Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

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HAYR, JAMES -- Came to Texas before May 2, 1835, as is shown in the Headright Certificate issued to him February 1, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Brazoria County Board. In applying for land in Austin's Colonies February 26, 1836, Mr. Hayr stated that he was "a resident citizen of Texas." He was a merchant and unmarried. He received Bounty Certificate No. 3032 for 320 acres of land for serving in the army from September 8 to December 25, 1835, and Bounty Certificate No. 3042 for 320 acres of land for his services from March 13, to August 13, 1836.

Mr. Hayr was a member of Captain William H. Patton's "Columbia Volunteers" at San Jacinto and Donation Certificate No. 647 for 640 acres of land was issued to him December 3, 1838, for having participated in the battle. Also on January 23, 1839, he was issued Bounty Certificate No. 7063 for 1280 acres of land for his services from February 22, 1837, to January 17, 1839. The following is from an affidavit made by Mr. Hayr in applying for a pension "....James Hayr who on oath states, That he was a soldier in the Military Service of Texas at the siege of Bexar, that he entered the service at Gonzales in September 1835 marched to San Antonio, and participated in the siege of that place, and did not leave, until the place was surrendered to the Militia authorities of Texas, in Decr 1835.

"And that early in March 1836 he entered the Army of the Republic of Texas in the Company of Wm. Patton of Brazoria County, was attached to Genl Sherman Regiment, under the command of Genl Sam Houston, was at, and participated in the battle of San Jacinto on the 21st April 1836, when the Mexican army under the command of Genl Santa Anna were met and defeated, and that he remained in the service of the Republic of Texas, until the enemy were driven out of the country, and that he has recd his donation of 640 acres of land for his participation in the Battle of San Jacinto.

Mr. Hayr died at Columbia, Brazoria County, in 1873 as is shown in Baker's Texas Scrap Book, page 579.

all bounties



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.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. David Murphree

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Haye
  • Came to Texas: Prior to May 2, 1835
  • Date of Death: 1873
  • Other Battles: Bexar
  • Bounty Certificate: 3042
  • Donation Certificate: 647
  • Profession: Merchant