlisted in Captain Reed’s company June 4, and was discharged September 4, 1836. On January 16, 1841 he was issued Bounty Certificate No. 9743 for 320 acres of land for his services from March 15, to June 15, 1836 and on November 26, 1837 he received Bounty Certificate No. 632 for 320 acres of land for his services from June 4 to September 4, 1836.
Mr. Burch was called “Bob” by his close friends. The nick name was acquired through the inability of one of his brothers to say Valentine. He called him “Bobbentine”, which was afterwards condensed into the shorter sobriquet “Bob”. He was married to Helen E. Cauble, who was born August 15, 1819 and died April 3, 1886. Mr. Burch died in 1895, while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. The State of Texas had erected a joint monument at the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Burch in 1936. They are buried in the Cauble Cemetery one-half mile east of Peach Tree Village in Tyler County.
Mrs. Emma Hammonds, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Burch, resides in the Hammond’s Apartment, Fourth and Augusta Streets, San Antonio. Mrs. Aurelia Kirby Burch, a daughter-in-law, resides at 1014 Kipling Street, Houston.
Mr. J. R. Poindexter, Temple, is a grandson.
Texas 1835
H R No. 217
1/3
San Augustine
Feb. 1, 1838
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.
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Battle Statistics
- Died in Battle: No
- Company: [Capt. William Kimbro] detailed to guard baggage
- Battle Account: Account told to Robert Rotan; copy in vertical file.
Personal Statistics
- Alternate Names: Bob; Valentine Ignatius Burch
- Date of Birth: 1813 Feb 14
- Birthplace: Kentucky, Bardstown
- Came to Texas: 1826
- Date of Death: 1892 Nov 26
- Burial Place: Tyler Co., Texas
- Comments: Sources differ as to presence at San Jacinto or at the camp opposite Harrisburg.
- Bounty Certificate: 9743
- Donation Certificate: 1125
- Profession: Planter, cattleman
- Wife: Helen Elmira Cauble
- Children: Angeline Burch Poindexter; Valentine Burch; Peter Burch; Samuel Houston Burch; Mary Ann Burch Lewis; James Burch; Matilda Burch Gardiner; Emma Burch Byrne Hammond
- Family at San Jacinto: Brother James Burch at Harrisburg
Additional Resources
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