James Mathews, the Historic Sites Specialist for Prentice Thomas and
Associates would like your help.
"The company I work for, Prentice Thomas and Associates, is
conducting archaeological and historical surveys for Eglin AFB to help
them identify and evaluate their cultural and historical resources. We
are interested in identifying the locations of homesteads on what is
now Eglin AFB and any historical information relating to the
homesteaders.
Several hundred claims are known from the county tract maps, GLO
records, etc., and have found many homesteads on Railroad or unclaimed
land. We would be grateful for information from anyone having ancestors
that lived on Eglin, knows where a homestead
was located on Eglin, or has any historical data. Please contact James
Mathews Xjmat1@cox.net (Remember
to remove the "X" from address before sending!)
Our company (PTA) is officially classified as a Cultural Resource
Management firm or, more commonly, a contract archaeology company."
Added clarification since first post
"Homestead" is meant to be a dwelling house,
whether it be built on patent land, bought from another, or a rental.
We would like basic information about the dwelling house and families
who lived there. We are interested in any information about life on
(firstly) Eglin and (secondly) the region. This would include people
whose ancestors got Homestead Patents, lived on the land, worked on the
land, or have info about someone who did live there. We are interested
generally about life in the region and specifically about life on the
individual homesteads. We are also interested in oral history of the
region and stories of personal events, as well as the kinship and
relationships of the people living on Eglin. The general genealogy of a
homesteader, especially those relatives who lived in the area. Another
interest is settlement patterns. What brought the people to Eglin in
the first place and why did they choose the specific spot where they
built the house? We would be glad for people to write down or send an
informal audio tape of any info or reminiscences they have so that they
can be archived.
All of this info eventually ends up at either
the History Office or the Cultural Resources Office at Eglin where it
is archived. A lot of this info may seem trivial, but it is all helpful
in terms of the "Big Picture". This info is important in determining
whether the site of the homestead is eligible for the National Register
of Historic Places (NRHP) and can be preserved or excavated if
it can't be preserved.
Editor's note: It's nice to know the
Military is interested in preserving and documenting the valuable
cultural resources on the base. We are grateful! This fits nicely with
the recent interest in the land records. (See next topic - MEW)
A couple of maps of Eglin: 1
2
----------
Duke Vickery has put up a web site that deals with Land Patents and is
very useful and well thought out. Please visit it at
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/3010/index.htm
----------
If you obtain the county maps ahead of time you will be better
able to see where your relatives owned properties. Pageto
order them. They include the T(ownship) R(ange) Sec numbers you
will need.
There is also a site that explains the range, twps, secs at
http://www.outfitters.com/genealogy/land/twprangemap.html
Also the Bureau of Land Managment page is very nice and helpful. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/
There you can find land patents in other areas.
----------
The Okaloosa Land Patents are here
as well.
----------
Editor's note: This
is a very good resource and is available in most libraries. MEW
So if you were looking
for an ancestor in FL in 1830 at that time Escambia Co. included all of
today's modern boundaries of Santa Rosa and part of Okaloosa. This was
also true in 1840.
Florida became a state
in 1845 and Santa Rosa boundary lines in 1850 included all of present
day Santa Rosa and part of present day Oklaloosa County. Walton County
during this time included part of Oklaloosa and present day Walton Co.
About 1915 present day
Okaloosa County was formed from parts of Santa Rosa and Walton
Counties.
According to the Seventh
Edition of the Handy Book for Genealogists: Escambia was formed in
1822 as one of 2 original counties and its seat is Pensacola. Santa
Rosa, formed 1842 from Escambia, seat - Milton. Okaloosa - 1915 from SR
& Walton, seat - Crestview. Walton - 1824 from Jackson, seat -
DeFuniak Springs. Holmes - 1848 from Washington, Walton, Calhoun, seat
- Bonifay. Washington - 1825 from Jackson, Walton, seat - Chipley.
Map of the area from 1870
Map from 1870, showing the township grid
originating in Tallahassee and the numbering system. I have attemped to
draw an approximation of the county lines that I could see clearly on
the copy I had. This should serve to give an idea of the boundaries,
but of course it is incomplete.
Map of SE Ala. to NW Fla. from 1870,
showing the route from Troy, AL, supporting the theory that trade along
this corridor was easier because of the lack of river crossings. The
major crossing occurs at Geneva.
Map from 1911
Current county map
Map from about 1915
More old maps of Florida may be seen at the FLGenWeb
Archives site.
