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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PLASTER, THOMAS PLINEY--Born in Giles County, Tennessee on June 6, 1804 and came to Texas in February, 1836. In Comptroller's Military Service record No. 5717 it is certified that Mr. Plaster enrolled March 1, 1836 as lieutenant in Captain L. B. Frank's Company of Rangers and served as such until April 1st. From April 2 to June 27, he served as first sergeant of artillery commanded by Captain Isaac N. Moreland participating in the Battle of San Jacinto manning there one of the two cannons known as the "Twin Sisters". He acted as quartermaster sergeant under George W. Poe, Commander of the First Battalion of Artillery from July 3 to August 1, 1836 when he was appointed Regimental Quartermaster of the First Brigade First Regiment of Cavalry, serving until August 23, 1836. On January 3, 1838 he was issued Bounty Certificate No. 1615 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from March 6 to June 2,1836. On December 25, 1839, he received Bounty Certificate No. 9368 for 640 acres of land for having served from June 6 to December 6, 1836. On July 10, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 433 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto. He was issued Headright Certificate for a league and labor of land, by the Harrisburg County Board February 3, 1838 in which it is stated that he arrived in Texas in February 1836.

During the U. S. - Mexican war, Mr. Plaster served as Second Lieutenant in Captain James Gillaspie's Company, First Regiment of Texas Mounted Volunteers, Colonel J.T. Hays from April 25 to June 27, 1847.

After statehood, Mr. Plaster represented Grimes County in the House of Representatives of the First Legislature. He was Door-keeper for the house of Representatives at the time of his death at Austin, March 27, 1861. The State of Texas had a monument erected at his grave in the State Cemetery at Austin in 1937.

> Mr. Plaster was married to Dolly Samuel, who was born in Giles County, Tennessee, March 22, 1808 and died June 21, 1857. She is buried in the cemetery in Bedias, Grimes County. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Plaster were: (1) John, who went to California in 1849; (2) Antonio; (3) Benjamin Franklin, who married a Miss Metcalf; (4) William, who married Nancy Sims; (5) Joseph H, who married Mary Jones in 1861; and (6) Margaret Plaster, who married B.H. Harrison, February 20, 1856.

Mollie Plaster, daughter of Joseph H. and Mary Jones Plaster, was married to W.W. White and lived in Hamilton, Texas. Her children were: Mrs. Gus T. Jones, of San Antonio; Prof. Warren Travis White of Dallas; Houston White, of Hamilton; Paul White, of McAllen, Texas; and Mrs. W.H. Robertson, of San Antonio.



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: Second Sergeant
  • Company: Capt. Isaac N. Moreland

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Phiney
  • Date of Birth: 1804 Jun 6
  • Birthplace: North Carolina
  • Origin: Tennessee
  • Came to Texas: 1836 Feb
  • Date of Death: 1861 Mar 27
  • Burial Place: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas
  • Comments: U.S.-Mexican War.
  • Bounty Certificate: 1615
  • Donation Certificate: 433
  • Wife: Dolly Samuel
  • Children: John Plaster; Antonio Plaster; Benjamin Plaster; Franklin Plaster; William Plaster; Joseph H. Plaster; Margaret Plaster Harrison; Dollie Plaster