Historic Cemetery

Williamson Family Cemetery

Madisonville, Texas
Location: GM-C157Williamson Family CemeterySEE Grimes County Cemeteries, vols 1-5, John Maxwell, GCHS.THC site visit MB 8/03/04 w/ J. Maxwell: Near Cross, Tx. In Grimes Co but access roads from Madison Co. FM 1372 from Madison Co. line. Private property. From CR 435, about 1.2 mile from intersection, then 0.25 on gravel road. Then walk in on grassy lane approx 1,500 ft. to house site, stay left another 500 ft. to cem. Wooded area. Mowed lane and pathway. Fenced formal site with diversity of markers over time. Some informal and fieldstone and petrified wood. Some obelisks. Marker trees and shrubs of Oak, Cedar, Spirea. Site compromised by tall deer feeder and deer blind. Approx 0.70 acre. GPS 30.50.05.18771N –96.08.02.33433W. Quad 3096-441Moderately endangered, remote, deer hunting stand and feeder in middle of cemetery. But regularly maintained, still in use, fenced, near residence.

Source: RIP Fields Table

To address the problem of cemetery destruction and to record as many cemeteries as possible, the Texas Historical Commission offers the Historic Texas Cemetery designation.

The Historic Texas Cemetery designation was developed in 1998 to help protect historic cemeteries by recording cemetery boundaries in county deed records to alert present and future owners of land adjacent to the cemetery of its existence. Every county in Texas has at least one cemetery designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery through this program. The HTC designation is the first step toward preservation of a historic cemetery.

A cemetery is eligible for designation if it is at least 50 years old and is deemed worthy of recognition for its historical associations. The very nature of a cemetery being a landmark of a family’s or community’s presence is considered to validate the criteria of historical associations. Any individual, organization, or agency may submit a request for designation.

gravesites