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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CLEVELAND, HORATIO N. -- Born in 1800 and came to Texas from Alabama in 1835 with his wife and four sons, as is stated on page 67, Book B, list of applicants for land in Austin's Colonies. In Service Record No. 7735 it is certified that he entered the army January 1,1836 for the duration of the war and was sergeant major of the First Regiment of Texas Volunteers at San Jacinto. On May 17, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 94 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. The Land Office records do not show that he applied for the land due him for his services in the army immediately prior to and after the battle. He commanded the "Mill Creek Volunteers" from July 1, 1836 to January 1, 1837, and for this service received Bounty Certificate No. 3212 for 640 acres of land. He was issued a Headright Certificate No. 31 for a league and labor of land January 15, 1838 by the Austin County Board, in which it is stated that he arrived in Texas in March, 1835.

Among the Probate Records of Austin County is a letter from Captain Cleveland to Colonel William Pettus, dated Houston, May 8, 1840. In it Captain Cleveland indicated that he proposed to take his own life. He stated that he had been drinking and gambling and thought his family would be better off without him. On July 29, 1840 the probate court declared him legally dead. The following was copied from the records:

Whereas Horatio N. Cleveland, formerly a citizen of Austin County, has recently disappeared in an unknown and mysterious manner and no correct information can be obtained of him or of his leaving the county and from existing circumstances together with a letter, which will accompany this petition, to Col. Wm. Pettus bearing the date of the 8th of May, 1840, your petitioners William Pettus and Egia Cleveland have good reason to believe that said H. N. Cleveland is dead."

Captain Cleveland was survived by his widow, Mrs. Egia Cleveland, and the following children: George Washington, Soloman, William W. and James Madison Cleveland.



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: Sergeant Major
  • Company: First Regiment Texas Volunteers

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1800
  • Origin: Alabama
  • Came to Texas: 1835 Mar
  • Date of Death: 1840
  • Donation Certificate: 94
  • Wife: Egia Cleveland
  • Children: George Washington Cleveland; Soloman Cleveland; William W. Cleveland; James Madison Cleveland