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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SPILLMAN, JAMES H. -- Name not shown on the official San Jacinto rolls as printed in 1836. In Headright Certificate No. 85 issued to him in 1838 for one league and one labor of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for Harrisburg County it is stated that he came to Texas in 1830. His father, James Spillman, came in 1831 and settled on an island on the Gulf that was later named for him. He owned and commanded for a time a little schooner Martha. Dr. Nicholas L. Labadie arrived at Anahuac on this boat, March 2, 183l.

On a muster roll at the General Land Office Mr. James H. Spillman is shown as having volunteered for the army at Lynchburg, March 8, 1836. He was assigned to Captain William H. Patton's Company. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 2265 for 320 acres of land, February 6, 1838 for having served in the army from March 18 to August 1, 1836. He was issued Donation Certificate No. 585 for 640 acres of land, November 5, 1838 for having been detailed on special duty April 21, 1836 &t San Jacinto. In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 8245 it is certified that after the battle Mr. Spillman was assigned as one of the guards of the Mexican prisoners.

On page 232 of the army rolls in the General Land Office there is an affidavit signed by Colonel Jesse Benton, Jr. in which he stated that Mr. Spillman was Fourth Corporal in Captain Patton's Company.

Mr. Spillman was married to Eleanor Darset at Houston, August 28, 1837. He was married to Alvina Neitche at Houston, September 20, 1847. He was living at Houston October 10, 1851 when he sold Bounty Certificate No. 2265 to James W. Henderson.

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

  • Came to Texas: 1830
  • Bounty Certificate: 2265
  • Donation Certificate: 585
  • Wife: 1. Eleanor Darset; 2. Alvina Neitche