Freestone County, Texas Cemeteries Philpott Cemetery (near Salem, Freestone Co., TX): [African American Cemetery] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGS Map: Dew Quadrangle Status: Inactive Background: David Philpott, an ex-slave of the Collett and Philpott families, started this private cemetery on his land (100 acres). His descendants have kept the land. David Philpott arrived in Freestone County from Alabama as a slave in 1851. David Philpott maintained the cattle herd for CSA Colonel Collett during the Civil War. Joe Philpott maintained the cemetery in modern times till his passing in 2002 at the age of 103. In modern times, family reunions have been held on the tables under the trees between Joe Philpott's house and the pasture where the cemetery is. The only transcription I can find is Betty Morrow's 1986 transcription. I have made every attempt to back up her listing with death certificates. I disagree with the assertion that David Philpott was born 1823 and lived 101 yrs given the census data. Freestone Co., TX census: 1870 - David Philpott M 35 Alabama 1880 - Self David Philpott M 45 Alabama 1900 - Head Dave Philpot M 66 Ala 1910 - Head Davy Philpott M 75 Alabama 1920 - Head D. P. Philpot M 84 Alabama David is often confused with his son, Davy (b Aug 1870) and I would not be surprised that there was an ancestor David. Directions: Take Hwy 80 to Freestone community, left on FM-489 to Salem Missionary Baptist church. Make "U-turn" and double back 1.3 miles to two houses on the right. The cemetery is off the road about two city blocks about two city blocks from the first house. The cemetery is nestled under trees. The cemetery is enclosed with barbed wire fence and has an adjoining cyclone fence. Directions #2: Go west from Dew down FM 489. At the intersection of FM 489 and County Road 685, go north off the road where if 685 continued would take you. Oldest Marked Grave: 10 Mar 1878 Marie Johnson (w/o Frank) [The Salem Missionary Baptist church cemetery is about 1.3 miles "down the road" from Philpott Cemetery.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brewer, M[ariah] A. (Johnson) 02/13/1875-01/06/1957 [d/o Major Johnson & Mary Ellen Tatum]; *D* Campbell, Irene 02/03/1857-03/08/1896 "w/o J. C." Johnson, Frank Lee 02/04/1945-06/21/1980 35 yrs old Johnson, Marie 09/15/1817-03/10/1878 "w/o Frank" Johnson, Lewis 08/18/1878-05/18/1951 Johnson, Major 1860- 1930 Johnson, Mary Ellen (Tatum) 03/10/1853-04/17/1905 *D* Philpott, Amanda (Rutherford) 03/15/1834-04/25/1893 [w/o David] Philpott, David 07/??/1834- 1923 [h/o Amanda] Philpott, Eli 03/28/1877-01/13/1964 [s/o Dave Philpott & Mandy Rutherford]; *D* Philpott, Marion 02/22/1916-02/19/1938 *D* Philpott, Mary (Stephens) 08/09/1881-11/18/1963 [d/o Elijah Stephens & Fannie High]; *D* Scott, Amanda 01/30/1898-? Waters, Mary (Philpott) 02/02/1869-03/01/1963 [d/o Dave Philpott & Amanda Rutherford]; *D* Winn, Mack McClenon 08/25/1894-07/18/1966 brother [s/o Charlie Winn & Mary Philpott]; *D* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- KNOWN UNMARKED GRAVES Philpott, Jerry 05/23/1863-03/11/1942 *D* [I would not be surprised if David's daugher Emma (age 5 in 1870, that disappears in 1870 census) might be buried here.] 15 unmarked graves ============================================================= LEGEND FOR CEMETERY LISTINGS: *O* = Obituary listed elsewhere on this site *D* = Death Certificate listed elsewhere on this site *B* = Biography listed elsewhere on this site *P* = Photo of tombstone on this website *S* = Social Security death index listed elsewhere on this site *C* = Calculated date based on death date - age given in years and months and days. y = year; mo or m = month; d = day(s); h/o = husband of; h1/o = first husband of; h2/o = second husband of w/o = wife of; w1/o = first wife of; w2/o = second wife of m = married to d/o = daughter of; s/o = daughter of ? = unknown birth date or death date (based on position) x2 marker = single marker for two graves, typically married couples TX = Texas; Cav = Cavalry CO = Company; Reg = Regiment; WWI = World War I; WWII = World War II; CSA = soldier in the Confederate States of America f.h. = funeral home marker h&f = husband & father