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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THOMAS, BENJAMIN, JR. -- Born in North Carolina in 1806. In the Court of Claims files in the General Land Office it is shown that Benjamin Thomas, Sr.; his wife, Mary Thomas, and their children came to Texas in 1825, and that Mr. Thomas died in 1832. Their children were Shadrack, Iredell, Theophilus, Wiley, Benjamin, Jr., Jack, Gary, Ann, Lavina E., Isaac D., and Thomas Thomas.

Theophilus Thomas participated in the battle of Nacogdoches in 1832. Lavina E. Thomas was married to Robert B. Russell, a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto.

Benjamin Thomas, Jr., was issued Bounty Certificate No. 273 for 320 acres of land November 13, 1837, for having served in the army from March 15 to June 13, 1836. He was a member of Captain William Kimbro's Company of San Augustine Volunteers and on March 5, 1840 was issued Donation Certificate No. 1028 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle.

The Marriage Records of Nacogdoches County show that Mr. Thomas was married to Martha Engleow, January 17, 1839. Mrs. Thomas died and Mr. Thomas with his brothers, Jack and Gary, and sister Ann, moved to Hays County. Benjamin later moved to a ranch in Bexar County some fifteen or twenty miles from San Antonio. The Marriage Records of Bexar County show that on May 12, 1844 he was married to Penelope Wheeler by Rev. William Lounge, a Methodist minister, Mr. Thomas died on his ranch in 1891 while a member of the Texas Veterans Association.



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 Kimbro

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1806
  • Birthplace: North Carolina? South Carolina?
  • Came to Texas: 1825
  • Date of Death: 1891
  • Wife: 1. Martha Engledow; 2. Penelope Wheeler
  • Family at San Jacinto: Niece's husband Robert B. Russell fought at San Jacinto.