Samuel Willey and family arrived at Port Caddo,Texas in 1850. They had

immigrated from England. He promptly purchased 222 acres of land east of

Marshall and established his homestead. In 1851 he built a schoolhouse

on his property. The schoolhouse was located on a hill that he called

"Promotion Hill". This schoolhouse also served as a meeting place and a

Chapel (it was called Willey's Chapel).

The property is located South of Hwy 43 and to the West of Grace Scott

Cutoff Rd. Grace Scott Cutoff runs South from Hwy.43 along the eastern

edge of the property.

It is highly likely that the family grave sites were located near the

Chapel but they could have been somewhere else on his property. Five of

his children and a son-in-law have been buried on his property.

There is a possibility that other people could have been buried there

also, but there is no evidence at this time to substantiate this

possibility (IE: newspaper listings or death records etc.)

Willey family members buried on Samuel's Homestead:

Mary Ann Willey (1848- before 1860)

Alice Texana Willey (1850-before 1856)

Mary Louisa Ann Willey (1854-1861)

Alice Texana Willey (1857-1860)

Eliza Victoria Willey Turner (1853-1886) Death record states that she

was buried at Willey Cemetery.

George Edward Turner (1849-1884) Newspaper notice indicated that he died

at the home of Sarah Willey.

In 2004 a descendant of Samuel Willey came over from England and he

walked around the property .He was shown the location by a member of the

Long family (local descendants of Samuel Willey). He stated that while

walking the property he came across several broken tombstones but no

signs of any structures. When contacted in 2013 he was unable to provide

any location details. Unfortunately the many owners and uses over the

years have erased all traces of the Willey and Turner grave sites.

This property is now owned by Howell Ranch LP (208 acres out of the

original 222 acres). It should be noted that this property was in the

possession of Howell Ranch in 2004 (when the broken tombstones were

spotted). In 2023 Howell Ranch LP indicated that there are "No" remnants

of a cemetery on this property and that permission is required to access

the property.

Information provided by FAG member: 48182922 (a descendant of Samuel

and Sarah Willey)