Jefferson County FL

Slave Narrative of Acie Thomas

Acie Thomas, born on July 26, 1857, in Jefferson County, Florida, reflects on his life as a former slave on the Folsom plantation. He recounts the relatively benign nature of his experience, detailing childhood activities and food security. Thomas was freed around age 15 and later navigated life as a sharecropper before moving to Jacksonville. As an elderly man, he struggles with loss and isolation, reminiscing about his deceased family and yearning for peace. He remains in a modest, deteriorating home, clinging to memories of a hard-fought existence.

Slave Narrative of Patience Campbell

Patience Campbell, born around 1883 in Jackson County, Florida, describes her life as a slave, detailing her experiences under two different masters. Her mother’s owner, George Bullock, was kind, while her father’s owner, Edward Merritt, was cruel. Blind for 26 years, Patience recalls childhood tasks like cotton seed picking and learning to spin and weave. Following emancipation, she attended a Freedmen’s Bureau school and witnessed the establishment of African American communities. Patience’s narrative highlights the contrasts in slavery conditions and the resilience of newly freed individuals.

Slave Narrative of Matilda Brooks

Matilda Brooks, 79, born in South Carolina around 1857, was a slave on Governor Frank Pickens’ plantation, where conditions were relatively favorable. She described the governor as personally attentive to the slaves’ needs, providing comfortable quarters and medical care. Matilda’s family cultivated various crops and utilized traditional cooking methods. Following emancipation, her family moved to Monticello, Florida, where they became house servants and engaged in community life, including education and politics. Matilda still resides in Rooster-Town, a neighborhood associated with her family.

Slave Narrative of Douglas Parish

Douglas Parish, interviewed at age 86, recounts his life as a slave in Monticello, Florida, born in 1850 to Charles and Fannie Parish. His mother was a “breeder,” while his father worked in the cotton fields. Despite the harsh realities of slavery, Douglas describes a comparatively mild existence on the Parish plantation, where he enjoyed food security and limited punishment. Post-Civil War, many slaves, including Douglas’s family, chose to remain with the Parishes, facing new struggles in a transformed economy while seeking education through Freedmen’s Bureau efforts.

Slave Narrative of Bolden Hall

Bolden Hall, born on February 13, 1853, in Jefferson County, Florida, describes his life as the son of Alfred and Tina Hall, enslaved on Thomas Lenton’s plantation. Lenton, a relatively benevolent master, provided food, clothing, and decent living conditions but denied educational opportunities. After emancipation in January, Hall and others remained until May to aid in the harvest. In 1882, Hall moved to Live Oak, where he later married and had one child, now deceased.

Mikasuki Indians

The Mikasuki Indians, part of the Hitchiti-speaking branch of the Muskhogean family, are thought to have originated from either the Hitchiti or Chiaha tribes. Their early settlements were near Miccosukee Lake in Florida, where they established independent status by 1778. Dividing into several villages, they faced conflicts, notably during the Seminole War. Although Andrew Jackson burned Old Mikasuki in 1817, a distinct Mikasuki community remains in Florida, known as the Big Cypress band, while others migrated to Oklahoma.

Seminole Indian History

The Seminole Nation’s history is complex and often misunderstood, primarily stemming from a mix of Creek refugees and distinct indigenous groups, notably the Oconee and Hitchiti-speaking peoples. While commonly seen as outlaws from Creek towns, their identity is rooted in their unique cultural heritage. Key figures like Chief Secoffee and his successors, including King Payne and Bowlegs, played significant roles in shaping their society and conflicts. The dynamics of language, culture, and leadership within the Seminole, particularly during the Seminole Wars, highlight their resilience amid external pressures.

Jefferson County Florida Cemetery Records

This page lists known online cemetery transcriptions, burial records, and gravestone images for Jefferson 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.