--Newton Family Cemetery--

The Newton Cemetery is located at the end of Walter Stephenson Rd in Midlothian, Texas. You have to go beyond a gate. It is at the bottom of the hill. In a 1998 folder of Ellis County cemeteries I found at the Waxahachie Library ,it described the cemetery as kept up. But it is not now. The grass is waist high and a tree has fallen at the back right corner of the cemetery. I couldn't find Larkin Newton who is suppose to be buried here. I'm thinking he may be under the tree or maybe the grass. Mary Larkin's grave stone is there and Larkin Newton's wife was named Mary. If anyone knows his grave's location within the cemetery let me know. He was a veteran of the War 0f 1812. His log cabin, which I believe may have sat on the hill above the graveyard, is on display in downtown Midlothian. I posted on the Larkin Cabin here. The spot in the early post where I used my GPS to find exactly 3 miles soutwest from the Historical Marker is just West of the graveyard. There is Newton Creek and tree grove in between the graveyard and Waterworks road. So it makes since that the Log Cabin had to be next to the Graveyard most likely on the elevated spot. This would be where he staked his claim to the Peterson Colony's contract in 1848.

In 1848 Larkin Newton, his wife Mary, and eight children settled in what is now known as Ellis County. In this community, the Larkins raised three more children and helped the colony become a county. Over the years, Larkin later operated a gristmill, served as postmaster, and surveyed land.

Larkin Newton moved to the colony as a family man prior to July i, 1848. He was issued a land certificate by Ward in 1850 and patented 640 acres in Ellis County (Robertson Third Class No. 1492). He is listed on the census of 1850 (Ellis County, page 264) as a 56-year-old farmer, born in South Carolina, with nine children. Apparently the family migrated to Texas from Missouri.

-Peters Colony

NEWTON, LARKIN
BORN: Age 58 on 18 May 1852
SERVICE: Sergeant in Captain George Barnes's Company of Tennessee Militia.
BOUNTY LAND: 44,202-80-50; 38,759-80-55
COMMENTS: National Archives service records: 1852, Ellis County, Texas, veteran appeared before Henry Trimble, J.P., certified by Benjamin F. Hawkins, County Clerk. John T.~. Berry of Waxa-hachie forwarded his application to Washington, D.C. 1855, Ellis County, Newton before Amzi Bradshaw, N.P. E. C. Newton was identifying character witness and had known Larkin Newton 34 years and stated he had heard Jesse Nskes served with Larkin at the Battle of New Orleans. J. P. Loughlin had known Larkin 25 years.

-War of 1812 Veterans in Texas



Newton Cemetery
Marcellus Hawkins probably is the son of Marcellus T Hawkins who is listed on pg 275 of the book The Peters Colony It says

"Marcellus T. Hawkins migrated to the colony as a single man prior to July 1, 1848. He was issued Robertson Third Class Certificate No. 1479 for 320 acres, which he patented in Ellis County. He is listed on the 1850 census (Ellis County, page 267) as a 26-year-old farmer, born in Indiana."

PICTURES OF GRAVES:

Thomas L Newton
Rhoda A Newton
Mary Newton
George Stiles
Zilpha Stiles
James and Venus Newton
Harrison Newton
John
Lorenda
Lynie Neely
Frank and Ettie Cook
John Madison Cook
Hazel Newton
Ida B Neely
Marcellus Hawkins
Mary Bedfore
Charles Newton

UPDATE:Thanks to a Larkin Newton descendant,Marla Vincent, I have recieved these pictures below of Larkin's tombstone. It does appear that the tree in the right rear of the cemetery has fallen on the tombstone since 2005. She has give some resources to research Larkin Newton's life. A pamphlet by Randell Tarin, "The Story of Larkin Newton, An Early Settler to Ellis County" published by Tarin Graphics in 1992. Also, Larkin has several entries in "Flashback", a publication of the Washington County Historical Society (Arkansas).