Lost Church, Lost Battlefield, Lost Cemetery, Lost War

[samiam]

So the church you are talking about would be south of the cemetary?

Stephen, I can't say where exactly as I have no other information.  Everything I know I posted and you can see.  I can't see your full map, other documents, or what else you saw that is not in the pictures so that doesn't influence me presently.

Not sure it matters.  This deed places both a cemetery and a church WEST of Myrtle.  Your map, when measured against a modern property map, appears to do the same, to me.  And, so does Samiam's previous posted link and citation.  So, I am reasonably convinced a church and cemetery were WEST of Myrtle.

I guess it is possible that one church and one cemetery were large enough at some point to envelop both sites and all the land in between (we are only talking about a block or so).  Maybe Myrtle was built down the middle of the church's property if it came through later.  It does seem plausible that a church built near Brickyard Branch would bear the name "Brickyard Church".  We may very well be talking about the same church/cemetery "complex".

I would think that if someone did a full title search (can you get records here before the 1901 fire?), and read the deed descriptions of all the subject lands, you may find the final answers.

Samantha at the historic preservation office is great at this kind of research

[Miss Fixit]

Yes, STJR, there are records that predate the 1901 fire.  One of the local title companies was savvy enough to save their abstracts.  Some but not all of the records are on the mezzanine level of the courthouse.

[samiam]

Have you looked at the Sanborn map they date from 1865 untill 1970

[stjr]

I look forward to a definitive resolution from those with more access to records and the time to do the further research.  Glad I could add whatever light this brings to the subject.

Bill, this it's as much "fun" digging as it is reading it.  All a labor of love.

Miss Fixit, Samiam, and Stephen, maybe you can take it from here with your experience and access.  Thanks and await an update.

[samiam]

Many libraries and universities subscribe to proquest digital sanborn collection. a searchable printable database of all the sanborn maps in the library of congress collection

[stjr]

you can actually access the 25 or so pre fire maps online at the property appraisers office.

They are from the magical Platt Book 1, of the city.

Stephen, can you give us a clue how to access these maps?  I didn't see the link on my review of their site.  

And, one other thought:  Did you consider the possibility that the plat on your map was a plan that was never fully implemented or followed?  Maybe all those blocks and streets were never built, or at least not exactly as shown?  Maybe they had their own version of a real estate bubble bursting and walked away from developments much as we are seeing today.

[thelakelander]

I looked at the maps in the library a few weeks ago.  Shotgun houses were all over that area from at least around the 1920s, but the cemetary lot shown in the article's images remained undeveloped throughout the 50 years of Sanborn maps they have in the Special Collections department.

[stjr]

OK, I found you can access Sanborn maps online at the Jax Public Library's web site.  But, you need a library card and mine expired in high school!    We won't say how long ago that was!  Used my kids cards in modern times if I wanted something.  Will have to look at reapplying.

Here is a link for access: http://jpl.coj.net/coll/maps/historical.html

Here is a link to see their full listing of maps and availability: http://jpl.coj.net/coll/maps/sanborn3.htm

[stjr]

University of Florida Library is a little more generous.  They have some Sanborns online for Jax including 1884 and 1887.  '84 doesn't show this area.  '87 comes close but not quite and appears, as Lake indicated, to be blank anyway as it runs off the page.

Here is a link to the zoom in of this area of the map:

http://ufdcweb1.uflib.ufl.edu/ufdc/?m=hd1X&i=160683&vo=01&vp=0,2116

Greater zoom: http://ufdcweb1.uflib.ufl.edu/ufdc/?m=hd1X&i=160683&vo=02&vp=0,3326

[Cliffs_Daughter]

I found this article online and thought maybe it's what we're looking at?

Florida - a Guide to the Southern-Most State

Pg 193, Section 9 - BETHEL BAPTIST INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH.... "the fund purchased a plot of 2 acres in LaVilla, a residential section, where a small brick church was built. Pickets and outposts were stationed here during the War between the States whenever Jacksonville was occupied by Federal troops..."

http://books.google.com/books?id=6LjWg4xHKVUC&pg=PA193&lpg=PA193&dq=%22brick+church%22+la+villa+florida&source=bl&ots=wIiHY6ttpL&sig=JTtOj9dsy0ZLvQuxuY-_qsku_hE&hl=en&ei=W3aiS66HG4OXtgetkYGQCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

[Cliffs_Daughter]

http://bethelite.org/History.aspx

And in Bethel's history, it lists it smack-dab between Duval and Adams in LaVilla

[stjr]

http://bethelite.org/History.aspx

And in Bethel's history, it lists it smack-dab between Duval and Adams in LaVilla

Cliffs, it appears wherever that was between Duval and Adams, they vacated it before the Civil War and moved into a new church on Church, between Hogan and Julia, per the Church's history quoted below.  So, there seems to be a possible inconsistency between the church's history and the one in the book cited.  Of course, maybe the troops used it because it was "abandoned" at that point.  The other thought is we have been working with sites near Myrtle and Church which are a slightly north of Duval and Adams.  But, given the rough accuracy of the maps I've seen, you could be in the "zone".    The plot (or, should I say "plat") thickens!

Deacon Jaudan purchased a lot on Church Street, between Hogan and Julia Streets, and gave it to the church. A new church was built and the congregation entered the new building in the spring of 1861. Soon after the congregation started worship services in the new building, the Federal Army took possession of the Bethel Church and used it as a military hospital for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. The church was left in deplorable condition when vacated by the army troops. At the close of the Civil War, an effort was made to separate the Colored and White members but an agreement could not be reached over possession of the property.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

stjr - on a hunch, I tried to find anything about Jaudon, and this came up:

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/FLDUVAL/2000-07/0962928606

Elias G. Jaudon was the owner of Magnolia Plantation, a rather large plantation nearing 1,000 acres through Avondale, Edgewood, and LaVilla. I'd love to see a map of that one. The Brick Church site was certainly within this area.  When Elias died in 1887, the land was split and sold.

http://www.historicavondale.com/aboutavondale.html

Hmm... I think the history there may be wrong. Jax Architecture book mentions an obituary and will on file sometime in 1871.



What I read is the church was founded by a Rev. J. Jaudon, and of the 6-member charter congregation 2 were the slaves of Elias Jaudon. It could be these slaves assumed the surname of their master, as was the custom.

http://books.google.com/books?id=A_bZhe4no8UC&lpg=PA49&ots=wdRXwtGI-1&dq=LaVilla%20florida%20Jaudon&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q=LaVilla%20florida%20Jaudon&f=false


Mr. Jaudon was a prominent local figure in the mid-1800's. Below is a link to the congressional serial set volume 656 - Pretty interesting stuff from 1848, if you're into this sort of thing.

http://books.google.com/books?id=A_bZhe4no8UC&lpg=PA49&ots=wdRXwtGI-1&dq=LaVilla%20florida%20Jaudon&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q=LaVilla%20florida%20Jaudon&f=false

[stjr]

^Stephen, any more on your detailed maps?

Cliff's thanks for the interesting update.  Following your lead, I found a reference to Jaudon and his "little brick church" in the "History of Early Jacksonville" that may shed more light on our subject and where to go next.

Along with Steven, see what you can make of this info.  It appears that the congregation abandoned the "little brick church" before the Civil War but not before a cemetery was added to it.  The church used as a hospital appears to have been the newer 1861 church in Downtown. After the war, it appears the "little brick church" failed to survive and the cemetery ended up under the auspices of First Baptist Church.  Maybe, Stephen, you should investigate First Baptist's archives for more location info.  I included the book's bibliography for this section listing a First Baptist Annual as a source.

I am thinking maybe the "brick church" was located between Duval and Adams, west of present day Myrtle and that the cemetery was to its north (running up to Church Street) and was of such ultimate proportions as to incorporate land that is now on both sides of Myrtle for whatever reason (either the street bisected the property or they bought cemetery land on both sides of an existing street).

(http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:nKMEfxy6yAAJ:www.archive.org/stream/historyofearlyja00davi/historyofearlyja00davi_djvu.txt+elias+jaudon+la+villa&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us ):

The Baptist denomination was established in
Jacksonville in July, 1838, by Rev. James Mc-
Donald and Rev. Ryan Frier. Mr. Frier was the
State Missionary at that time. There were six
charter members, namely, Rev. James McDonald
and wife, Elias G. Jaudon and wife, and two
colored persons â€" Peggy, a slave of Elias G.
Jaudon, and Bacchus, a slave of William Edwards.
Rev. James McDonald was the first pastor, and
Elias G. Jaudon the first deacon'.

The congregation increased, and in 1840, pur-
chased the northeast corner at Duval and Newnan
Streets, where a small chapel was erected^ This
was the first church building erected in Jackson-

HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE 87

ville. It was a small wooden structure, with a
seating capacity for about 100 persons. It bad a
square tower-like steeple in wbicb was a bell. In
front was a small piazza; there was but one
entrance door. The Baptists sold this property to
the Methodists in 1846', and then bought a plot of
ground two miles west of the court house (Myrtle
Avenue, between Adams and Duval Streets), on
which they erected a small brick church'. This
building was partially wrecked during the civil
war, as it was the scene of nearly all the fighting
that occurred near Jacksonville. The little brick
church had a war history. Pickets and out-posts
were stationed there whenever Jacksonville was
occupied by the Federal troops and near it the
first blood of the war in this vicinity was shed.
Sentinel-like, it witnessed scenes that have never
found a place in print.

A few years after the little brick church was
built, Elias G. Jaudon bought a piece of ground
adjoining the church property and donated it to
the church for a burial ground. Finding them-
selves too far from the center of the city, it was
decided to make yet another change in location,
and again Deacon Jaudon came to the assistance
of the church, by buying and donating a lot on
Church Street, between Julia and Hogan. Here
a house of worship was erected, and dedicated
February 23, 1861. Soon after this the civil war
came on and disrupted the congregation. After
the battle of Olustee, the building was taken pos-



S8 HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE

session of by the Federal army and used as a
hospital for wounded soldiers, and from this time
until the close of the war it was used as a military
hospital. The building was left in a deplorable
condition, scarcely a pane of glass remaining in
the windows and very little plastering on the
walls/

The cemetery that was attached to the "little
brick church" still remains, and is the property of
the First Baptist Church. After the war, there
was a division in the membership of the Baptist
Church, the whites bming out the interest of the
colored members in the property, renaming their
church Tabernacle, while the colored branch re-
tained the original name, Bethel Baptist. Taber-
nacle was later changed to First Baptist.

Eev. James McDonald was pastor from 1838 to
1846. From 1846 to 1850, there were several un-
important short pastorates, in which the church
seems to have been unfortunate in obtaining un-
worthy or incompetent men. In 1850, Eev. Joseph
S. Baker became pastor and served four years, dur-
ing which time the church and Sunday-School pros-
pered. In 1859, Eev. E. W. Dennison was called.
At this time the membership was 40 white and
250 colored'.

BIBLIOGEAPHY, CHAPTEE VII.

1 Fifty-two Years in Florida, Ley.

2 History of Florida, Webb. ,

3 Annual of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, 1909.

4 Data collected by Mrs. W. M. Bostwick.

5 Historical Sketches of the Church in Florida, J. J. Daniel.

6 Father J. Veale.

P.S. I did some more Google searching and found that Elias Jaudon and others chartered with the State a "La Villa Institute" in January/February, 1861.  Interestingly, two of his partners were an S.L. Robinson and J. McRobert Baker.  Just west of La Villa, there is a Robinson's Addition across from the Jacksonville Farmers Market on West Beaver Street that includes a Robinson Avenue and Baker Street.  Might these be the same people?

See link to "Acts and Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of Florida" at: http://books.google.com/books?id=kQA4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA157&lpg=PA157&dq=jaudon+la+villa&source=bl&ots=UicVi5lwO0&sig=tS43wpC4qMgFEWoS9R31NHIfhfc&hl=en&ei=H4GxS_7yNMGC8gbntqDLAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBMQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=jaudon%20la%20villa&f=false

[stjr]

More references to La Villa and the brickyard and/or brick church during the Civil War from the above referenced book:

In 1862:

Another meet-
ing of the loyal citizens was held on the 24th of
March and a committee of five was appointed to
take steps toward obtaining the co-operation of
other counties in the State in the effort to orga-
nize a state government under the jurisdiction of
the United States. To this end a convention was
called to meet at Jacksonville on April 10, 1862.

In the afternoon of March 24th, General H. G.
Wright and the 97th Pennsylvania regiment ar-
rived. General Wright assuming command of the
troops in Jacksonville. The Confederates had
by this time moved nearer the town and occupied



HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE 167

a position at McGirt's Creek, about 10 miles west
in the direction of Baldwin. On the night of
March 24th, a Federal picket of two men that had
gone beyond the lines was captured, and at 3 a.
m. March 25th, the Confederates attacked a
picket at the old brick yard in West LaVilla, kill-
ing four and capturing three of them. Lieutenant
Strange (C. S. A.) was mortally wounded here.
This evidently was the first blood of the war
spilled in this vicinity.

On the night of March 27th, a Federal picket
fired upon a party approaching them in what they
conceived a suspicious manner, and of the two in
advance, one was killed and the other wounded.
They proved to be a party of negroes that had
escaped from their masters at Lake City. The
next day. General Wright, hearing that the Con-
federates were contemplating an attack upon
Jacksonville, sent to Fernandina for two sections
of Hamilton's battery. Its arrival brought the
Federal force in Jacksonville up to 1,400 men.
No attack was made, however, and a few days later
the evacuation of the town was ordered.

THE EVACUATION.

General Wright, in his official report, describes
the evacuation as follows:

On the 7th (April, 1862) preparations for with-
drawing were begun by embarking the public stores,
and on the 8th, at 12 noon, the troops were marched

168 HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE

on board and the embarkation was completed by 2
p. m. the same day. Owing to the heavy wind which
had sprung up during the morning, it was impos-
sible to get all the transports clear of the wharf until
near sunset â€" too late to move safely very far down
the intricate channel of the river that night â€" and
it was therefore determined to lay off the town until
morning. This I was more willing to do, as it took
from our movement all appearance of a hasty re-
treat. At 6 a. m. of the 9th, the transports, con-
voyed by the gunboats, proceeded down the river.

It is said that General Wright notified the Con-
federates of the intended evacuation and re-
quested them to resume their occupation of the
town, whereupon a detachment of the First Florida
calvary rode in and stood on the wharf watching
the gunboats sail away.

The evacuation of Jacksonville by the Federal
forces was unfortunate for *4oyaP' citizens, the
bona-fide ones as well as for those who, supposing
the occupation would be permanent, sought to
further their personal interests by disclaiming all
connection with the Southern cause and remained
within the Union lines. When it became known
that the town was to be evacuated, the greatest
excitement prevailed among the people; their
principal desire now was to get out of Jackson-
ville, for fear of vengeance. The morning of
April 8th was very hot. There was the greatest
confusion, as the people hurriedly tried to get
their goods, furniture, and valuables on board of

HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE 169

the transports'. They embarked with the Federal
fleet and were carried to Fernandina and quar-
tered in the vacant buildings there. Most of them
had to rely on rations issued from the United
States stores.

Just before the evacuation, General Wright was
directed by the general commanding the depart-
ment, T. W. Sherman, to issue the following
notice :

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE.

Jacksonville, Fla., April 7, 1862.
(NOTICE). In accordance with an order issued by
the general commanding the Department of the
South the troops will be withdrawn from this place,
and I am directed by him to notify the people of
Jacksonville that it is his intention to have all the
aid and protection afforded the loyal inhabitants
of the interior of Florida that is practicable for the
security of their persons and property, and for the
punishment of outrages, and that he holds all per-
sons in that vicinity responsible for the preservation
of order and quiet, being fully determined that any
outrages upon persons or property contrary to the
laws and usages of war shall be visited fourfold upon
the inhabitants of disloyal or doubtful character
nearest the scenes of any such wrongs, when the
actual or known perpetrators cannot be discovered.

The undersigned trusts that inasmuch as the un-
offending citizens of this place have been treated
with the utmost forbearance by our forces, it will

170 HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE

not be necessary to carry out the intention in the
last clause of the above notice.

H. G. Wright,
Brigadier-General Commanding.

General Wright himself was a gentleman as well
as a soldier. His correspondence with Colonel
W. G. M. Davis (C. S. A.) indicates this, when he
says:

The policy of removal from Jacksonville of such
persons as may desire to leave our lines to join their
families or to reside in the interior of the State will
be continued and on application to these headquar-
ters such permission will be granted as will carry
them safely beyond our lines. We do not propose
to wage Avar upon women and children, nor upon
quiet unoffending citizens, but on the contrary have
done all in our power for the protection of their
persons and property. In announcing this policy I
have to express the hope that it will be reciprocated
by yourself in permitting the free return to Jack-
sonville of such persons as may desire to come back
to their homes. I desire further to say that the
forces under my command are instructed to carry
on all operations according to the rules of civilized
warfare, and that any outrages upon unarmed or
unoffending citizens will be punished to the full ex-
tent of the law. From the representations made to
me of your character as an officer and a gentleman, I
am sure you will be governed by a similar spirit.

HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE 171

General Wriglit had been in Jacksonville be-
fore. It was he that made the survey of St. Johns
bar in 1853, and advanced the idea of overcoming
the difficulties by means of a single pier or jetty
across the bar. We may assume that he knew
many of our citizens personally, and when, as a
war measure, he was in military control of the
town, that property here did not suffer during his
occupation.

The following is the report of Colonel W. S. Dil-
worth (C. S. A.) commanding the district of East
and Middle Florida, dated April 15, 1862, regard-
ing the operations of the Confederate troops in
front of Jacksonville during the occupation of
the town by the Federal forces:

When the enemy first occupied Jacksonville and
while all the Florida troops were retreating in con-
fusion and disorder, I, as colonel of the Third Regi-
ment Florida Volunteers, ordered a part of my regi-
ment to advance in the direction of Jacksonville and
take a position within ten miles of the city, with
only 250 effective men. Soon I had eight companies
of my regiment with me. After making a thorough
reconnaissance of the city, I became convinced that
I could not attack the city without heavy loss and
could be driven out by the enemy 's gunboats. I then
determined to commence a system of annoyances,
by attacking their pickets, foraging parties, etc. I
made a successful attack on the picket near the
city of Jacksonville, killing four and taking three
prisoners, when I was ordered to take command of

' 172 HISTORY OF EARLY JACKSONVILLE

the district. Colonel Davis was then ordered to the
command of the forces near Jacksonville, and has
most successfully carried on the system which I com-
menced and which has resulted in their evacuation
of the place. I have further to report that after the
evacuation the enemy returned under a flag of truce
and were permitted to land 52 negroes, which were
taken in charge by the commander of the post.

Jacksonville was not regularly occupied after-
ward by Confederate troops, such an attempt be-
ing useless as long as the river remained open to
the Federal gunboats. Confederate detachments
occasionally came into town, however, just to see
how things were getting along, but after a short
time withdrew.

In 1863:

On March 17th, Colonel McCormick (C. S. A.),
by direction of General Finegan, notified Colonel
Higginson to remove the women and children
from Jacksonville within 24 hours, or that after
that time they would remain in the town on his
( Higginson 's) responsibility. Colonel Higgin-
son immediately ordered his wagons to convey all
those who wished to leave to the brick yard church,
where they were met under a flag of truce by a
Confederate escort. Thus all the women and
children, except a few families, were removed
from Jacksonville and sent to Lake City.