Sand Hill / Bethel Cemetery

Also know as Sand Hill Cemetery

Contributed by:  Annette Burdett

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.

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]

On the outside of the cemetery in the middle there is a small chain link fence with one grave in it. It is in loving Memory of Sarah Claiborne Evans 1782-1869. Sarah and children came to Texas in the late 1840’s and settled on this land. Graves are loss in this cemetery. Husband John is buried in Georgia.

Oldest Unmarked grave: Feb 6, 1853  Henry D. Evans
Oldest Marked grave: 1869  Sarah Evans