Morgan's Point Cemetery
Morgan's Point, Harris County, Texas
Marker Inscription
One of the oldest cemeteries in continuous use in Harris County, this cemetery was founded by Colonel James Morgan, Texas revolutionary soldier. Located on land bought by Morgan in 1834, it was part of a family estate called "The Orange Grove." The earliest marked grave here is that of James Morgan's niece, Sarah P. Morgan Patrick, who died of smallpox on July 13, 1838. Morgan's wife, Celia Gordon Morgan, was buried in October 1840, a victim of tuberculosis. Colonel Morgan was buried here in March 1866. The Morgan family plot was at one time lined with handmade bricks and marked by a large tombstone bearing the names of family members. The stone disappeared and was found by fishermen years later submerged in the bay. Stolen again after its replacement, it was never recovered. The cemetery, which had originally encompassed a much larger area, is surrounded by an industrial complex. The Morgan's Point Cemetery Association, formed in 1922, cared for the cemetery until the city of Morgan's Point assumed responsibility for maintenance in 1965. A fence was built in 1968, and ordinances regarding care of the cemetery were passed in recent years. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
One of the oldest continuously used burial grounds in Harris County, this cemetery was founded by Colonel James Morgan, a soldier of the Texas Revolution, on land he bought in 1834 as part of an estate called The Orange Grove. The earliest marked grave, from 1838, belongs to his niece Sarah, a smallpox victim; his wife Celia followed in 1840, and Morgan himself in 1866. The family's grand tombstone was twice stolen and once found submerged in the bay, and the graveyard now sits ringed by industrial development.
Why it matters
It ties the founding era of the Texas Republic to a single family plot that has endured, against theft and industrial encroachment, for nearly two centuries.
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Related people
- · James Morgan
Themes & tags
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