Veteran Bio

The Constitutional Convention on March 10, 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos passed the following resolution:

"Resolved that the Committee on military affairs be instructed to draw up and report to this convention, a commission for Joseph L Bennett Captain of a volunteer company, now at this place, and that he, the said Bennett, be authorized to draw upon the government for all sums necessary to provision his company on their march, to whatever point they may be ordered."

The men in Captain Bennett's Company were from what are now Montgomery, Walker, Grimes and adjoining counties. On about March 1, 1836 the company set out to join Travis but upon learning of the fall of the Alamo they headed for the main army, joining it at Beason' s crossing. On April 8th when the army was reorganized Captain Bennett was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Regiment of Texas Volunteers, and James Gillaspie succeeded him in the command of his former company. Colonel Bennett was on May 14, 1838, issued Donation Certificate No. 12 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

On May 27, 1837 President Houston appointed Colonel Bennett Colonel of a regiment of mounted Gunmen for the defense of the frontier. He served in the House of Representatives of the Third and Fourth Congresses November 5, 1838 to February 5, 1840, having been elected from Montgomery County. In 1842 he raised a battalion for the Somervell Expedition. Most of his men, tiring of inaction, returned to their homes. Colonel Bennett then joined the battalion commanded by Major Bartlett Sims. He did not continue with the Mier Expedition.

Colonel Bennett's home as late as May 31, 1848 was in the town of Montgomery, Montgomery County but he moved later in the year and settled on his headright in Navarro and Freestone counties. He signed his will September 28, 1848 and it was opened for probate in Navarro County, October 30th. Surviving him were his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett, and their children Seaborn J., Julia Ann Clark, wife of Joseph Clark, Frances F. Dyer, wife of B. F. Dwyer, Lilian and Adaline. Lilian afterward married Kenneth Curry and Adaline married Henry Epps.

The Bennett home in Freestone County was situated about three miles from the present town of Streetman. At the death of Mrs. Bennett she was buried in the family cemetery. Her son Seaborn, J. Bennett was also buried in that cemetery. His widow at the death of her son, Joseph moved to Polk County and lived with her daughter Belle, who had married a Mr. Wright. Lizzie, another daughter was first married to Daniel Stewart and after his death married George Dubose. "Puss", another daughter did not marry.

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