Peter Lawley West was the son of James H West & Christana (aa Christiana) Lawley-West (his parents were married 18 Mar 1819 in Blount/Jefferson County, Alabama where he lived until after the 1850 Census in Tuscaloosa, AL). There were 6 known children born to James H West & Christiana Lawley-West:

1) Harriet Jane West-Gandy (1820 in AL -1867)who is buried by her husband (John Henderson Gandy) and mother (Christiana Lawley-West) in Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery (near Clinton/Eutaw, Greene Co, Alabama);

2) Peter Lawley West (1825 in AL -1873) my 2nd great grandfather who married Virena Clementine Gill on 18 Oct 1851 in Clinton, Hines County, Mississippi before migrating to Texas with the Gill family;

3) John C West (1828 in AL - after 1860) who married Lenora Ann (Polly) Loftis 14 Feb 1856 in Mississippi (obviously he migrated to Mississippi after the 1850 Greene County, Al census where he was living with his widowed father James H West after his mother died in 1846). John C West is believed to have died ca 1863 in Mississippi (possibly civil war). In the 1860 MS Census, he and Polly had one son: John P West (middle name likely Peter) born ca 1857 in MS.;

4) Martha E West (1830 in AL -1842) buried by her mom (Christiana Lawley-West) and aunt/uncle: John Henderson Gandy & Harriet Jane West-Gandy in Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Martha was only 11 years old when she died in 1842;

5) Malurian West (1833 in MS or AL - died or married? aft 1850 census) daughter still living at home with James H West (father) in 1850 Clinton, Greene County, Alabama census after her mother died 1846; and

6) Lucinda Louisa West(1837 in MS or AL - died or married after 1860 census) daughter still living at home with James H West (father) in 1850 Clinton, Greene County, Alabama census after her mother died 1846; and was living with her aunt/uncle Powell Loftis & Mary Ann (Polly) Thomas-Loftis family in the 1860 MS census.

Peter Lawley West and Virena Clementine Gill(were my 2nd great grandparents) - note some references have Peter's middle name as Lawler versus Lawley. But, in fact, it should be Lawley (his mother's maiden name). One of their sons, Robert Milam West, was my great grandfather (whom is pictured in photo collection on this memorial).

New update: 05 May 2013 & 18 Sept 2013 by Lynda Lehmann-French, as follows...
After years of research trying to identify Peter Lawley West's parents, it has been determined that he was the son of James H West and Christiana Lawley (previously got confused with a completely unrelated (to our knowledge): Peter L. West and Susanna Edwards). Family ties, DNA matches, and strong research proofs provided by descendants currently living in Florida of Peter L West & Susanna Edwards have indicated he is NOT to be son of Peter L West & Susanna Edwards and our family has determined that he is rather the the son of James H West & Christiana Lawley who married 24 March 1819 in Jefferson County, Alabama (versus son of Peter L West & Susanna Edwards). James H West & Christiana Lawley-West had at least 4 children between 1819 and 1830 (Per 1830 Jefferson County, AL census), two being now identified as Harriet Jane West (1820-1867); Peter Lawley West(1825-1873); John C West; and Martha E West. The family moved to Mississippi by 1833 where 3 more children were born: Malauran West, Lucinda Louisa West, and John C West. Some family returned to Alabama, but Peter Lawley West apparently stayed in Mississippi, as that is where he married Virena Clementine Gill on 18 Oct 1851 in Clinton, Winston County, Mississippi.

Snake Creek Cemetery History - A Texas Hisorical Landmark.

Peter Lawley West (Ref: "Around the Bend" 1984-No.1, Researched and written by Esther I. Beard - Title: "SNAKE CREEK CEMETERY AND CHURCH, Fort Bend County): The Snake Creek Cemetery is on 2 acres of an original 500 acre plot where Peter Lawler West and Virena Clementine Gill West (daughter of R. J. and Elizabeth Gill) original homestead was located. Peter owned other land, but this 500 acres was reported to be where the original homestead was located (likely near the cemetery).

The graves of several men should be noted: Peter L. West (who was responsible for making the Snake Creek Cemetery and Church a community burial ground and place of worship (3/4 of it) w/ land deeded to him from William Cole (1/4 of it)), Henry Boone, Thomas Tarver, William N. Sims,
J.B. Hartgraves, Chester C. Kennnelly (all Confederate Veterans), Emory H. Darst (great-grandson of Daniel Boone), Col. John P. Gill (brother to R. J. Gill and Uncle to Virena Clementine Gill West) - (Ref: See Ft. Bend County Probate Records of 1870 and 1871, PROBATE
MINUTES VOLUMES D-2, Pages 418, 484-485, 492-493, 528 & 553 where John P. Gill willed a 'considerable Estate' to Peter Lawley West's 5 chldren: Martha A. West, John James West (both minors over 14 yrs old)and Mary E. West, R.M. West, and Peter L. West (all 3 minors under 14 years of age) on Friday, November 10, 1871. It refers to John Porter Gill as the children's "Grand Uncle", thus assume he was Virena's Uncle. There was a sixth child apparently born between this will (1870-1871 probate) of John P. Gill when Peter Lawley/Lawler West died in 1873 because Virena Clementine Gill West's death notice states that when her husband died in 1873 he left her with 6 children (not 5) and 3 survived her listing them as: John J. West of Lampasas; Mrs. Mattie Cage of Blanco, Tx; and Mrs. Emma
Beall of Houston (at her home is where Virena Clementine Gill West died On January 25, 1909). Virena's Blanco Pastor, J.T. Gillett wrote this in the orbituary about her life and death: "Mrs. Virena West was born in Alabama, or it may have been Mississippi, September 15, 1831, and
died in Houston, Texas, at the home of her daughter, Mrs Emma Beall, January 25, 1909. She was the daughter of R.J. and Elizabeth Gill. She was converted in early life and joined the Methodist Church and remained a faithful member all of her long life. She married Peter Lawley West near Clinton, Miss., in 1852. In company with her father's family they moved to Texas in the Fall of that year, settling in Ft. Bend County where the greater portion of her life was spent. In 1873 her husband died, leaving her with six children, three of them surviving her -- John J. West, of Lampasas; Mrs. Mattie Cage, of Blanco; and Mrs. Emma Beall, Houston-- from whose home her redeemed spirit ascended to the home of the glorified. In 1884 she and her children moved to Blanco, Texas, and it was there in 1895 that this writer was her pastor, and I
recall now her beautiful Christian life. She was specially fitted for ministration to the sick. Whenever in town where people were sick there you would find Sister West, familiarllly known in her last days as Grandma West. She served her generation well, and in God's own time he called her to her reward on high. May the Lord bless the sorrowing one of her own and help each one to serve God so that in the end they may see her who left them a benediction in her long and godly life.
J.T Gillett. El Paso"

The Ft. Bend Co probate records show Peter Lawley West was made Admistrator of his 5 childrens inheritance from John P. Gill and that Peter was a J.P of Ft. Bend Co. Beat 5. On November 20, 1871 Peter may have had some financial difficulties as he got approved from the court to take $300 per annum for the care and education of the children as he stated that Peter L. West Guardian over the chidren and Estate had no income of his own but that derived from the labor of his hands and the cultivation of his farm, which was barely sufficient to support his wife and children. He was approved to use the money for his taxes in 1871 and for the education and care of his children.

Col. John P. Gill and Emory H. Darst were both veterans of the Texas Revolution and in particular the Battle of San Jacinto. Peter Lawley West, Henry Boone, Thomas Tarver, William N. Sims, J.B. Hargraves, Chester C. Kennelly were also Confederate Veterans. They are all amongst those buried at Snake Creek Cemetery. The land donors for the cemetery were Peter L. West and William Cole of the Estate of Jeremiah Cole. As neighbors, Peter owned 500 acres of the Reuben Wood League, a Mexican Land Grant, and the Coles owned the adjoining Peter Conrad 1/4 League. The old Mexican league line separated their property -- West's to the west, and Cole to the east of the survey line. This league line is still used by present day surveyors, and the latest survey plat (as of 1984)showed that the line runs through the cemetery.

In 1860 the adjoining neighbor, William Cole, gave through his attorney John Adriance, a Deed in Religious Trust to Peter West. An abstract of the deed reads in part:
"William Cole of Brazoria...for and in the consideration of the veneration and respect he has for the Christian Religion, and the true worship of Almighty God has given and granted and does by these presents give unto Peter L. West ...for church purposes...commencing at a point...to have and to hold the above granted lot of land unto the said Peter L. West, his heirs, executors, and Administrators, in fee simple forever. With this Especial Trust and Confidence however, that is to say that it is to be held by him, his heirs, and executors, and administrators Sacred for the purposes of worship--and a restin place for the Dead, and for no other use or purpose whatsoever".

After the death of Peter Lawley West in 1873, the family moved to Blanco County and soon started selling the family land in Fort Bend Co. in various sized tracts. The next deed reference pertinent to this cemetery is recorded in 1887 when Mrs. Virena West, et al, sold a 102 acre tract which included the cemetery. The Deed read in part:
"containing 102 acres, less two acres heretofore given off for a church and cemetery, and which two acres we now reserve from this sale." A survey for the sale of the 102 acre tract in 1978 platted the cemetery for the first time. The survey shows the cemetery as being fenced and that the old Mexican league line, as shot by the surveyor, goes through the cemetery. From the survey one can see that about 3/4 of the cemetery was from Peter L. West's land and that 1/4 came from the Cole donation.

One Family gathers annually on Memorial Day for an old fashioned cemetery scraping of their large plot. Several families mow their plots from time to time and have placed tombstones on identified unmarked graves. Several families have taken on cleaning other plots after the winter freeze of families of these early settlers that have died out or moved away (e.g., or families that are not yet aware or found this cemetery, including myself

NOTE: As of this date of Nov. 8, 1992 -- I (Lynda Lehmann-French, had just learned of this cemetery location and DID finally find it - getting permission to get through a couple cow gates to get there!).

In the 1950's an old barbed wire fence was replaced with a chain link fence to keep the cattle out of the cemetery (combined effort of several families). According to Frank Boone the old Snake Creek Church (non-denominational) was completely demolished in the 1932 storm. The cemetery is on a high spot (not a flood area), but access to it is prohibited during heavy rains or high waters. It is said that this cemetery was likely a look-out area for army scouts and may have been one of Santa Anna's movements in the county in 1836, where one of Santa Anna's marches was only several miles north of the Snake Creek Cemetery. Mr. Frank Boone had heard that a company of soldiers camped there and that some of those soldiers died from an epidemic and were buried there and that may have been how the burying ground got started. Mr. Frank Boone attended the church when he was young (came to Ft. Bend in 1912) and recalls the preacher was Drachenberg from Beasley and baptized in the San Bernard river at Bridle Crossing on the river (so assumes he was a Baptist preacher in a non-denominational church). He recalls the Church was to the west of the cemetery, faced east, had three windows and a front door (size approx. 20' X 20', no steeple, no cross, and had a broken out-of-commission organ, made of red cedar log, moss and mud filling up the cracks between logs in the walls, no nails, pegged and notched, seats made of logs flat on top and bottom).

(Masonic Member) or and middle name may be Lawley v Lawler according to some documents.

Peter L. West Civil War Record:

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
about Peter L. West
Name: Peter L. West
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Texas
Regiment Name: 35 Texas Cavalry (Brown's Regiment)
Regiment Name Expanded: 35th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Brown's)
COMPANY: E
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M227 roll 39