After years of research and careful study of Washington County, Texas deed records by historians in the Washington County Historical Commission, The Washington County Genealogical Society, and the Washington County Clerk’s Office, it has been determined that the Washington Texas Historical Cemetery is located on the original headright league of land deeded to Andrew Robinson in July of 1824, and signed by Stephen F. Austin and the Baron De Bastrop. Between 1831 and 1835, Robinson gifted and sold his property to his son-in-law, John W. Hall. Mr. Hall was an enterprising man and invested a portion of this land along the Brazos River near the junction with the Navasota River, in conjunction with other co-investors in the area, to set up the Township of Washington. The area was surveyed and divided into town and farm lots by Austin Colony surveyor, Horatio Chriesman. The Washington Texas Historical Cemetery is located on the northern half of what was surveyed as Farm Block A, Lot 6. No records have been found that indicate this section was ever purchased by any individual nor the property conveyed within the mid to late 1800’s as a cemetery. References to the cemetery can be found in later deed record surveys.

 

The Washington Texas Historical Cemetery is now located approximately ½ mile from the present day Washington-On-The-Brazos historic site which is operated and maintained by the Texas Historical Commission. The township of Washington faded from the landscape, but not from history nor the memories of descendants of those who lived in the town. Left behind are the stories of the heroes, citizens, and families along with the headstones and gravesites as reminders of those who came before. The cemetery abuts another, the Washington Cemetery, which primarily holds interments of African American citizens of Washington County. The two are divided by a fallen barbed wire fence, which also defines the dividing line between Andrew Robinson’s league and the parcel of land originally granted to John P. Coles. The majority of the Washington Cemetery sits on the original property of John Coles while the entire Washington Texas Historical Cemetery sits solely on land granted to Andrew Robinson.

 

In his book, ‘Austin Colony Pioneers,’ published in 1949 by the Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Mr. Worth S. Ray speaks to the decrepit state of the cemetery and nearly illegible headstones in the now Washington Texas Historical Cemetery, which he refers to as “…the old cemetery at Washington.” Later, Judy and Nath Winfield, Jr. on page 12 of their book ‘Cemetery Records of Washington County Texas 1826-1960’ (published and reprinted in 1998 by Norton Press) refer to the cemetery; “This cemetery, on the outskirts of the town of Washington is an unkept jungle surrounded by the remains of a barbed wire fence. Within its confines are the remains of some of Washington County’s oldest and best families. Except for one interment this old cemetery has been forgotten for several generations.” This comment was written in 1965.

 

Since the writing of these two books, which no discerning Washington historian has missing from their bookshelves, several attempts have been made to reclaim the cemetery from the effects of vandalism, time, and nature. Approximately ½ acre of the 2 ½ acre section has been cleared but no repairs have been made to broken or sunken headstones, vaults, or artifacts. On September 27, 1996, a Mr. Charles W. Kruse with the Alief Cemetery Association filed a ‘Declaration of Dedication of the Washington Cemetery,’ stating that the property “…has been set apart and dedicated for cemetery purposes through historical use; and that such property is now occupied by human graves and is a cemetery.” This declaration was filed with the Washington County Clerk’s Office in deeds Volume 838, page 54. It is not known if this declaration refers to the current Washington Cemetery or the Washington Texas Historical Cemetery.

 

In 2003, a descendant of Joseph Bell Chance wrote of the condition of the cemetery in a letter to State and County officials and county historical associations in which she expresses her concern of the state of the cemetery, stating that graves “…are inaccessible because of high, dense brush…” and that “…we discovered that the early, original settlers are buried back beyond the maintained front area [likely the Washington Cemetery, which fronts the Washington Texas Historical Cemetery] in an area which is impossible to access. Even those graves that are accessible can only be done so by foot. Once into that minimally cleared-back section, we were appalled to find that the multitude of the actual gravesites of those early Texas heroes have been left to disintegrate and decay…” The writer also states that, “…Most of the graves…are in danger of collapsing through and walking through this section becomes a test of ability and nerve. Many, many headmarkers can be viewed for many yards into a dense brush…” She speaks to, “…the deplorable state in which this cemetery, containing the graves of Texas’ earliest settlers, currently exists.” Then, as now, the cemetery was clearly in dire straits and a hazardous site to the general public or anyone who wished to visit the gravesites of their ancestors.

 

In 2011, a cemetery association was formed, the Washington, Texas Historical Cemetery Association. This group petitioned the Texas Historical Commission to have the cemetery recognized as a Historical Cemetery, which was a successful venture. On October 13, 2011, the association filed a second ‘Affidavit of Declaration of Dedication for Cemetery Purposes,’ which was approved November 22, 2011 and filed with the Washington County Clerk’s Office deeds volume 1387, page 419. Some work was completed in clearing more of the brush and high grass during the time the association was in existence, in cooperative efforts with the Washington County Genealogical Society. But within a short period of time, the association was dissolved and no further clearing or gravesite repairs have been done.

 

The current Washington Texas Historical Cemetery Association was formed in the Fall of 2023. On its Board of Directors sit tried and true historians, steeped in Washington County history. Association members include associates of the Washington County Historical Commission, the Washington County Genealogical Society, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Texas State Genealogical Society, and descendants of the Aldridge, Lott, Lynch, Rogers, and Hatfield families. This dedicated group of individuals are determined to give this cemetery the care, restoration, and repair it so desperately needs and so richly deserves. Several previously documented headstones can no longer be found, but we are confident with careful archaeological exploration, many hidden headstones will be unearthed and brought back into the light. Tombs will be rebuilt; headstones repaired, reset, and cleaned; and artifacts repaired and situated in their rightful places. We plan for this cemetery to be a peaceful site for quiet reflection, a place of beauty, and a venue where educational events may take place and tourists may visit so that our early Texas heritage and history are never lost.