History
of the Old Lebanon Church and Cemetery
Hill County, Texas
Researched By: Royal
(Roy) C. Bessire
August, 2003
June
20, 1851
Granted to James H.
Collett, by the State of Texas, assignee of William H. Nelson, one
third of a League of Land, situated and described as follows:
In Robertson District
July
3, 1855
James H. Collett for
and in consideration of fourteen hundred dollars to me in hand paid in
compliance with a bond given by me the said Collett to David H.
Williams and William E. Anderson, dated 14th day of
January AD 1852. The
conditions of the bond having been complied with, do this day deed to the said David
H. Williams and William E. Anderson, the following tract or parcel of
land to wit in Robertson District, Hill County, on the E bank of the Brazos
River about twelve miles above the mouth of the Aquilla, containing one third of
a league of land and more particularly designated in letter Patent No. 613, Vol.
8, issued to me the James H. Collett as assignee of William H. Nelson 1st
class done on the twenty day of June
AD 1851, is hereby made part of a parcel of this deed to have and to hold unto
the said William E. Anderson. Signed by James H. Collett, July 3rd,
1855. Filed for record in Hill
County, Texas, November 2nd AD, 1855. Book
H, page 410.
October
29, 1855
Robert K. Williams as
administrator of David H. Williams, sell alien and convey to William
E. Anderson, one half of a certain part or parcel of land lying and situated
on the east bank of the Brazos River in Robertson Land District better known and
designated in a Patent No. 613, Vol. 6, issued to one James H. Collett as
assignee of William H. Nelson 1st class done on the twentieth day of
June AD 1851, for consideration of seven hundred and twenty dollars to me in
hand paid by the William E. Anderson, said land conveyed to David H.
Williams and William E. Anderson dated the 3rd day of July
AD 1855. Robert K. Williams as
administrator of David H. Williams, deed to William E. Anderson the
north half of the said land. Filed
for record, Hill County, Texas, October 30, 1855.
Book H, pages 413 & 414.
Note:
It is believed this church was built 1856/1857, and was the original
Methodist Episcopal Church South. The
cemetery was established during this period since the
March
11, 1859
William E. Anderson and
Adline F. Anderson, his wife, for and
in consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars to us in hand paid and
balance of fifteen hundred dollars to be paid as follows, seven hundred and fifty dollars February 1860 and
seven hundred and fifty dollars to be paid February 16, 1861, at 10% interest
until paid by James M. Hix, bargain sold and convey to the said Hix,
the following described tract of land lying and being in Hill County and State
of Texas, on the east bank of the Brazos River in Robertson Land District
beginning at the north west corner of Wm H. Nelson 1/3 of a league, being 438
acres of land more or less out of the Wm H. Nelson 1/3 of a League survey, except
one acre where a church house stands, to the sole use and benefit of
said James M. Hix. Recorded
in Hill County, Texas, July 13, 1859. Vol.
G, pages 346 & 347.
September
15, 1860
James M. Hix for
the sum of one thousand and forty dollars to me in hand paid and four notes in
the amount of fourteen hundred and fifty nine dollars (1459.00) to be equally
divided into one, two, three and four payments, bargained sold, conveyed and
released unto C. A. Spivey of the State of Texas, County of Bosque the
following described tract of land lying and being in the County of Hill and
State of Texas, on the East Bank of the Brazos River in Robertson Land District,
beginning at the North West Corner of Wm H. Nelson 1/3 of a league survey, being
438 acres of land more of less out of the W. H. Nelson 1/3 of a League survey, except
one acre where a church house stands, for the use and benefit of the
said C. A. Spivey. Signed
the 15th day of September AD, 1860.
October
19, 1872
C. A. Spivey and W. E.
Anderson, of the county of Hill and
the state of Texas, for an in consideration of the sum of twelve dollars to us
in hand paid, by James W. Scott,
M. J. Britton, J. B. C. Scott, J. P. Grace, H. B. Smith, George Williams, E. R.
Williams, J. H. Gamblin, and J. F. Anderson, trustees of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, the receipt is hereby acknowledged and for the further
consideration that we make a donation of the church and school house,
we have this day bargained sold and conveyed unto the said James W. Scott, M.
J. Britton, J. B. C. Scott, J. P. Grace, H. B. Smith, George Williams, E. R.
Williams, J. H. Gamblin, and J. F. Anderson, described tract and parcel of
land containing four acres. Signed
the 19th day of October, 1872. Recorded
in Hill County, October 24th, AD, 1872. Book N, pages 421 & 422.
Note:
This is the date used for the establishment of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South (now the Lebanon United Methodist Church), but actually a church
was on this site in 1859, when W. E. Anderson sold to James M. Hix.
In 1872 a church and school house was on this site.
Sometime shortly after 1872, a new church was built just outside the
front of the present day cemetery. Sometime
later this building was destroyed by fire, about 1879/1880, and in 1881 J. G.
Marlar and R. C. Marlar, his wife, for the sum of $5.00 sold and conveyed to
the trustees, James F. Herod, J.W. Lowrey and J. G. Marlar, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South two acres, on a site about one mile East of
this site, which was a more convenient place for the community.
The deed stated the land shall be kept, maintained and supposed of as a
place of divine worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. This
parcel of land was two acres, Vol. 1, page 582.
January
21, 1895
Jay Spivey and H. V.
Spivey, husband and wife, of the
county of Hill and state of Texas, in consideration of the sum of $300.00, cash
in hand the receipt of is acknowledged, and five notes of $300.00, payable on
the first day of December 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898 and
August
12, 1901
P. H. Bessire and wife
Viola Bessire of the county of Hill ,
state of Texas, in consideration of
the sum of $2500.00 dollars, paid and secured to be paid by
Descendants of
N W. Burleson has retained ownership of this land to this day
(2003).
The oldest known grave is that of Woodson Hines Williams who died on May 18,1858 at age 7 years old. He is buried next to his parents Robert K. Williams, who died February 27, 1862 and Mary J. Williams, who died April 25, 1871. The last burial was that of Jewel Glenease Bessire who died April 4, 2002.