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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BUFORD, THOMAS YOUNG -- Born in South Carolina, August 5, 1814. In Headright Certificate No. 384 issued to him March 3, 1838 for one league and one labor of land by the Nacogdoches County Board of Land Commissioners it is stated that he came to Texas previous to May 2, 1835. In the certificate of character issued to him June 2, 1835 by Juan Eugenio Miechamps, Alcalde pro tem, it is stated that Mr. Buford was at that time single but it does not say in it when he came to Texas. That he arrived in April, 1835, is shown in the proceedings of the Nacogdoches County Board of Land Commissioners in Docket No. 470, Thomas Y. Buford, in which Thos. J. Rusk and Adolphus Sterne testified that each of them had "known him since April, 1835, married since Declaration of Independence, performed services in the Army."

Mr. Buford was a member of Company J, Cavalry, commanded by Captain William H. Smith at San Jacinto, and on April 23, 1847, his estate received Donation Certificate No. 72 for 640 acres of land due him for having participated in the battle. In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 4318 it is certified that he served in the army from March 27 to September 27, 1836. He was promoted to First Lieutenant and put on detached service June 10th and sent to Nacogdoches to recruit for the army.

After the Battle of San Jacinto Mr. Buford was married to Mary B. Simpson, daughter of John B. and Jane M. Simpson, a well-to-do and prominent family of early Nacogdoches.

Mr. Buford died on his farm near Nacogdoches August 23, 1839, survived by his widow and two infant daughters, Mary T. and Susan Jane Buford. William B. Buford afterwards married the widow of Thomas Y. Buford and reared both of the daughters to womanhood.

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 H. Smith

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Beauford
  • Date of Birth: 1814 Aug 5
  • Birthplace: South Carolina
  • Came to Texas: 1835 Apr
  • Date of Death: 1839 Aug 23
  • Donation Certificate: 72
  • Wife: Mary B. Simpson
  • Children: Mary T. Buford Edwards Watson; Susan Jane Buford Thomas