| Notes |
- Born in Kentucky, April 16, 1815. He came to Texas in February, 1830, as is stated in the Headright Certificate issued to him January 5, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Fayette County Board. He was a member of Captain Jesse Billingsley's company of "Mina Volunteers" at San Jacinto and on February 7, 1840 was issued Donation Certificate No. 1019 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He received Bounty Certificate No. 9818 for 3250 acres of land for having served in the army from September 28 to December 13, 1835, and Bounty Certificate No. 3408 for 320 acres of land for his services from March 27 to June 27, 1836.
Mr. Criswell was married to Mary E. Michin (McMicken)at La Grange, February 3, 1842. Mr. Criswell died January 19, 1858 and was buried on the Kubena farm one mile southeast of Praha, Fayette County, in a marked grave. In 1936, Mr. Criswell's body was removed and reintered in the State Cemetery at Austin. It was noted at time of exhumation, that his bones were still intact, due to the fact that his wife had his original grave lined with limestone. It's probably well and good that William was moved to Austin, as the rest of the Criswell Cemetery on the Kubena farm, has all but been distroyed.
Children of Mr. and Mrs. Criswell were: Bettie, who married Calvin Jones; Sallie E., who married Simmie Lee; Mollie, who married James Lyons; John H., who married Josie Jones; James Yancy, who married Aedelie Burks and Lillie Criswell, who married John Waddell.
Member Lyons (Masonic) Lodge No. 195.
One of William Vanoy Criswell's descendants, Mrs. Billie Beth Moore was instrumental in helping to create the "San Jacinto Descendants", a heriditary organization set up to perpetuate the memory of all San Jacinto Veterans .
William Vannoy Criswell, a San Jacinto hero serving in Captain Jesse Billingsley's Company under Colonel Edward Burleson's 1st Regiment know as the Mina Volunteers, later as Company C. His name appears on the bronze plaque inside the San Jacinto Monument at the Battlefield. He was buried in the Criswell Cemetery located on his land 1/2 mile east of his home, on the north side of Mulberry Creek. At one time this was a large cemetery. About 1935, the man who owned the land where the cemetery was located broke down all the stones except two and hauled them away. Houston Wade found out about it and the man was fined a large sum of money.
The Criswell Cemetery has been plowed under now and William Criswell's remains were moved to the State Cemetery in Austin. Williams tombstone was a double stone with one side inscribed: "An old Texas Veteran. The Cross is my Ancor". The opposite side is inscribed "Sarah E. Lee, nee Criswell, Asleep in Jesus" along with her dates.
William V.'s body was then removed to Austin and placed in the "Republic of Texas" part of the State Cemetery. A number of relatives and descendants attended this reburial ceremony in 1936, including a ggggrandson, Leon Harlan Ivy, who received special mention. William V. is bried opposite the grave of another Fayette County man, Joel W. Robison, one of the five men who captured Santa Anna. Next to Joel's grave is a marker telling of the capture. The other 4 captors were James A. Sylvester, Joseph D. Vermillion, Alfred H. Miles and David Cole. Captain Jesse Billingsley and Rev. Z.N. Morrell are buried nearby.
William Vannoy Criswell is buried in the State Cemetery at Austin, Harris County, Texas, in
Section: Republic Hill Section 1, Row U, Number 7.
William V. Criswell served on the 2nd Grand Jury of Fayette County, Tx. Fall 1839
Bounty and Donation Grants
William Criswell (Battle of San Jacinto, 1836), 640 acres in Uvalde County, Bexar Land District. (C1019, F472)
Willaim Criswell (Siege of Bexar, 1835), 320 acres in Blanco, Bexar Land District. (C9818, F571)
William Criswell (Battle of San Jacinto, 1836), 320 acres in Gonzales Land District (C2408, F72).
"Texas 1840-49 Vol. 1" Census living in Fayette Co. 1850 Census Fayette County, Texas
#410 Farmer ($1650)
Wm. V. Chriswell 35 m Ky
Mary 21 f Tenn
Elizabeth 4 f Tex
Sarah 3 f Tex
LIST -------------------------------------------------------------------
Billingsley, Jesse Company C
1st Regt. Texan Volunteers
San Jacinto List
Col. Edward Burleson Command
* (Apr 21, 1836) [A3; T1 p212]
* Wm. Gorham list
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPANY NAMES [1]
Anderson, Washington
Andrews, M. (1 Lt)
Avery, Willis
Bain, W.(V.)M.
Barton (Bartow), Jefferson
Barton, Wayn
Berry, Jackson
Billingsly, Jesse (Capt)
Blakey, Lemuel
Boom, Gerrett E.
Bunton, John W.
Burleson, Aaron
Chriswell, Wm.
Conlee, Preston
Connell, Sampson
Craft, James A. (2 Lt)
Craft, R.B. (1 Sgt)
Cravens, R.M.
Cunningham, L.C.
Curtis, James
Davey, Thomas
Dennis, Thomas M.
Erath, George B.
Gage, Calvin
Garwood, Joseph
Goodwin, Lewis
Graves, Thomas A.
Green, George
Halderman (Holderman), Jessee
Herron, John H.
Highsmith, A.M.
Holder, Prior
Hood, Robert
Hopson, John
Mayes, Thomas H.
McClelland, Saml.
McGill, Wm H. (2 Sgt)
McLean, Dugald
Motly (Motley), _____ (Dr.)
Pace, Demcy
Pace, James R.(K.)
Self, George
Simmons, Wm.
Standerford, Jacob
Standerford, Wm.
Taylor, Cambell (3 Sgt)
Vandervere (Vandevere), Logan
Walker, Martin
Williams, Charles
Willson (Wilson), Walker
[1] Names on transcribed roll. For dates of enrollment, service, death,
or other remarks, see transcribed roll in MUSTER ROLLS OF THE TEXAS
REVOLUTION, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Austin, 1986 [T1].
"In parentheses will be noted any difference of initials or spell-
ing of surnames that appeared on the Muster Roll Indexes" (of the
Texas General Land Office).[T1]
***** Index to Military Rolls of the Republic of Texas 1835-1845 *****
//www page H. David Maxey 12/28/98
------------------------------------------------------------billj_7L.htm
Alternate spelling for index
Bain, V.M.
Bartow, Jefferson
Holderman, Jessee
Motley, _____ (Dr.)
Pace, James K.
Vandevere, Logan
Wilson, Walker
|
1815 - 1858 (42 years)
