Capt. Thomas Weston: Last Commander of Terry's Rangers

By
23 Nov. 2001

Thomas Sumter Weston was born in 1836, in either South Carolina or Alabama, to John McKinney and Elizabeth (Geiger) Weston. Weston served as a member of Company ‘H’, Terry’s Texas Rangers first as First Lieutenant; promoted to Captain in December 1862. From Reminiscences of the Terry Rangers, by J.K.P. Blackburn, quoted in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 22, p 173, "Captain Tom Weston, last commander of Co. H of the Rangers...had the honor of surrendering the regiment at Greensboro, and that there were 90 men present who received paroles."

Most of the information on Thomas S. Weston comes from various state censuses. The 1860 Ft. Bend Co., TX census lists a Thomas Weston, age 23, born in Alabama, living with Joel A. Weston, age 30, born in SC. This is more than likely the correct Thomas Weston as no Thomas Weston was found in the 1860 Alabama census, the ages are fairly correct (given the vagaries of ages found in censuses!), Thomas did have a brother named Joel, another brother, John McQuincy Weston, was also living in Ft. Bend County at that time, and Thomas joined a Regiment made up of men from the Ft. Bend area.

Thomas obviously returned to Alabama after the war since the 1870 Sumter Co., AL census lists T. S. Weston, age 32, b in AL and R. O. Weston, age 16, b in AL (another brother) as living with the Hardy Lillie family, p. 423, family #458. Also, from Alabama Marriages, 1800-1920: "T.S. Weston and Callie D. Graham married 1 April 1875, Sumter Co., AL." Thomas was living in Sumter Co., AL in March 1877 when he was named administrator of his father's estate.

The 1880 Ft. Bend Co., TX census shows Thomas enumerated with the family of his brother, Dr. John M. Weston. However, a line is drawn through Thomas’ name and the word “Dead” is written in the margin. The 1880 Texas Mortality Schedule listing for T. S. Weston states Thomas was married, his age at death was 43, died in January from an 'abcess of the brain', doctor was B. W. Bell. Additional info from the Mortality Schedule states that he had only been in Richmond for 3 months when he died. He had previously been in Alabama. Thomas is buried in Morton Cemetery, Richmond (Ft. Bend) TX; tombstone reads “Capt. T. S. Weston, died Feb. 11, 1880, in the 44th year of his age.” There is also a bronze/brass marker in the ground in front of his tombstone inscribed “Tom S. Weston, Capt., Co. H, 8 Texas Cav, Confederate States Army, 1836 - 1880.” Caroline is not buried there with him. Was Thomas just visiting relatives and not a Texas resident when he died? This seems most likely given that all previous records show him to reside in Alabama.