Veteran Bio
The Kemp Sketch
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SECREST, FIELDING -- On page 128 of the "Lost (Headright) Book" of Harris County in the Spanish Archives in the General Land Office it is stated that Mr. Secrest came to Texas in 1835. Early in the year 1838 Mr. Secrest as a single man was issued Headright Certificate No. 341 for one-third of a league of land by the Board of Land Commissioners of Brazoria County. He was married September 25, 1838 and afterwards he received a Headright Certificate for two-thirds of a league and one labor of land by the Harrisburg County Board. In this certificate it is stated that he came to Texas prior to May 2, 1835. This was lost and a duplicate was issued August 14, 1852.
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Mr. Secrest was a member of Captain Henry W. Karnes' Company and his San Jacinto Donation Certificate No. 464 for 640 acres of Land was issued to his heirs December 13, 1852. His Bounty Certificate for services immediately prior to and after the battle of San Jacinto are not of record in the Land Office. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 2723 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from June 25 to December 25, 1836. He enlisted in the Washington Cavalry, commanded by Washington H. Secrest June 25, 1836.
The marriage records of Harrisburg County show that Mr. Secrest and Eliza H. Sneed were married at Houston September 25, 1838. Miss Sneed was a daughter of John H. Sneed and had two sisters, Mrs. Sallie W. Woodward and Mrs. Susan Sheridan. Mrs. Secrest died in Houston in 1839, leaving her husband and an infant daughter, Elizabeth E., who died two months later.
Mr. Secrest was a brother of Washington H., Jacob, Thomas C., Felix A., Francis, Elizabeth J. and Sarah Secrest. Elizabeth married a Mr. Magness and Sarah married a Mr. Hogan.
The Probate Records of Harris County, Book S, page 226, show that Mr. Fielding Secrest died in Houston, June 1, 1840. Contained in the record are the names of the brothers and sisters of Mr. Secrest and the information regarding the death of Mrs. Secrest.
A duplicate Headright Certificate for two-thirds of a league and one labor of land was issued May 14, 1852, to Thomas C. and Felix A. Secrest of Guadalupe County, heirs of Mrs. Secrest. Mr. Sneed, father of Mrs. Secrest, died in 1852.
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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.
Gallery
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Battle Statistics
- Died in Battle: No
- Rank: Private
- Company: Capt. Henry Wax Karnes
Personal Statistics
- Alternate Names: Secretts, Grundy
- Came to Texas: 1835
- Date of Death: 1840 Jun 1
- Donation Certificate: 464
- Wife: Eliza H. Sneed
- Children: Elizabeth E. Sneed
- Family at San Jacinto: Brother Washington Secrest at San Jacinto
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