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

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

(What is this?) | Download the original typescript

MAXWELL, PIERRE MENARD -- Born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, August 25, 1814, a son of Hugh H. and Odille (Menard) Maxwell. His mother was a daughter of Pierre Menard. Michel B. Menard, one of the signers of the Texas Declaration was a nephew of Pierre Menard. HUGH H. MAXWELL-- was born in Dublin, Ireland and died September 4, 1833. His wife was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, September 22, 1795 and died October 8, 1862 in Fort Gage, Illinois. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh H. Maxwell were: Ferdinand, Pierre Menard, Catherine, Mary T. L., Lucin Bonaparte, Emily A., Joseph Edward, Algeria, Odile Adeline, Pelagie Bernice, George K., Sophia A. and John F. Maxwell.

In the Headright Certificate issued to him March 1, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Liberty County Board of Land Commissioners it is stated that P. Menard Maxwell came to Texas in 1835. In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 502 it is certified that he served in the army from March 6 to May 30, 1836. He was a member of Captain William M. Logan's Company at San Jacinto and on November 17, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 609 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He served in Captain Franklin Hardin's Company from July 7 to October 7, 1836 and for this he on August 15, 1838 received Bounty Certificate No. 4205 for 320 acres of land. He was living in Liberty County October 12, 1839 when he sold the certificate to J. E. Haviland for $150.00.

Mr. Maxwell enlisted from Liberty County in 1842 for the Somervell Expedition and continued on with the Mier Expedition as an orderly sergeant of Company D., J. G. W.. Pierson, Captain. With his comrades he surrendered to the Mexicans at Mier, Mexico, December 26, 1842 and was imprisoned. He was released September 16, 1844 and reached Texas on his return, September 16, 1844.

In a letter to Mr. Houston Wade Houston dated September 22, 1936 Mr. William V. Morrison stated that P. M. Maxwell of Taos, New Mexico, son of Ferdinand Maxwell, brother of the subject of this sketch had told him that the San Jacinto-Mier hero had died single, somewhere in Texas. He was a member of The Catholic Church.

Ferdinand Maxwell, brother of P. M. Maxwell was married to Carolina Allen. One of their children, Evelyn Maxwell, was married to William J. Morrison, a son of this union, William M. Morrison was married to Sofia Hartmann. Jarrot Joseph Morrison, son of William M. and Sofia Hartmann was married to Afra Link. Mr. William V. Morrison is a son of J.J. and Afra Morrison.



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. William M. Logan

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: J.M.
  • Date of Birth: 1814 Aug 25
  • Birthplace: Illinois, Kaskaskia
  • Came to Texas: 1835
  • Comments: Somervell Expedition, Mier Expedition
  • Donation Certificate: 609