History of the James Gilleland Family Cemetery/James Gilleland Cemetery in Austin, Texas observed.

This news article will explain and observe the James Gilleland Family Cemetery/James Gilleland Cemetery in Austin, Texas. James Gilleland Family Cemetery/James Gilleland Cemetery is one of Austin’s lesser known cemeteries dating back to the early 19th century.

The Republic of Texas issued a land grant to James G Gilleland as a reward for his army service, serving under in the Army of the Republic of Texas under Capt. Bailey Anderson from July 1836 to October 1836. This land grant he received was a bounty certificate for land, which he later sold to his neighbor Isaac Decker. A certificate for one labor of land was issued to James Gilleland by the Board of Land Commissioners of Bastrop County in 1838, and he also secured title to a league of land from the Republic of Texas. He chose a creek in what is now eastern Travis County, then part of Bastrop County. He built his home on the south bank of the creek, thirteen miles east of the site of Austin, which was called Waterloo at the time. The creek came to be known as Gilleland Creek. (Ref: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/gilleland-james)

In February 1839 a band of Comanche Indians attacked a settlement below Waterloo. Bastrop raised a militia to pursue the Comanches, and James Gilleland joined. The company gave chase and caught up with the Comanches at Brushy Creek the following afternoon. In the battle of Brushy Creek, actually a small skirmish led by Gen. Edward Burleson, James Gilleland was gravely wounded by a musketball between the shoulder and neck. He died ten days later, on February 27, 1839, and was buried on a gentle rise not far from his home, at a spot that became the Gilleland Family Cemetery. (Ref: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/gilleland-james)

Dianna Gilleland never remarried; she owned property, slaves, and cattle in her own name and managed her own affairs until her death. She died in 1895 and was buried beside her husband. (Ref: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/gilleland-james)


Rebecca Ann Gilleland was his who was buried at James Gilleland Family Cemetery/James Gilleland Cemetery with the rest of the family. Rebecca Ann Gilleland was born on October 16, 1822 at Texas. She was the daughter of James Gilleland and Dianna Moore. Rebecca Ann Gilleland married Samuel P. Birt on February 15, 1843. Rebecca Ann Gilleland died on December 30, 1843 at age the of 21. She was buried at James Gilleland Cemetery, Austin, Texas. (Ref: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~elsinger/genealogy/gilliland/g0/p148.htm)

Nancy Diana Gilleland was born on November 17, 1824. She was the daughter of James Gilleland and Dianna Moore. Nancy Diana Gilleland married James O. Rice on November 5, 1846. Nancy Diana Gilleland died on January 1, 1859 at age 34. She was buried at James Gilleland Cemetery, Austin, Texas. (Ref: 1850 US Census, page 397)

Nathaniel Moore Gilleland was born on  December 5, 1829 at Arkansas. He was the son of James Gilleland and Dianna Moore. Nathaniel Moore Gilleland died in 1857 at Texas. He was buried at James Gilleland Cemetery, Austin, Texas.  Nathaniel Moore Gilleland appeared on the, in the household of his mother Dianna Moore. (Ref: 1850 Federal Census of Travis County, Texas)

James Gilleland Family Cemetery/James Gilleland Cemetery was located at 15619 Hunters Bend Road, Austin, Texas, US 78725.