Fannin County TXGenWeb   Cravens Cemetery

The Cravens Cemetery and Cravens Slave Records of Fannin County are provided by Billy Suitor, 
fellow historian and is much appreciated.
Cravens Cemetery is located WNW of the Allens Chapel Community on county road number 2999

I  add only this - I found an article noting that a Mr.J.A.Garrison
died on the Cravens Farm Dec. 1906, he was a veteran of the War between the states . I  believe him to be buried here. He was elderly alone,and they took him in.If you have more info please email me  [email protected]


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Cravens Cemetery
photograph by Barbara Rivas
mid 1970's

      After the death of William Cravens in Christian County, Kentucky (1845).  Mary (McCombs) Cravens, his wife, Gershom C., Their son their slaves and a party of friends started from Kentucky to Texas in 1845. Gershom left behind his sweetheart, Zerelda Darnell, their parents though they were too young for marriage at nineteen and sixteen. The Darnells came to Texas before the fall of the Alamo but the Indians gave so much trouble they were getting ready to
return to Kentucky (1837) before their application for a land grant was granted.  William and his wife A.E. Darnell, had crossed Red River in a boat to attend some business before returning to Kentucky.  The river started to rise and their boat overturned when they started back to the Texas side.  William Managed to get out safely while his
wife drowned.  William Darnell returned to Kentucky with his children.   He would not give his consent for his lovely daughter (sixteen years old),  Zerelda to come back to Texas as Gershom Cravens, bride. The separation proved too much for Gershom, so when they came on the Cumberland River in Montgomery County, Tennessee, Gershom slipped away in the night to return for Zerelda.   They were married at Clarksville, Tennessee, on October 14 1845.
        The Cravens Settled on Bois d'Arc Creek north of Windom, Texas.
Soon John and Nathan Darnell Joined the Cravens in Texas and also a Sister, Mary Elizabeth Darnell. This was a family graveyard.  All marked graves are family and there are five unmarked graves of friends.


photograph by Barbara Rivas
mid 1970's


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Brewer, Mary E.        01 May 1823   02 Apr. 1892  b. Summer Co. Tenn. Age 69 yr. 1 mo. 1 day
       (dau of W.M. & A.E NEE Soper- Darnell)
Coley, Edwards, P.         (grave unmarked)1937           age -ca. 70 yrs.
Cravens, Gershom C.  22 Dec 1826 - 13 Feb 1871   
Cravens, Mary          14 Feb. 1793    18 Feb. 1868  (nee McCombs)
Cravens, Mary E. (Eliza)  26 Sep. 1847    06 Jul. 1918  (nee Allen)
Cravens, James Nathan   30 Oct. 1859    01 Jan. 1862  son of G.C.& z.
Cravens, Zerelda        23 Nov. 1829    13 Dec. 1898  age 69 yr. 20 days
Cravens, Mary (Ella) 04 Dec.1867     09 Apr. 1892
        (nee Ramsey) wife of Elijah C.
Cravens, William Henry   25 Nov. 1846    20 Oct 1901
Darnell, John C.        14 Mar. 1824    24 Dec. 1872  age 49 yr. 9 mo.
Darnell, Nathan A.    15 Jul. 1821    19 Feb. 1877

Garrison, Mr. J.A. read notes at top of page
Jolley, Isham T.        12 Jul 1842     18 Apr. 1890 b. Wilson,Co.Tenn.
Jolley, Harriet           19 Apr.1852   09 Mar. 1876
         wife of I.T. Dau. Of G.& Z. Cravens
Moore, Harriett      18 Jul. 1870    22 Apr. 1882   ch of W.C.& Emily
Moore, Howard      18 Oct. 1881    22 Apr. 1882   ch of W.C. & Emily
Moore, Emile         18 Sep. 1850    20 Apr. 1899   wife of W.C.
Moore, Zehelda     b & d           26 Jul. 1869   son of W.C.& Emily
Moore, Charles T.  20 Feb. 1874  28 Oct. 1875
          age 1 yr. 8 mo. 20 days Son of W.C. & Emily
Moore, William M.  11 Apr. 1880    28 Apr. 1880
         age 17 days Son of W.C. & Emily
Moore, Infant    b & d   22 Feb. 1883   dau of W.C. & Emily
Nicholson, Greshum A. 11 Sep. 1882    16 Jul. 1883   son of J.W. & C.A.
Nicholson, Bertie      08 Jun. 1884    29 Jul. 1884
         dau of J.W. & C.A.(Catherine-nee Cravens)

Tyler, R.K.      1833   - 13 Jan 1897    age 64 yr.
Tyler, Mary E. (Elizabety) 10 Aug. 1848   06 May. 1869  wife of R.K.



Slaves of Mary E. Cravens, brought to Texas from Christian County Ky. 1845. Most of these were buried in a Cemetery on land owned by Gershom Cravens and his mother, Mary E. Cravens.  This plot of land chosen for the SlavesCemetery was on the West Side of road west of the Craven's Cemetery. In Fannin County North of Bantam community.

        LIST OF SLAVES ---   born

Joseph                         05 Apr. 1822
Jenny                           22 May. 1822
George                         18 Oct. 1824
Ann                              05 Dec. 1825
Darcos                         18 Feb. 1827
Simon                          11 Jul. 1827
Alzary                          03 Apr. 1829
Mary                            18 Oct. 1830
Wesley                          18 Apr. 1832
Washington                  01 Mar. 1834
           List of slaves born in Texas
                                        BORN
Wm. Burrel                  19 Nov. 1846
Aggy                            22 Oct. 1849
Jackson                        25 Jul. 1850
Prissilla                         24 Mar. 1853
Francis                         03 Oct 1863

 Both list were taken from records written in the Bible belonging
to Mary E. Cravens.
  Copy made by Willie (Cravens) Holman 1956