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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HAWKINS, WILLIAM J. -- The compiler, in error, had the name William F. Haskins, put on the bronze plaque in the San Jacinto memorial monument on which are inscribed the names of the Texans who participated in the battle of San Jacinto. The name should be William J. Hawkins.

Mr. Hawkins' name appears on page 13 of the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 as Wm. Hawkins, a member of Captain Moseley Baker's "San Felipe Company". On page 131 of the army rolls in the General Land Office William Hawkins is shown as a member of Company A, first regiment of regular infantry, Captain Henry Teal. On June 30, 1836 he is shown as having enlisted in the army April 21, 1836 for a period of two years. On page 143 William J. Hawkins is listed as a member of Captain Henry Teal's company, August 31, 1836 and he is shown as having enlisted on April 21st. William F. Hawkins is listed on page 173 as a member of Company B, first regiment of infantry, Captain Jacob Snively, on December 31, 1836 and he is shown as having enlisted April 21, 1836 for a period of two years.

The compiler concludes that the soldier William J. Hawkins was a member of Captain Teal's company but fought at San Jacinto in Captain Baker's company.

William J. Hawkins received title to one-fourth of a league of land in Robertson's colony, situated in the present county Limestone, May 18, 1838. In Headright Certificate No. 412 issued to William J. Hawkins March 22, 1836 by the Board of Land Commissioners for Washington county for one-twelfth of a league of land it is certified that he arrived in Texas in 1834 and had received a headright of one-fourth of a league of land, and was entitled to receive the difference between one-third of a league and one-fourth of a league of land. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 3032 for 1280 acres of land July 28, 1838 for having served in the army from April 21, 1836 to April 25, 1838. The land was surveyed in Panola County in 1850.

Mr. Hawkins was living in Montgomery county, probably in that part now embraced in Grimes county, March 28, 1838 when he sold Headright Certificate No. 412 to John M. Stevens for $184.



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. Moseley Baker

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Haskins, William F.
  • Came to Texas: 1834
  • Bounty Certificate: 3032