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THE INS AND OUTS OF HARRIS COUNTY by Ronald J. Rollins       

Back in the 1980's, I first began to record locations and names of cemeteries in my area of Harris County. I had hunted deer for years on lands from the River to Mountain Top (with owners permission) and had spotted numerous old graveyards in my " walk about's " scouting the land. I knew as time went on most would join the ranks of the lost and forgotten if records of them weren't made. Since, the Internet and GPS most of them are now on Tombstone. There are still a few out there my brain has not rendered back or land marks were changed due to paper company bull dossier, but we will find them again!

As I began to record them, questions began to pop in to my head and to me they must have answers. Here is an of example on questions raised and how to get answers. On one occasion, I had been contacted by a genealogy group in LaGrange , about an inquiry made by a family in Colorado of a couple buried in the Hopewell Church Cemetery. John and Mary Middlebrooks, according to the family Bible, were buried in the 1830's in Harris County. The children of John were listed in the Bible but the Mother was listed as Martha Middlebrooks? I told them I would see if I could fine them.

After looking for them at the two locations I knew of the church existing; an old man I met on Bugg Road told me of the older location he knew about of the church at it's beginning. Sure enough at this location ( off Pole Bridge Rd.) I found the graves.

John and Mary buried with headstones facing east (awaiting the coming of Christ) and at their feet between them was Martha headstone facing west and listed as a consort to John and mother of John's children. What was the reason for this unusual burial? A probable answer was given to me by a Pine Mountain Pastor; here it is.

In the early days of this country we were a melting pot of many religions and cultures. Some of the European religions allowed a non-child bearing marriage to continue but due to need for children the wife picked another woman (usually a sister) to join their lives, to serve as child barrier to the marriage and to serve as a servant to the wife in household duties.

The wife chose when children were needed and how many. The care of the mother was that of the wife; the rearing of the children was the responsibility of all. In the eyes of the early church (a compromise), the family was excepted socially; in the eyes of god not the Christian way. They could worship in the church but at death? Saint Peter would work it out!

The couple was buried facing east to see the coming of Christ. The consort was not, but was buried between the couple she dedicated her life to. They were responsible to reach down when Christ was coming and grab her hands, to rise her up with them to Judgment as they owed her for the faithful service to them and for their children.

Thanks Ron
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