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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DENNIS, THOMAS MASON -- The records of the Texas Veterans Association, of which he was a member, show Mr. Dennis as having been born in Georgia but the year of his birth is not shown. In the Headright Certificate issued to him January 9, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Matagorda County Board it is stated that he came to Texas in April, 1835.

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Mr. Dennis was issued Bounty Certificate No. 4059 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from February 28 to June 1, 1836. He was a member of Captain Jesse Billingsley's "Mina Volunteers" at San Jacinto and on July 14, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 465 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle.

Mr. Dennis was County Clerk of Matagorda County in 1840. His home in 1860 was in Gonzales County. He moved to the town of Rockport in 1871 and later to Karnes County.

Mr. Dennis died in Gonzales County in October 1877 while visiting relatives there. His will signed October 12, 1877 was opened for probate in Karnes County November 6, 1877. He left his property to his brother Pollard M. Dennis of Monroe County, Alabama, and to the heirs of his deceased sister, Leacy L. Mangum of Gonzales County. Some of the heirs were Francis C. Passmore, Joseph M. Mangum and Mary J. Beasley.

Vol. 1, page 820 Gammel's Laws of Texas
Goliad Declaration of Independence
Dec. 20, 1835

Member Gonzales Lodge #30
1855-56

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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.

Gallery

Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. Jesse Billingsley

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1807 Mar 9
  • Birthplace: Georgia
  • Came to Texas: 1835 Apr
  • Date of Death: 1877 Oct
  • Comments: Somervell Expedition
  • Bounty Certificate: 4059
  • Donation Certificate: 465

Additional Resources

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