Fourth Generation
4. John Charles RICHARD
Baptism and Marriage Certificates for John Charles I
The Will of Melinda (Sherrod Sheffield Tyson) RICHARD
St. Augustine (Florida) Cathedral Parish. White Baptisms 1792-1799
Juan Carlos Richard, about 2 years old. Baptized (at the St. Johns River ) June 23, 1799 . Son of Luis Jose Francois Richard, native of Florence, Italy, son of Juan and Maria Terry, and Genovieve Bianne, native of Saint Marc, Island of San Domingue, daughter of Antonio and Juana LeMoine.
Sponsor: Juan McQueen, St. Johns River
Priest: Miguel O'Reilly
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The following are excerpts from "Notes and Observations upon the Present Condition of Florida" written by John Charles Richard 1848 " after the author took a travel survey on horseback throught the Everglades shortly after the conclusion on the Seminole Indian War." It's roughly 30 typed pages long. There is a play also written by J.C. Richard. It can be found in the "East Florida Papers" in the Special Collections Library at the Univeristy of Florida.
"Few Sections of this continent from its first discovery to the present moment, have attracted more attention or exercised Public curiosity to a greater degree than the Territory of Florida.p1
As you progress upwards towards Black Creek, 20 miles from Jacksonville , the wrecks of many plantations are to be seen that, eighty year ago, were in full splendor of successful cultivation. The number of setlements that once gave life and animation to the banks of this noble river have almost entirely disappeared in consequence of the long, protracted Indian warfare; The rich orange groves and luxuriant sugar can that once adorned its borders have given place to pines and scrubby oaks; no longer are we cheered by the hearty laugh of the negro or made welcome by his hospitable owner; the devastaing power of war has destroyed all this! p4
At the mouth of the Black Creek the ruins of an old sawmill was pointed out to me whose owner was slain and scalped within sight of a steam boat full of armed men; before any could land to the rescue, they had set fire to the mill and escaped to the hammocks. p5
I now pushed rapidly forward and each mile, as I approached the rich high lands of Alachua, I met with innumberable instances of Indian depredation. Settlements forsaken by their owners, lands overgrown and houses either burn or most lamentably delapidated, so that those who are now returning to their old homes have to perform almost as much labor as when they originally cleared the land.
Alachua County has been more especially the scene of Indian depredation than any other sectin of Florida . Family after family has been butchered, indeed the settlers exposed themselves with a recklessness only to be accounted for by the continuance of scenes of the most barbarous cruelty and bloodshed...Instances have been related that impressed me with the belief that "all the horrors of war efore known or heard of" was meercy to this new scene of savage strife. Fathers butchered before their children, children before their mother, reserving her as the lsat sacrifice to endure themore exquisite torture of witnessing the death agonies of those who she cherished dearer than life. 9-10
The Seminoles are not a distinct tribe of themselves, but wer originally made up of renegades from theCreeks, Choctaws and the various tribes that formerly occupied the southern sectionof this country, who for some misdeeds were obliged to fly. They selected this place as being in their imagination upon the outskirts of creation. Its natural formation also afforded them protection from the persection of their enemies. They are tall, well made and athletic. Their feats of agility surprising those who have contented against them.
They can climb the highest trees like monkeys and frequently in battle have made lairs upon the tops of the highest pines where they could remain in safety and shoot down upon the heads of their antagoinists. In the manner, they were able to pick off many of our best officers and, when discovered, descended o the ground with the velocityof a squirrel. With characteristic keeness of hearing they are able to detect movement made against them at a distance, while theirs to us would be totally inaudible. Patient of hunger and fatigure they can exist for days upon the nutritious herbs and roots found in the woods. Every man among them possesses a rifle, but their accuracy of fire is greatly inferior to our own woodsmen, and, singluar to say, they have never at any time been discovered without an abundant supply of powder and ball. 11-12
It must be confessed, these Indians have had strong reaons to contend with that vindictiveness peculiar to their nature against all encroachments of the whites; fro the time this country came under American jurisdiction nothing but continued imposition have been practiced toward them. On more than once occasion, thewriter has been informed of a set of worthless wretches have gone among them and spread a rumor that Gen'l Jackson was marching down upon them with thousands of American troops to drive them outof the country and deprive them of their property. Reports like this, in connection with the name so much dreaded among them, often induced them to abandon their crops and sell their cattle and slaves at great sacrifice whereby the cupidity of speculators were gratified but reduced their ccredulous victims to absolute starvation and want. From such reiterated violation of their rights, was it not natural that every feeling of animosity should be aroused? 13
I know there are some who will smile with contempt at the idea of taming an Indian but how limited must be the conception, how illiberal the mind and how llittle or partially must they have studied human nature who imagine that the degraded African is easier to be influenced by good precepts than the noble and high-minded child of the forest.14 The only difference among the human race results from the difference of education. We all only relfect the knowledge of those who have gone before us, then why should these be incorrigible? Look at the City of Mexico when discovered and you will behold rare talents displayed by Indians in the arts and sciences, then will the skeptical attempt to say that Nature has prescribed bounds to the minds of races or colors?
History has portrayed in vivid colors the cruelties of the Spaniards toward the aborigines. it will as unerringly record our own and we will descend down to posterity with the bright pages of our history blackened with the blood of the persecuted Indian. 15
It is singular and pleasing to behold in ranging along the southern Atlantic coast how admirably Providence has varied the productions of Nature to the different qualities of soil and to see land that appears as sand and sterile as the desert plains of Arabia yielding luxuriant crops whiter than the sands from which they spring.
The sugar can has become so incorporated with the growth of this soil that is may now be considered as an indigenou plant. It will flourish in any part of Florida and since the enactment of the present tariff will doubtless become themost profitable product that can be cultivated by the Florida planters. The great length of the cultivating season allow it to grow much higher than in Mississippi and Louisiana and the hammocks from the depth and richness of their soil enable the cultuviator to palnt it for many successive seasons without exhausting the strength of his land...19
Tobacco fro the common Virginia to the superior Havana can be cultivated over the whole Territory with this avantage over most other places. The vanilla which is found indigenous in the woods can be mixed with it, thereby affording a flavor equal to the best weed of Cuba ..should smoki g continue the fashion of the day, Florida tobacco will become as celebrated as the best Cabanas." 20
"Roman Catholic Records, St. Augustine Parish, White Baptisms 1792-1799"
Prepared by The Historical Records Survey, Div. of Community Service Programs, WPA State Library Board, Tallahassee , Florida , August 1941.
John Charles Richard, "Notes and Observatins upon the Present Condition of Florida ," (1848):.
"Roman Catholic Records, St. Augustine Parish, White Baptisms 1792-1799"
Prepared by The Historical Records Survey, Div. of Community Service Programs, WPA State Library Board, Tallahassee , Florida , August 1941. "Juan Carlos Richard, about 2 years old. Baptized (at the Rivera de San Juan ) June 23, 1799 . Son of Luis Jose Francois Richard, native of Florencia, Italia, son of Juan and Maria Terry, and Genovieva Bianne, native of San Marcos, Isle de Santo Domingo, daughter of Antonio and Juana LeMoine."
In the name of God, Amen. I, Melinda Richard, of the county of Alachua and State of Florida - knowing the uncertainly of ilfe and the certainty of death, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory do make, ordain, proclaim, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
Item 1st. I wish to be buried in a decent and respectable manner suited to my circumstances in life; in my family Grave Yard at my Sugar Grove Plantation in Alachua County .
Item 2nd. I wish my Executor hereafter named in this my last Will and Testament at as early a date as practicable to pay all my honest debts if there are any left unpaid at my death, together with my funeral expenses.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my eldest son, Joseph R. Richard, one hundred acres of land over and above what I have already given him and he is not to have anything more out of my Estate.
Item 4th. I give and bequeath to my son, John C. Richard, one hundred and sixty acres of land.
Item 5th. My son, Jobe Richard, now deceased, having had his full share already during his life, I have nothing to bequeath to him or his family.
Item 6th. I give and bequeath to my Grandson, Rinalda (?) Richard, son of Osceola Richard, now deceased, one hundred sixy (160) acres of land and he is not to have anything further from my Estate.
Item 7th. To my son, Harney N. Richard, after my lands herein bequeathed shall be divided, he is to have an equal proportion of the residue.
Item 8th. My daughter, Henri French Boston, I have already provided for - and she is not to have anything more.
Item 9th. To my daughter Susan C. Gwinnet (?), I give and bequeath one hundred and sixty acres of land and she is not to have any more from my Estate.
Item 10th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane A. Mitchell, one hundred and sixty acres of land. She is not to have anything more from my Estate.
Item 11th. To my daughter, Mary I. McCall, I give and bequeath one hundred and sixty acres of land.
Item 12th. To Victoria L. Bunker, I give and bequeath one hundred and sixty acres of land and three hundred dollars in money more than any of the rest of my children or their descendants are to have.
Item 13th. To my Grandson, Job T. Richard, I give and bequeath sixty acres of land.
Item 14th. To my Grandson, George Webb, son of my daughter Honorine B. Webb, I give and bequeath one hundred and sixty acres of land.
Item 15th. After the distribution of the lands bequeathed to my several children and grandchildren, the remainder of my real estae I wish equally divided between John C. Richard, Harney N. Richard, Mary I. McCall, Victoria L. Bunker.
Item 16th. It is my will and wish that my cattle horses and mule and other personal property except my household furniture and other effects be sold by my Executor either at private or public sale as he may consider to the interest of all my heirs as herein provided for, except that Mary I. McCall is to be allowed her proportion not having received any of my household furniture. The remainder to go to my daughter Victoria L. Bunker.
Item 17th. It is my will that my Executor provide a suitable protection to my Grave Yard and also tomb stones over the graves now not provided for as well as one for my own.
I hereby constitute and appoint my son John C. Richard of the County of Bradford and State of Florida Executor of this my last will and testament and that my Executor execute this my last will without having to go to the Courts. I hereby revoke all former wills made by me. Subscribed and sealed in the presence of the subscribing witnesses this 14th day of February, 1884