Dade County FL

Biography of Bula D. Croker

Bula D. Croker, born on February 17, 1884, in Beatties Prairie, was educated at Cherokee National schools and the Female Seminary. With remarkable talents in music and expression, she achieved prominence in her career. She married Richard Croker, a Tammany Hall leader, and they split their time between New York City, Miami, and Ireland. The post also mentions her ancestral connections to General Joseph Martin, a Revolutionary War figure, highlighting her notable family lineage.

Slave Narrative of Rev. Eli Boyd

Rev. Eli Boyd, born on May 29, 1864, in South Carolina, grew up on a plantation where he worked after emancipation, earning a small wage. Although he did not experience slavery, he reflected on life on the plantation, including a childhood mishap involving food meant for hogs. He learned to read at 26 from a discarded textbook and became a preacher after working in a turpentine still. Rev. Boyd has served as assistant pastor at Bethel African Methodist Church in Miami for a decade. He is a member of the Geechee community, with African heritage.

Slave Narrative of Annie Trip

Annie Trip, born on Captain Hamlin’s plantation near Thomasville, Georgia, reminisces about her childhood with her parents and four brothers. She reflects on a time when life was simpler, with plenty of food and no financial worries. However, she now suffers from rheumatism and struggles with poverty, contrasting her past comforts with her current difficulties. Despite her condition, Annie’s memories illustrate the stark differences between her early life on the plantation and her present circumstances, leaving her yearning for the past.

Slave Narrative of Hattie Thomas

Hattie Thomas, born on the Bob Morris plantation in Georgia, was six years old when peace was declared. As a child, she assisted her mother in caring for eight siblings and other children. Food was scarce, often served as soaked bread crusts in milk troughs, with the fastest eaters getting more. After emancipation, Hattie worked hard on the plantation, using rudimentary methods for cooking and cleaning. Despite her hardships, she raised nine children and now has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Slave Narrative of Fannie McCay

Fannie McCay, age 73, recounts her early experiences on a plantation in Dade County, Florida. Born into slavery, she doesn’t possess memories of emancipation but acknowledges being considered property during that time. Fannie recalls accompanying adults while they picked cotton and expresses nostalgia for her childhood, particularly her fondness for a calf owned by her master, which she wished to keep. She emphasizes that despite her youth, her memories of life on the plantation remain significant to her identity.

Slave Narrative of Priscilla Mitchell

Priscilla Mitchell, born in Macon County, Alabama, on March 17, 1858, recalls her early life as a slave in Dade County, Florida. Freed at seven, she remembers picking cotton but notes that her youth afforded her lesser labor. She describes her relationship with her master fondly, claiming he shielded her from punishment. This sentiment reflects a complex and often contradictory perception of slavery, where affection towards masters coexisted with the realities of bondage.

Slave Narrative of Charley Roberts

Charley Roberts, born on the Hogg plantation in South Carolina, recalls the day he learned of his freedom while tending to a calf. He describes life under Confederate soldiers, who seized livestock for their needs. Scarcity forced him to cook salt from smokehouse boards for flavor in meals. Charley favored eating pork rinds and learned to read using McGuffey’s speller. Now residing in Perrine, Florida, he values family and strives to live by the Golden Rule, seeking independence despite financial challenges.

Slave Narrative of Rivana Boynton

Rivana Boynton, born on a plantation in South Carolina, recalls her life as an enslaved person until emancipation at age 15. She describes her childhood labor, including cotton thinning and housekeeping, as well as meager living conditions without proper beds. During the Civil War, she witnessed Union soldiers invade her home but helped save her mistress’s life by pleading for her safety. After the war, she married Alexander Boynton and raised 18 children. Now, she cherishes her large family, including multiple generations of grandchildren.

Tequesta Indians

The Tequesta Indians, whose name meaning remains unknown, inhabited the Miami area along Florida’s southeast coast. They likely spoke a language related to the Calusa and possibly Muskhogean. Historical accounts from the mid-1500s mention their interactions with Spanish explorers and their attempts at conversion to Christianity, which ultimately failed. By the late 17th century, their population was estimated at around 1,000. The Tequesta are recognized as one of the earliest groups to occupy the Miami site, despite their name lacking geographic permanence.

Dade County Florida Cemetery Records

This page lists known online cemetery transcriptions, burial records, and gravestone images for Dade County, Florida. Resources vary by cemetery and may include full surveys, partial records, mapping, or photographs. Links lead to external sites providing the available data.