Florida Pioneer Biographies

Submitted by Descendant:  Laura Kathryn HERZOG William Hampton Dowling was born 26 May 1811 in Jeffreys Creek, Darlington District, South Carolina.  He was the son of William Hampton Dowling, SR. and Sarah Elizabeth Watson.  Sometime after 1820, his parents relocated to South Georgia for a number of years.  This is…

Submitted by Descendants:  Calista Cameron, James Stephen, Jane Ferrell, Joseph Cameron, Madeleine Claire, and Thomas Benjamin BODIFORD; and Mildred Amelia FERRELL Martin Dolan was born in Ireland about 1823 but it is unknown when he immigrated to America.  He was in Florida as early as December 1844, and voted in…

Submitted by Descendants:  Amy Katherine, John Albert, and John Edward BURNETT Seaborn Dobson was the son of Isaiah Dobson and Sarah Yelvington and was born 15 December 1825 in what was then Leon County, Florida Territory.  He was married circa 1855, most likely in Columbia County, Florida to Melvina Newmans…

Submitted by Descendants:  Amy Katherine, John Albert, and John Edward BURNETT Z. A. “Zara” Davis came to the State of Florida and resided in the area that later became Baker County.  He was born 26 September 1826 in Bulloch County, Georgia.  He was the son of Samuel Davis and Elizabeth…

Submitted by Descendants:  Derald E., Emily Anne, Gabriel John, and Matthew Nicholas EVERHART John Craig, an Irishman from King County, was one of a handful of original settlers to put down roots in Manatee County. Born in May 1813, John came to the United States with his parents as a…

Submitted by Descendants:  Corey James, Heather Ann, Jason Michael, and Mary Ann Sullivan MAMMEN Mary Elizabeth Cox was born in South Carolina, 19 November 1812 to Stephen Cox, b. 24 August 1786 and Mary Borono, b. 26 October 1785.  The Cox family first appears in the Gadsen County, Florida 1830…

Submitted by Descendant:  Jeannette Marie Say Agada Maria Coll was born 4 September 1751 in Mahon, Minorca to parents Bartolome Coll and Josepha Sintes.  It was there in Mahon that she married her first husband in February 1766. Research indicates that, as newlyweds, this young couple traveled to Florida onboard…

Submitted by Descendants:  The ALLAY, BYERS, EARNSHAW, & SUMARA Families Catherine Amelia “Kitty” Chesnut was born 31 Aug 1831 in Sampson County, North Carolina, youngest child of Bailey Chesnut and Ann Turlington.  The family moved to Thomas County, Georgia, where Bailey died before 1 July 1839. In August 1843 the…

Submitted by Descendants:  Carl Edward and James Edward KRAMER; Kelly Kramer WEEKLEY Born about 1800 in Bladen County, North Carolina, John R. Cheshire married Tobitha hall in 1828 and settled in Hamilton County, Florida, where he was a farmer.  He owned land there and had 13 children. He remained in…