Starting October 7, the San Jacinto Monument's Observation Floor will close for renovation, open on weekends, with discounted museum admission during this time.

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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MARSHALL, JOHN LIGETT -- Born in Illinois, June 13, 1811. In the Headright Certificate issued to him February 17, 1838 for a league and labor of land by the Austin County Board of Land Commissioners it is stated that he came to Texas in 1828. With him came his brother, Joseph Taylor Marshall. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 1536 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from April 9 to July 31, 1836. He was a member of Captain Moseley Baker's Company at San Jacinto and on March 8, 1854 was issued Donation Certificate No. 558 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. After the battle he was transferred to Captain Peter B. Dexter's Company.

Mr. Marshall was a blacksmith and he claimed to have cut up old pieces of iron, chains, and horse-shoes and made cannon balls for the "Twin Sisters" cannon.

In 1839 Mr. Marshall was married to Lucinda A. Rich of Old Caney, Wharton County. They moved to Bell County in 1856. Mr. Marshall died January 11, 1897 while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. Mrs. Marshall, born in North Carolina September 4, 1818, died January 4, 1902. Husband and wife are buried in marked graves in the Greathouse Cemetery near Heidenheimer, Bell County.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall were: (1) Leah F. (2) Martha A. (3) Rachel E. (4) Alice L. (5) John H. and (6) Joseph T. Marshall.

(4) Alice L. Marshall married James L. Greathouse.

Their children were: (a) Ora (b) Erie (c) Esta (d} Lersie and (e) Willie. (a) Ora Greathouse born June 5, 1876, died July 28, 1882. Mr. J.H. Hurd, Heidenheimer, Bell County, Texas is a grandson of John L. Marshall.



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

  • Date of Birth: 1811 Jun 13
  • Birthplace: Illinois
  • Came to Texas: 1828
  • Date of Death: 1897 Jan 11
  • Burial Place: Greathouse Cemetery, Heidenheimer, Bell County, Texas
  • Comments: Made cannonballs for Twin Sisters
  • Bounty Certificate: 1536
  • Donation Certificate: 558
  • Profession: Blacksmith
  • Wife: Lucinda A. Rich
  • Children: Leah F. Marshall; Martha A. Marshall; Rachel E. Marshall; Alice L. Marshall Greathouse; John H. Marshall; Joseph T. Marshall
  • Family at San Jacinto: Brother Joseph Taylor Marshall at Harrisburg