Veteran Bio

John Hallett, Jr. was a member of Captain William J. E. Heard's Company of Citizen Soldiers at San Jacinto. He died before August 17, 1847 when Donation Certificate No. 86 for 640 acres of land was issued in his name, but delivered to his mother, for having participated in the battle. His heirs were entitled to receive a headright of one-third of a league of land but apparently did not apply for it.

The following information concerning the Hallett family was submitted to the compiler October 28, 1938 by James T. Ballard, Beeville, Texas.

John Hallett, Jr. was born in Virginia in 1812, a son of John and Margaret (Leatherbury) Hallett, and was killed by Indians near San Antonio, Texas in 1837. John Hallett, Sr. was born in Worcestershire, England. When but a lad of twelve he was placed in training in the British Navy. Being threatened with punishment by one of the officers of the ship, he climbed overboard in the night time, and swam to an American vessel in the harbor. The captain of this vessel brought him to the United States and adopted him. Ho followed the sea with his adopted father for years, and was a volunteer in an engagement in Chesapeake Bay against the British. Later he sailed for several years as Captain from the ports of New York and Baltimore. In 1808 he married Margaret P. Leatherbury in Virginia. While sailing on the ocean he lost a ship at Key West, Florida, and with the insurance money he received he came to Texas and started in business at La Bahia, Texas. In October 1836, he died at La Bahia, Goliad County. His widow came to Texas and settled in Lavaca County. She donated one-half of the land for the townsite of Hallettsville, named in her honor. She died on her farm near Hallettsville in 1863.

Children of Mrs. and Captain John Hallett, Sr., were John, Jr., the San Jacinto soldier; William Henry; Benjamin; and Mary Jane Hallett.

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