This is an update on a recently posted blog about the Jackson Cemetery in Westlake Hills, Austin, Texas.
Belle Hill and the area around, as well as that part of what today is Westlake Hills was once and African American community. Established after the Civil War on land that was occupied for 7-years could be owned by freed slaves. These were Freedmen’s Colony’s.
Epsey, Huston and Associates Incorporated Engineering and Environmental Consultants made a report about their findings of Jackson Historical Cemetery in the Las Lomas subdivision of Westlake Hills in Austin, Texas.
Written by Melissa VOELLINGER and it was prepared for the Manorwood Development Corporation in Bryan Texas in 1984.
They were contacted when the developers of Manorwood Development Corporation discovered there was a cemetery on the property they had purchased to build a subdivision.
On August 17th, 1885, Frank and Betty Swisher conveyed to Milton and Lucinda Jackson 15.5 acres. Also on August 17th, 1885, Frank and Betty Swisher conveyed to Lucinda Jackson and her daughter Melinda Woods 10.5 acres, less, about one half acres of said land set apart for a burying ground for the neighborhood and which lies along the northeast line of the same. These two deeds, dated August 17th, 1885, are the first references to cemetery reservations located within the combined 26 acre area. No meets and bounds were presented.
A thorough search of all available official records of Travis County, including the Travis County Courthouse, City of Austin, cemetery listings, local funeral homes, the Travis County Collection and the Texas State Library failed to document the existence of a cemetery in this location or a Jackson cemetery. Several publications on local history were also reviewed, with similar negative results. This included The History of Austin that was written by Barkley in 1963 and then republished in 1970.
(It did not include any local authors that were African American or related to the families. JP)
At this point in the study, which corresponded with the initial interviews and the completion of the field survey, it was suspected that the cemetery was located on approximately 1/2 acre area at the southwestern base of Bell Hill, the area surrounding the cattle guard. The cemetery was apparently used by the members of the Jackson family and their descendants. Further research was oriented towards locating descendants of Milton and Lucinda Jackson in an effort to verify this. An attempt was made to locate their descendants by searching the birth, death, and marriage records on file at the Travis County Courthouse. No births were recorded prior to 1903, and no birth or death records were on file from 1919 to 1941. Without knowing names, this proved to be an impossible task. Only three deaths were recorded that could be definitely associated with this Jackson family. Milton Jackson died in 1931, buried in Jackson Cemetery, Mary Jane Woods died in 1918,, daughter of Jenny Jackson, who is the sister of Milton Jackson and Douglas Woods Buried in Jackson Cemetery, and John Woods died in 1919., son of Jenny Jackson, who was the sister of Milton Jackson and Douglas Woods. It is this John Woods who is buried on the tract adjacent to the 26 acres, West of Las Lomas subdivision. No birth records were located that could be definitely associated with Milton and Lucinda Jackson. Several marriage records were located, but they did not provide leads to present day family members, nor did they aid in the confirming additional burials.
(This was in 1984 before the internet. A re-look at evidence, I suggest. JP)
A search of the probate records located wills by both Milton and Lucinda Jackson. Milton Jackson died in 1931 and left his entire estate to his wife, Lucinda Jackson. Lucinda Jackson died in 1933. She left her Estate to her living five children, Silas Jackson, George Jackson, Andrew Jackson, Nancy Jones, and Mabel Mackenzie. The deed records of the Travis County Courthouse contained a transfer of the property in the estate of Nathan Woods to Fred Bullion. The property was sold in 1939 to settle his estate and was to be divided among his heirs. The entire proceeds are referenced in cause number 28 DOT 881 on file in the Travis County Courthouse.
Researched by Jeanine Plumer
