Freestone County, Texas Cemeteries Evans Family Cemetery [NOTE - This Anglo burial ground is adjacent to the Bethel Sand Hill Cemetery.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Status: Inactive General Location: About 5 miles north of Butler Background: The matriach of the Evans family, Sarah Claiborne Evans, moved to Texas in the late 1840's from Georgia after the death of her husband and settled in what would become Freestone County. Her plantation was located about five miles north of Butler. Two of her children were already here and eventually seven of her nine children were land owners and living near her. The first Evans family to die was Henry D. Evans on Feb 6, 1853. He was buried in what then was the Evans burial ground on a hill near her plantation. Now it is called the Bethel Cemetery. Sarah died at her home on Jan 21, 1869 at the age of 87. Approximately thirty of the Evans family are buried, plus some of their slaves. The 1860 agricultural census lists the Evans family with 8,000 acres, 67 slaves, 52 oxen, 108 milk cows, 487 other cattle, 44 horses and mules, and 485 hogs. They produced 111 cotton bales, 2880 corn bushels, and other products. The 1860 federal census lists combined net worth over $108,000. [Research of Josie and John Wood Evans - H of FC, Vol II, #252 & #254] Directions: From the Long Lake junction take Hwy 84 West 9 miles to Co Road 489 East and From Fairfield take Hwy 84 East about 11 miles to Co. Road 489 East and go 4.6 miles. Take a left on Co. Rd. 240 for 1.3 miles. The Cemetery is on the left inside chain link fence. Directions: (from Fairfield) Hwy 84 east. Take a left onto FM-489. Continue till FM-489 turns to the right passing two churches. Cemetery on left on atop a hill and about 3 miles from Hwy 84. Oldest Unmarked Grave: Feb 6, 1853 Henry D. Evans Oldest Marked Grave: 1869 Sarah Evans ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the outside of the Sand Hill cemetery in the middle there is a small chain link fence with one grave in it: Evans, Sarah Claiborne [08/15/]1782 - [01/21/]1869. (her husband was John H. Evans 10/24/1772-06/17/1839 in Georgia. Buried Georgia.) ------------------- NEWER MARKER FOR FORMERLY UNMARKED GRAVES: Elizabeth Evans Stillwell 1802-1876 Green L. Stillwell 1801-186? Thomas T. Evans 1804-1864 Tammy (Turner) Evans 1825-1887 ------------------- UNMARKED GRAVES: Thirty unmarked Evans family graves. (Believed to be buried here: Henry D. Evans 05/12/1812-02/06/1853. (Henry was the grandson of Sarah Claiborne Evans.)