Thomas Clifton enlisted Oct. 28, 1835 and was discharged Dec. 5 that same year. He was in the 1st Infantry Regt, Army of the Republic of Texas and served with York’s volunteers. He commanded the 1st division during the siege and capture of San Antonio de Bexar for which he was awarded a land grant for 640 acres.
Found in The Battles and men of the Republic of Texas by Arthur Wyllie.
Also see Blanco County History : Land Grants Within the Restricted Area of Blanco County and Early Surveyors
From The Texas State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 51, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 18, 1854 Page: 2 of 4
Lost. — My Discharge for services rendered the Late Republic of Texas as a member of Capt. John York’s Company at the Storming of Bexar, December 1835. If not found within the time prescribed by law, I shall apply for a Duplicate of the land.
THOMAS CLIFTON
by Alexander Eans, agent.
Wanda Sanderson says
Thank you Tom! You have written up a nice piece. I believe he got 1280 acres total. You can look him up on the Texas State Library Site and see all of his papers and land grants. He lived in Arkansas and came to Austin in 1854 to apply for his grants and appointed Alexander Eanes as the agent to handle his business since he lived in Arkansas. William Austin signed his papers. You can see all this on the library site. I don’t know too much more about him really. I know he was born in Tennessee about 1812 and married Henrietta Walden or Walton and had several children. He died in 1860 in Arkansas where he was farming. One of his sons, William Thomas Clifton, became a Texas Ranger in the Frontier Battalion in 1878 under Neal Caldwell. If you go the library site, look at Republic of Texas land grants.
Again, thank you and keep me informed if you find out anything else.!!
I wish I knew more.
Wanda Sanderson says
Tom, I have a little more information about Thomas Clifton. The date of Dec. 5 discharge did not seem correct so I pulled out my old files and found some records from the Texas Adjutant General Service Records 1836-1935 for Thomas Clifton, Army of the Republic of Texas, call number: 401-3. I found two records which are very hard to read as they are hand written. Apparently, there was a December 5 discharge but I don’t know if it was a mix up or what. His real discharge was December 13, 1835 where he was honorably discharged with ten more days of credit. It is signed by John York and Captain Bradregard (can’t read.
Also, I found a Donation Certificate for 640 acres – Siege of Bexar-113 acres Blanco County and 527 acres Lee County and a Gonzales Bounty – Caldwell County 320 acres
Maybe someone can read those old papers better than I can.
Thanks,
Wanda Sanderson
Sharla Collins says
This is such a neat find! I am a 4th great grand-daughter of Thomas Clifton.