A weathered granite monument stands before us. It’s a testament to the Phillips Memorial Cemetery. This isn’t just any cemetery plaque. This is a window into a rich and often painful history.
The Phillips Memorial Cemetery plaque marks the site of a once-vibrant African American community. The cemetery began in the 1870s. Kneeland Britton’s death marked its start. It was situated on the Britton family land. The land was next to the Galveston Houston & Henderson Railroad. The Phillips family kept the land behind the cemetery. Many pioneers of the 1867 Settlement were buried here. This was a freedmen’s community. The families were close. Their children married into the Bell Britton Caldwell and Hobgood families. These were Black Cowboys who drove cattle up the Chisholm Trail.
The 1867 Settlement thrived on 320 acres. Judge William J. Jones set this land aside. He intended it for purchase by freed slaves after the Civil War. The 1900 Storm brought new families from Galveston. Industrial growth in Texas City brought new jobs. For decades this was the only African American cemetery on the Galveston County mainland.
Tragedy struck. In 1927 State Highway 6 was rerouted. It cut through the oldest part of the cemetery. Bodies were removed from their caskets and reburied in a common grave. This highway later became State Highway 3. Highway expansion in 1991 exposed more graves. Texas A&M University archaeologists worked on the site. They located and removed remains until 1992. Forty-four graves were moved to Mainland Memorial Cemetery. A granite monument with benches was erected. It honors those relocated.
The stories of those buried here are compiled from oral histories. Descendants of the pioneering families shared their memories. Research of existing records added to the knowledge. The list of burials is not complete. Additional information can be found at the Galveston County Historical Commission. The plaque stands as a silent tribute. It remembers the lives and struggles of the people buried here. It’s a reminder of their contributions. Remember the pioneers of the Phillips Memorial Cemetery. Their resilience echoes through time. Their legacy lives on.