Whiting Cemetery
Brenham, Washington County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Stories of white slave owners siring children with their slaves abound. This historic cemetery is the final resting place of Godfrey whiting (1824-1897) of West Virginia and Martha Richardson (1830-1922) of Georgia, freed slaves of this area, and their descendants. Both slaves were owned by Daniel Long Richardson, a Georgian plantation owner who came to Texas in 1833 and served in the Texas army in 1836 with Capt. Henry, Texas Company and Jacob Snively. Daniel Richardson received a bounty of land for his service and his estate included thousands of acres of land, fifty-two slaves, several buildings and farm equipment. A petition to free his slaves was filed in Sabine county in 1849 upon his death, listing Martha, five of his other slave children and their mother, Laura. However, no action was taken. Godfrey and Martha were brought as slaves to Washington County soon after Richardson’s death. Following emancipation and the death of Richardson’s daughter, Anna, a portion of the Richardson land was transferred to Godfrey Whiting. Godfrey and Martha purchased land in 1872 from Christian Luckmaier that bordered the Richardson acreage and established a homestead. Family oral tradition states that this cemetery sits on the site of the old whiting slave cabin. The first burial in the cemetery is that of Godfrey whiting in 1897, situated under the shade of a large post oak tree. Martha’s gravesite dated September 13, 1922 is next to Godfrey. According to the family, other slaves are also buried here. This historic burial ground is a tangible reminder of struggles and determination for freedom and family.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This burial ground is the resting place of Godfrey Whiting and Martha Richardson, both born into slavery early in the 19th century and held by Georgia planter Daniel Long Richardson, who brought his enslaved people to Texas. After emancipation, part of the Richardson land passed to Godfrey Whiting, and in 1872 he and Martha bought neighboring acreage to build a homestead. Family tradition holds that the cemetery sits on the site of their old slave cabin, where Godfrey was first buried in 1897 and Martha beside him in 1922.
Why it matters
The cemetery is a tangible record of the passage from slavery to freedom and the land and family that formerly enslaved Texans built for themselves.
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Related people
- · Godfrey Whiting
- · Martha Richardson
- · Daniel Long Richardson
Themes & tags
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