CONNELL CEMETERY at Bear Creek, Williamson County, Texas
CONNELLCEMETERY at Bear Creek, Williamson County, Texas
I. CONTEXT
The ConnellCemetery, sometimes called the BearCreekCemetery, is located approximately 6 miles from Liberty Hill, WilliamsonCounty. There is another BearCreekCemetery in Bertram, BurnetCounty, so for confusion’s sake the cemetery in discussion will be referred to as the ConnellCemetery. The most direct route isfrom Hwy 29 at Liberty Hill, go north on Bear Creek Ranch Road (CR 200). Cross Bear Creek, take the first left hand road (CR 203) and the cemetery is a short distance on the right, across from Peaceful Valley Road. The land surrounding the cemetery on three sides is owned by James D. and Patricia F. Cousins. The fourth side fronts CR 203.[1]
According to the earliest readable headstone inscriptions, thisConnellCemetery was established at least by 1873 when Sampson Connell, Jr. was laid to rest on May 30, 1873. It is believed the cemetery land was given by Sampson Connell, Jr. from his land grant. There have been successions of burials in this cemetery, the latest one know to have occurred in 1934 for one Monroe B. Allen.[2]
The “Connell Plot” within the cemetery is surrounded by a four foot high grated iron fence. This enclosed plot is approximately 15 feet on a side and shaded by large trees. Also, separated from the main plot by another fence of like, lies Anna (Brown) Connell. Some headstones within the plot are damaged and broken, but it appears all pieces are present and could be easily reassembled.2
Within the cemetery’s land area (.79 acres) are numerous “headstones of various sizes, flat stone markers and groups of rocks” indicating other burials have taken place within the area for many years. However, none of them are readable. Further investigation is needed to determine who else is buried within the ConnellCemetery boundaries.
II. OVERVIEW
Sampson Connell, Jr. was born in Franklin County, Alabama on December 5, 1822.[3] He, his parents and siblings moved toTexasin 1834, first settling in Washington County, Texas[4] then to Mina, BastropCounty before moving to WilliamsonCounty in 1852, settling in the Llano Grant near Thorndale, Texas.[5]In 1870 the family was in Millertown, Milam County, Texas.[6]
Sampson Connell, Jr., along with his father, Sampson Connell, Sr., and his brother David Cook Connell delivered the last wagon load of supplies to the Alamo before it was attacked by the Mexican Army under the command of Santa Anna.[7] The three also fought side by side in the “Battle of San Jacinto “, where Santa Anna was defeated, leading to Texas independence from Mexico.[8] Following Texas winning its’ independence, Sampson Connell, Jr. received a conditional headright for 320 acres in Washington County from the Texas Republic for his efforts and patriotism.7He later sold this and bought land in MilamCounty where he was known as a farmer and stockman.7In 1863, Sampson Connell, Jr. enlisted in Captain Robert P. Ashford’s “Company B” of the 1st Regiment, 27th Brigade, Texas State Troopers (Volunteers), called into service for the Confederate States Provisional Army by order of H. R. Lubbock, Governor Magistrate of Texas.[9] Sampson was later given a certificate of disability discharge. He then took an active part in the Civil War as a homeguard.7
Sampson continued to live in MilamCounty during the late 1860’s where he was a memberof the San Gabriel Christian Church and a driving force in the development of that county’s economic development. San Gabriel Christian Church was officially chartered in 1859.7 The list of charter members included William K. Hamblen-Elder, Samson Connell-Church Elder, David Connell, James Connell, James Stiles, J.W. Hamblen, Missouri Connell, Sarah J. Connell, Margaret Stiles, Mary Mecheson, William Mecheson, Cordellia Nelms, Wilson Wills and Margaret Wills.
Sampson and his family moved to WilliamsonCounty in 1871 where he died at Liberty Hill on May 30,1873, at the age of fifty-five.7He is buried in the ConnellCemetery on Bear Creek.2 Affixed to his headstone is a bronze plaque for being a “Citizen of the Republic of Texas, 1836-1846.”
His daughter, Annie (Brown) Connell, dying on September 2, 1918, is also buried there.2 Sampson’s widow, Missouri Elizabeth (Hudspeth) Connell, lived in WilliamsonCounty until her death on February 17, 1901.[10][11]She died in Sonora, Sutton County, Texas with, as yet, no record of her burial location. Missouri is reported to be buried in WilliamsonCounty. She is perhaps in the ConnellCemetery or the LibertyHillCemetery in an unmarked grave. A granddaughter and two great-grandsons are buried at Liberty Hill. Her son, David Cook Connell, dying on October 18, 1869, is buried in the ConnellCemetery south of Thorndale, Milam County, Texas.[12]
Sarah Jane (Clark) Connell, wife of David Cook Connell, dying on January 28, 1897, is also buried in the ConnellCemetery at Bear Creek.2 Sarah was the daughter of Mary Bishop (Clark) Delapain and the step-daughter of Absalom C. Delaplain, an early Methodist Minister of Washington County, Texas.
Also buried in this ConnellCemetery are two children of David Cook Connell and Sarah Jane (Clark) Connell, ie, Medora Connell , 1857-1886, and Hiram Abiff Connell, 1859-1884.2
III. SIGNIFICANCE
The Connell Cemetery is significant in Texas history in that it holds the final resting place for one of the “Citizens of the Republic of Texas”, Samuel Connell, Jr., who was instrumental inhelping bring about freedom for Texas from the Mexican government.
- DOCUMENTATION
[1]Texas Historical Commission. “Affidavit of Dedication for Cemetery Purposes for the ConnellCemetery.” Signed September 20, 2006. Filed and recorded at Austin, Texas on September 20, 2006.
[2] Williamson County Historical Committee, Georgetown, Texas, 1973-1975, compiled by. “Williamson County Cemeteries Vol. I”. pg 65. Edited by Clara Stearns Scarbrough, Georgetown, Texas. C1981.
[3] Milam County Heritage Preservation Society, compiled and edited. “Matchless Milam: history of Milam County, Texas”. A Texas Sesquicentennial Edition. Pg 73. Publisher, Milam County Heritage Preservation Society, c1984
[4]1850 Federal Census, Washington County, Texas.
[5]1860 Federal Census, San Gabriel PO, Milam County, Texas.
Series: M593, Roll: 1598, Page: 317.
[6]1870 Federal Census, Millertown PO, Milam County, Texas.
Series: M653, Roll: 1301, Page: 42.
[7] Milam County Heritage Preservation Society, compiled and edited. “Matchless Milam: history of Milam County, Texas”. A Texas Sesquicentennial Edition. Pg 73. Publisher, Milam County Heritage Preservation Society, c1984.
[8]Daughters of the Republic of Texas. “Muster Rolls of the Texas Revolution”. Pgs. 53,211,212,215. Printed by Craftsman Printers, Inc., Lubbock, Texas, c1986.
[9]Mrs. John T. Martin and Mrs. Louis C. Hill, compilers. “Milam County, Texas Records, Vol. II”, c1965. Pgs. 60, 63. Published in Waco, Texas 1968, Publisher unknown.
[10] 1880 Federal Census, 3 PCT, Williamson County, Texas.
[11]1900 Federal Census, 3 PCT, Williamson County, Texas.
[12] Perry C. Holder. “150 Years of Cemetery Records in Milam County, Texas”, c1991. Pg. 47. Publisher unknown. Editors: Norinne Holder Holman, 1935-; Charles V. Powell.
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