Tarrant County TXGenWeb - P.A. Watson Cemetery

Tarrant County TXGenWeb

P.A. Watson Cemetery

Inventoried September 2002
Copyright © 2002, Rob Yoder

Oldest Known Cemetery in Tarrant County

P.A. Watson Cemetery is located in northeast Arlington at the intersection of the north bound service road of State Highway 360 and Ave. H. The service road is also known as Watson Road. Although the fence needs much repair, the cemetery is maintained and is still in use. According to P.A. Watson Cemetery Association President, David Isom, only descendants of those already interred at Watson are permitted to be buried there today.

The cemetery association wishes to keep track of family members of the residents of P.A. Watson Cemetery. If you are related to someone buried there, please contact David Isom, 2122 Barberry Dr., Dallas Texas 75211.

The P.A. Watson Cemetery Association depends upon donations to provide maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. Currently, their wish is to replace and/or repair the aging fences, but it is estimated to cost over $8,000 and there are no funds available other than what is on hand to keep up with monthly bills. If you would like to make a contribution to the association, large or small, please contact David Isom.

Inscriptions were read beginning at the west gate with the row nearest Watson Road. (refer to the map below) The first row was read from north to south and the next was read from south to north, and so on. Graves marked only with fieldstones were not noted in this inventory.

In the following pages you will find several references to the DAR. The Daughters of the American Revolution inventoried this cemetery in 1963. Their records provided some information that I could find no reference too. The DAR link below lists those graves that can no longer be found.

Rows 1-7

Rows 8-14

Rows 15-19

Rows 20-26

DAR Notes, etc.

We are fortunate in the fact that Allen Wheatley has recorded most of the headstones with his camera. His website also includes photos from a number of other cemeteries in Tarrant and surrounding counties. Click here for Allen Wheatley's website.

When visiting, it is best to use the driveway on the south side and park outside the south gate. Take the Lamar St./Ave. H exit from north bound SH-360 or stay on Watson Road (the service road) traveling north from Six Flags Drive.

Historical Marker

P.A. Watson Cemetery

Mrs. Micajah Goodwin was buried here in 1846, soon after her family came to this area. They constructed a coffin from their wagon bed and burned brush atop the grave to hide it from Indians. When Patrick Alfred Watson (1810-1894) of North Carolina bought the land in 1853, he set aside a one-acre cemetery. In 1870 Watson gave land and a structure was built for Watson Community's first school and church, later West Fork Presbyterian Church. In 1956 Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike was routed around the cemetery and the church was relocated.

This page was last modified 22 Dec 2011.