Old Brazoria Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll pass it along just the same. Now, way back in 1827, the government of Mexico gave a piece of ground to Brazoria. Not for a courthouse, not for a market square.

For a cemetery, specifically for Catholics. And here's where it gets interesting, because in the Austin Colony, every last settler was legally a Catholic. Every one of them.

So when you think about it, a cemetery for Catholics was a cemetery for everybody. That's just how it worked out. The whole community, all those pioneer families, putting down roots in Texas soil, one way or another ended up with kin buried right here on this ground.

Generation after generation, the old families of Brazoria left their mark in this place. And they kept coming, and they kept coming, until by 1930 this cemetery was full. Full up.

At that point, a new cemetery was opened, and Brazoria carried on. But this old ground, it holds the story. Most of the pioneer families of the region have members buried here, which means this is less a cemetery and more a reunion that never really ended.

Mexico gave this land in 1827, and it's been keeping Brazoria's history ever since.

What the marker says

Site given to Brazoria in 1827 by government of Mexico as cemetery for Catholics; thus was open to all residents, as all Austin Colony settlers were legally Catholics. By 1930, this was full, and new cemetery opened. Most pioneer families have members buried here. (1967)