Historic Cemetery

Randolph Cemetery

a.k.a. Randolph Family

R12127, Trinity, Texas 75862
Location: FM 2501 east from Apple Springs 4.2 miles to FM 2262 in Nighton. Continue east through stop sign, past Nighton Cemetery, staying right at Mark Fork to locked gate on Paul Potts property a total of .5 miles. Continue through gate following grass road back north around pole barns. Road curves back east at trailer house into back pasture. Go back south at deer stand to cemetery on fence line to the south under trees on small hill. (total trip is .4 miles once inside private property)This site is believed to have many unmarked graves and slave graves along with the Anglo Randolph family burials. The current property owner said that some of the stones had been vandalized and moved by kids many years ago. There are grave depressions and two visible fieldstones (petrified wood). There are three formal markers, all have been broken. There is evidence of repair to the stones, but the site is in poor shape. Paul Potts (property owner) wants to fence the site and possible use it for burials again, but the boundaries are unknown. Legible inscriptions at site:J. T. Randolph (1879)Jane RandolphNancy Randolph (b. 1848, d. 1902)Sarah Randolph (Jul. 30, 1886).

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