Submitted by Descendants: Byron Samuel CLEMONS for Holly Mae CLEMONS
John Hague (Heck) was born in the Ebenezer Settlement in Effingham County, Georgia on 3 April 1767. He was married twice. His first wife was Agnes Poulidge (Pouledge) and they were married c. 1795. His second wife from whom my ancestors are descended was Maria Lipsey who came with her father to Florida in 1818 and settled in what later became Alachua County. They were married in 1827 in Florida and lived in the Newnansville area of Alachua County and had four children. My great-grandfather, Archelaus (Archibald, Arch, A.) Hague, was born 6 November 1828, was one of these four children.
John Hague enlisted in Garrison’s Company I (Warren’s) Florida Mounted Militia as a private on 22 Sept 1836 at the age of 69 at Ft. Gilliland and fought in the Seminole Wars, at that time called the Florida War. Shortly after enlisting he died from illness and left his wife with four children under eight years of age. Four years after his death his will, which was written on 8 September 1836 just prior to his going to war, was probated in Alachua County, Florida and is the first recorded will in Alachua County. It can be found in Will Book A at the County Clerk’s office there. His will states that his property was on Turkey Creek and also names all his children from both his marriages.
The area of Gainesville called Hague, Florida and Hague Methodist Church were named for this family as Archelaus (Archibald, Arch, A.) Hague donated land for the church and nearby cemetery. Archelaus (Archibald, Arch, A. ) Hague also served as postmaster of Hague after the Civil War (he served in Company C of the 7th Regular Florida Regiment and served at both the battle of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. Archelaus (Archibald, Arch, A.) Hague also served as a County Commissioner for Alachua County in the 1850’s.
John Hague (Heck) was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 1986