Individual Details
James Farmer
(June 8, 1796 - June 6, 1878)
James Farmer came to Texas from Giles County, Tennessee with the Robertson Colony in 1830. He fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and his name is carved on the monument. Reportedly, he brought two (or six) cannonballs to Comanche County which adorned gateposts. Monte Tatum says that an old timer pointed out the dirt tank into which the cannon balls were thrown. The cemetery where James Farmer is buried is located in an unfenced oak grove in a pasture behind the Monte Tatum residence. To get there, go to Monte Tatum's place on FM 1702. Turn right on the next road off FM 1702, past his house. Go to the bottom of the hill to the gate with the old barn. Go through the gate and follow the road for about a mile until you are about 1/2 mile below Monte's house.
"James Farmer is the only veteran of the Texas Revolution we find to have actually settled in Comanche County. From L. W. Kemp's manuscript "Heroes of San Jacinto" which may be seen in the Texas State Library, we learn that James Farmer arrived in Texas in 1830 as shown on a headright certificate for a league and a labor issued by the Board of Land Commissioners of Washington County 1 February 1838. Farmer enlisted as a member of Captain William Hill's company at Jesse Burnam's on 11 March 1836. He is described as 5' 8 1'2" tall with fair complexion, fair hair, and blue eyes. He served at San Jacinto and received a donation certificate for 640 acres for having been in the Texas Army between 11 May and 30 may 1936. According to a proof of heirship made by Farmer's daughter, Mary A. Woods in 1894, Farmer remained single after the death of his wife in 1843. His only heirs in 1894 were Mary and the four children of Willis Farmer, Mary's deceased brother." (Comanche County Gravestone Inscriptions, Volume 4, copied and compiled by Margaret Waring and Samuel J. C. Waring, 1983.)
"James Farmer is the only veteran of the Texas Revolution we find to have actually settled in Comanche County. From L. W. Kemp's manuscript "Heroes of San Jacinto" which may be seen in the Texas State Library, we learn that James Farmer arrived in Texas in 1830 as shown on a headright certificate for a league and a labor issued by the Board of Land Commissioners of Washington County 1 February 1838. Farmer enlisted as a member of Captain William Hill's company at Jesse Burnam's on 11 March 1836. He is described as 5' 8 1'2" tall with fair complexion, fair hair, and blue eyes. He served at San Jacinto and received a donation certificate for 640 acres for having been in the Texas Army between 11 May and 30 may 1936. According to a proof of heirship made by Farmer's daughter, Mary A. Woods in 1894, Farmer remained single after the death of his wife in 1843. His only heirs in 1894 were Mary and the four children of Willis Farmer, Mary's deceased brother." (Comanche County Gravestone Inscriptions, Volume 4, copied and compiled by Margaret Waring and Samuel J. C. Waring, 1983.)
Events
| Birth | June 8, 1796 | Caswell County, North Carolina | |||
| Marriage | December 24, 1818 | Madison County, Alabama - Christianna Massey | |||
| Death | June 6, 1878 | near Gustine, Comanche County, Texas | |||
| Burial | June 7, 1878 | family cemetery south of Gustine, Comanche County, Texas |
Families
| Spouse | Christianna Massey ( - 1843) |
| Child | Willis H. Farmer (1823 - 1880) |
| Child | Mary A. Farmer (1829 - 1911) |
| Father | Stephen Farmer (1775 - ) |
| Mother | Judy Harper ( - ) |
| Sibling | Susannah Farmer ( - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Farmer (1792 - 1881) |
| Sibling | William Harper Farmer (1810 - 1874) |