PHILLIPS, ELI--Born in Henrico County, Virginia, June 19, 1813. When he applied for a pension December 8, 1874 he stated that he came to Texas in August, 1835. In the Headright Certificate issued to him for one-third of a league of land February 8, 1838 by the Board of Land Commissioners for Harrisburg County it is stated that he arrived in Texas prior to March 2, 1836. He sold the certificate to John Belden, March 10, 1838 for $200.00.
Mr. Phillips was issued Bounty Certificate No. 689 for 1280 acres of land for his services from February 13, 1836 to October 24, 1837. He sold the certificate to James S. Holman October 25, 1837 for $200.00. He was a member of Captain Amasa Turner's Company at San Jacinto but since he left Texas he did not apply for the land due him for having participated in the battle.
At the promotion of Captain Turner his men, were transferred to other companies. On page 171 of the army rolls in the General Land Office, Mr. Phillips is shown as a member of Captain John Smith's Company on Galveston Island. He is shown as having enlisted February 13, 1836 for a period of two years, or the duration of the war.
Mr. Phillips was living in Sharp County, Arkansas, December 8, 1874 when he applied to the State of Texas for a Veterans Pension. The following from his application is on file in the Pension Papers Archives of the Texas State Library, Austin: THE STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF NAVARRO Before me Robert W. Walton a Notary Public, duly Commissioned and qualified for said state and county. The day previously appeared Eli Phillips and after being by me duly sworn, deposes and says upon his oath, that he is a citizen of Sharp County and State of Arkansas and that he has visited the State of Texas for the purpose of bring up his Pension claims, That he was a member of Capt. Smith's Company (A) That he enlisted in said Company to the best of his knowledge in or about the month of February A. D 1836 and served twelve months, and was honorably discharged. That he served upon the side of the people of Republic of Texas, and that he drew a bounty warrant for 1280 acres of land for said service. This he emigrated to the Republic of Texas in the month of August A D 1835, affiant further says that he was born in the County of Henrico in the State of Virginia on 19th day of June A D 1813. That under the laws of the State of Texas granting Pensions to the surviving veterans who seperated Texas from Mexico - He is entitled to a Pension. That he has never before applied or received a pension under said act of the State of Texas granting Pensions.
ELI PHILIPS
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the Eighth Day of December A. D. 1874. To certify which I have hereunto set my hand and attached my seal of office at my office in Corsicana, Texas, the day and year above written and I further certify that the said Eli Philips in unknown to me and that he made himself known to me- as being the identical man that he represents himself to be.
(signed) ROBERT WALTON
Notary Public
Navarro County, Texas"
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.
NOTE: All information contained within biography should be supported by other sources before accepting it as factual.
