Jeffrey Cemetery
75th Annual Homecoming 2012
75th ANNUAL Jeffrey Cemetery Homecoming
Saturday, June 23, 2012
A business meeting was held at 1:30pm in the Church
Linda, Darlene, and Kathy at the the registration table
Great BBQ
Everyone enjoying the great food
Back for seconds. Not much left.
Headstone Cleaning
During the photographing of the Jeffrey Cemetery headstones we noticed quite a few of the headstones had various types of corrosion coating their surfaces. Also, others were quite old and the stone was litterly flaking away while a few had been broken near their base.
Professional gravestone conservators say this is a normal process due to the effects of weather and the composition of the stone.
In most cases the green substance is a form of alge while the redish-orange is iron oxidation.
Whatever the cause, gravestone conservators agree that great care must be taken when cleaning the headstone so as not to inflict more damage.
Some people have already asked us why we didn’t clean the headstones prior to photographing them. The answer is quite simple. The Texas Cemetery law does not allow us to do it. Only family members or those retained by the family are allowed to perform cleaning and/or detailed restoration. In some cases, where the age of the grave is such that there are no immediate family members left, the custodian of the cemetery may take minimal remedial action to repair a headstone. However, the overall responsibility for the care of a headstone lies with the family.
There are many web sites with information about cleaning and restoring headstones. We have chosen two sites that have been prepared by professional gravestone conservators that will provide you with a wealth of information:
Cleaning and Preservation of Tombstones, Headstones & Gravestones
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Genealogy Research
Genealogy research today has become a major topic in many families. Often, one family member will take on the task of interviewing the older members to document their family history.
However, many people would like to start a family history, but they don’t know where to begin. Many people don’t realize that it’s as simple as recording the names and birthdays of every family member they know. Then expand it to every family member that your parents and grandparents know.
Chick here for some great geneaolgy research tips.
Another great source of family information are the headstones for those family members that have passed away. In genealogy research the headstones are considered proof of the existance of a former family member. Photo copies of birth certificates and census records are also valid proof of a family members relationship.
Today there are many sources of genealogy information for families. You just have to start looking. Click here to look at information about databases and genealogy records.
A simple search of the Internet for Genealogy Research will produce more information than you can digest in an evening. You’ll find that once you start to get interested in your family’s genealogy you’ll spend many satisfying hours researching information. One great place to get started is Cindi’s List of Genealogy Research sites.
The Genealogical and Historical Society of Caldwell County is a great starting point for families in Caldwell County, Texas including the Plum Creek Alminac and the Cemteries of Caldwell County.
For those inerested in the original land surveys you can find them at Arphax Publishing. The Caldwell County, TX land survey map shows that the Jeffrey Cemetery is within the original tract titled Tinney. A in abstract #26.
Abstract Summary:
Abstract #26 – Tinney, A.
Grantee: Tinney, Ambrose
Trancaction Date: 22 Jun 1832
File#: SC 000033:22
English Files Notes Lockhart-401
Patent#: 713
Patent: Vol.: 13
Certificate: Translation #3868
Acres: 4,428.4
Map: 17
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At the Jeffrey Cemetery we have spent many hours compiling a comprehensive listing and photos of all of the headstones, foot stones, and grave makers within the cemetery to assist you in this research. Click here to download the Jeffrey Cemetery Headstone Photos.
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Genealogy Programs We Recommend
There are many genealogy programs out there that provide you the ability to record your family history and research documents. They also provide you the ability to electronically share your information with other people who are also researching their families. It’s not uncommon for family members of different branches of the family tree to pool their resources and information to form a family collective of their history. Below, we have listed programs that we have tried and find to be suitable for recording your family information. Please note that we do not recommend any specific program and they are listed in no specific order. The Jeffrey Cemetery Association, Inc. does not receive any commission or reimbursement should you chose to purchase one of these programs.
Note: Whenever you are working with electronic data gathering software you should remenber to save your work often and backup your data daily to someplace other than your computer such as an external hard drive, USB thumb drive, on-line archive storage, etc..
- Family Tree Maker
- Roots Magic
- Roots Magic Essentials (Free)
- The Next Generation
- Personal Ancestral File (Free)
- The Master Genealogist
- Family Tree Builder (Free)
General Resources
- Texas land Survey Maps for Caldwell County, TX
- Plum Creek Alminac
- Jeffrey Cemetery Headstone Photos
- Family Tree Magazine
- Genealogy and Family History.com
- Caldwell County, Texas: Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More
Download Headstone Images
Below you can download the headstone images for each of the following families by clicking on the family name. The number after the family name indicates the number of images in that family group. Some images are duplicates taken under different light conditions and some are close-ups of hard to read wording on the headstone. The images have been color enhanced to improve their readability and cropped to show only the specific headstone. In some un-avoidable cases other headstones appear in the background.
All headstone images from the Oct 15-16, 2011 photo session are included in these download files. More images will be added as they become available.
These specific images are copyrighted by the Jeffrey Cemetery and intended for family personal use and genealogy research. These images may not be used for commercial use. If you desire images for commercial use you will have to visit the cemetery and take them yourself. Any request for un-copyrighted images for commercial use will not be responded to.
Any family wishing to have their family headstone images removed from this website can contact the webmaster@jeffreycemetery.com and the images will be removed immediately. Proof of family relationship will be required to authenticate the request.
Un-copyrighted images will be provided to family members on request. Send your request to: webmaster@jeffreycemetery.com
Cemetery Tour–Part 1
As you approach the gates of the Jeffrey Cemetery you are greeted by the Texas Historical Marker that was erected in 2004 by the Texas Historical Commission.
This marker offers a brief history of the establishment of the cemetery.
“Tennessee native Abraham Roberts wed Cynthia Jeffrey in Alabama in 1828. The couple arrived in Seguin, Texas, ten years later with their family. In 1840, Roberts purchased land on Tinney’s Creek in what was then Gonzales County. He and other area residents petitioned the Texas Legislature to create a new county, which was formed in 1847 and named Caldwell. That year the Roberts family made the first burial on family property when granddaughter Martha Ellison died while visiting them. The family and local residents soon began using the site as a community burial ground.
There are conflicting stories about the origins of the cemetery name and about which family gave the land for the site, but a 1921 deed cited acreage conveyed earlier to a cemetery association. In 1938, the community officially adopted the name Jeffrey Cemetery and elected officers to a board of trustees.
Today, the association maintains the site and continues traditional homecomings for families and friends of those buried here. Among the several hundred graves are the names of veterans of military service dating to the U.S.-Mexican War, as well as generations of area residents. Historic Texas Cemetery – 2004″
As you walk toward the main gate you see the twin pillars of the veteran’s memorial with the names of the veterans buried here. They continue to stand guard over the cemetery just as our men and women of our armed forces stand guard today at home and around the world. Ever vigilant and ever ready to fight and die for our freedom.
Veterans buried here dating from the Mexican-American War, American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War, and other events are listed on the Pillars in no specific order.
The Pillars stand 6 ft. tall and new names are engraved to honor their service as a veteran is burried here.
Passing through the main gate of the cemetery you immediately notice the flowers place by families and visitors. The American flags are placed on the veteran’s graves by the American Legion and VFW. It is quite evident that this is an active cemetery where many families visit often to place flowers and small tokens of the memories of their loved ones buried here.
The cemetery is maintained year round by the Jeffrey Cemetery Association with regular mowings and trimmings of the grounds. Maintenance of the headstones is in the care of the families.
Two black-top driveways provide access by service vehicles during maintenance and internment services. Visitors are asked to park in the areas provided outside the cemetery fence.
Upon entering the main gates you can’t help but notice the Old Oak Tree that majestically stretches out over the graves on the south side of the cemetery.
The grave of Martha Ellison (b.1840, d.1847), the first to be buried here, lies under the west side of the Old Oak Tree.
By: Gregg Sterner
Posted: Oct. 30, 2011
Funeral Services
Both Church and graveside services are available through local funeral homes and churches.
Burial Plots
Burial plots are the standard adult size of 6′ x 4′
If burial is by casket then only one casket per plot is allowed.
If burial is by cremation urn then more than one urn may be placed in a single plot. An urn may also be placed in a plot with a casket.
The Jeffery Cemetery is a community cemetery, please contact the Jeffrey Cemetery Association Board of Directors for arrangements.
Jeffrey Cemetery Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 1303
Lockart, TX 78644
74th Annual Homecoming 2011
Jeffrey Cemetery Homecoming
Held on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Cemetery Tabernacle – McMahan
Lunch was served beginning at 12:00 Noon
A business meeting was held at 1:30pm in the Church
| Weston Voigt, President John Baker, Vice President Tom Owen, Sec. – Treas. |
Darlene Jeffrey, Assit, Sec. – Treas. P.O. Box 1303 Lockhart, TX |
Pictures:
Refreshment Masters with their cool drinks for All
Registration and Donations
Getting Together
Remember when you were a kid
Yum Yum Good
Families Visiting Together
Distant Families meet each year
If you have any favorite pictures of the Homecoming that you would like to share with everyone please contact Gregg Sterner at webmaster@jeffreycemetery.com. Please use the Subject: Jeffery Cemetery Homecoming
New Addition
This year, 2011, has been a busy one for the Jeffrey Cemetery Association. We have opened the new addition to the Jeffrey Cemetery on the west side of County Road 160. We have poured a cement road, put in a drip irrigation system, and planted 28 Monterrey Oaks and 36 Crepe Myrtles. We have been able to keep them alive, thus far, in a terrible drought. Wh have already given out 50 lots in the new addition.
All of this has added up to additional expenses of around $25,000. Thanks to member support the cemetery association is still in good financial condition. Donations this year in memory of an ancestor or loved one provided for a plaque at the main entrance of the new cemetery with the names of the persons honored.
The Plaque reads “The trees planted in the new addition of the Jeffrey Cemetery were funded by donations in memory of our ancestors and loved ones listed below”.
If you wish to send a donation to help support the Jeffrey Cemetery please send all donations to:
Jeffrey Cemetery Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 1303
Lockhart, TX 78644
