Brevard County FL

Fresh Water Indians

The Fresh Water Tribe, also known as “Agna Dulce,” refers to the inhabitants of several towns in eastern Florida between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral. These towns included Anacape, Antonico, Maiaca, and several others, although not all native names have been preserved. This region’s history mirrors that of other Timucua provinces, with notable events including Ponce de Leon’s arrival in 1513 and the establishment of Spanish missions in the 17th century. The population saw a rapid decline following early conversions to Christianity. By 1602, 300 individuals from this district had been Christianized or were under instruction.

Slave Narrative of Della Bess Hilyard

Interviewer: Alfred Farrell Person Interviewed: Della Bess Hilyard (“Aunt Bess”) Location: Titusville, Florida Della Bess Hilyard, or “Aunt Bess” as she is better known, was born in Darlington, South Carolina in 1858, the daughter of Resier and Zilphy Hart, slaves of Gus Hiwards. Both her parents were cotton pickers and as a little girl Della often went with her parents into the fields. One day she stated that the Yankees came through South Carolina with Knapsacks on their shoulders. It wasn’t until later that she learned the reason. When asked if she received any educational training, “Aunt Bess” replied in … Read more

Onathaqua Tribe

Onathaqua Indians (possibly intended for Ouathaqua). A tribe or village about Cape Cañaveral east coast of Florida, in constant alliance with the Calusa in 1564 (Laudionniére). Probably identical in whole or in part with the Ais tribe. Not to be confounded with Onatheaqua. Alternate Spellings: Oathkaqua – De Bry map (1591) in Le Moyne, Narr., Appleton trans., 1875. Onathqua – Laudionniére (1564) in French, Hist. Coll., Louisiana, n.s., 282, 1869 (possibly for Ouathaqua). Onothaca – Brackenridge, Louisiana, 84, 1814. Otchaqua – De l’Isle, map, 1700.

Slave Narrative of Josephine Anderson

Interviewer: Jules A. Frost Person Interviewed: Josephine Anderson Location: Tampa, Florida “I kaint tell nothin bout slavery times cept what I heared folks talk about. I was too young to remember much but I recleck seein my granma milk de cows an do de washin. Granpa was old, an dey let him do light work, mosly fish an hunt. “I doan member nothin bout my daddy. He died when I was a baby. My stepfather was Stephen Anderson, an my mammy’s name was Dorcas. He come fum Vajinny, but my mammy was borned an raised in Wilmington. My name was … Read more

Brevard County Florida Cemetery Records

Florida Cemetery records are listed by county then name of cemetery within the Florida county. Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Brevard County Cemetery Records Hosted at Brevard County, Florida USGenWeb Archives Cemetery at Cape Canaveral Florida Memorial Gardens (partial listing) Georgiana Graveyard Hilltop Cemetery, a.k.a. Cocoa Black Cemetery Brevard County Cemetery Records Hosted at Interment.net Florida Memorial Gardens Melbourne Cemetery

Slave Narrative of Taylor Gilbert

Interviewer: Alfred Farrell Person Interviewed: Taylor Gilbert Location: Titusville, Florida Age: 91 Occupation: Farmer Taylor Gilbert was born in Shellman, Georgia, 91 years ago, of a colored mother and a white father, “which is why I am so white”, he adds. He has never been known to have passed as White, however, in spite of the fact that he could do so without detection. David Ferguson bought Jacob Gilbert from Dr. Gilbert as a husband for Emily, Taylor’s mother. Emily had nine children, two by a white man, Frances and Taylor, and seven by Jacob, only three of whom Gilbert … Read more

Kolupke, Sharon L. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon 1941-2009 Sharon Lee Kolupke, 68, of La Grande, died Oct. 20 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Sharon was born March 11, 1941, to John and Darlene (Schick) Furrenes in Minominc, Mich. She married Larry J. Kolupke on June 11, 1982, in Savannah, Ga. She moved to La Grande from Orlando, Fla., and enjoyed playing golf in her younger years. She is survived by her husband, Larry of La Grande; and her sister, Andrea Konopecky of La Grande. She was preceded in death by her parents. La Grande Observer … Read more

Slave Narrative of Titus I. Bynes

Interviewer: Alfred Farrell Person Interviewed: Titus Bynes Location: Titusville, Florida Age: 90 Occupation: Carpenter Titus B. [TR: Titus I. above] Bynes, affectionately known as “Daddy Bynes”, is reminiscent of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s immortal “Uncle Tom” and Joel Chandler Harris’ inimitable ‘Uncle Remus’ with his white beard and hair surrounding a smiling black face. He was born in November 1846 in what is now Clarendon County, South Carolina. Both his father, Cuffy, and mother, Diana, belonged to Gabriel Flowden who owned 75 or 80 slaves and was noted for his kindness to them. Bynes’ father was a common laborer, and his … Read more

Jeremiah John Miller – Obituary

Medical Springs, Oregon Jeremiah John Miller, 81, a longtime Medical Springs resident, died Dec. 5, 2001, at his home. There will be a memorial service later. Jeremiah was born at Baxter Springs, Kan., where he grew up on his grandmother’s farm. He graduated from Joplin High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which took him to Randolph Field at San Antonio, Texas. There he met and fell in love with Adeline Kosharek. They were married on July 1, 1940, and spent 27 years in the U.S. Air Force where his career was in aircraft maintenance and engineering. … Read more

The Archaic Period of Lake Okeechobee

American Mastadon

Archaeologists define the Archaic Period in southern Florida as lasting from around 7500 BC to around 500 BC. During the first half of this period, there were (in geological time) rapid environmental changes in the Florida Peninsula. In the latter half of this period, there were rapid cultural changes in Southeastern North America, but it is not known at the present time how completely those changes were manifested in southern Florida. A cultural connection between the Lake Okeechobee Basin and northeast Georgia remains little known, both inside and outside the archaeology profession. The Younger Dryas Stadial was a (1,300 ± … Read more

Slave Narrative of Henry Maxwell

Interviewer: Alfred Farrell Person Interviewed: Henry Maxwell Location: Titusville, Florida Age:  77? Occupation: Field Worker “Up from Slavery” might well be called this short biographical sketch of Henry Maxwell, who first saw the light of day on October 17, 1859 in Lownes County, Georgia. His mother Ann, was born in Virginia, and his father, Robert, was born in South Carolina. Captain Peters, Ann’s owner, bought Robert Maxwell from Charles Howell as a husband for Ann. To this union were born seven children, two girls – Elizabeth and Rosetta – and five boys – Richard, Henry, Simms, Solomon and Sonnie. After … Read more