Florida Pioneers

Pioneers, Settlers, & Builders

The Florida State Genealogical Society’s Florida Pioneer Descendant Certificate Program honors descendants of Florida pioneers who settled in Florida prior to statehood on 3 March 1845, and Settlers & Builders of Florida who settled in Florida between 3 March 1845 and 31 Dec 1900. Certificates include: State, County, Settlers & Builders of Florida, Researcher, and Memorial.

The Florida State Genealogical Society's Florida Pioneer Descendant Certificate Program honors descendants of Florida pioneers who settled in Florida prior to statehood on 3 March 1845, and Settlers & Builders of Florida who settled in Florida between 3 March 1845 and 31 Dec 1900.

Questions? Email the Pioneer Committee at [email protected]

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

CERTIFICATE TYPES

Florida Pioneer Descendant Certificate - State - This certificate is awarded to a descendant who can prove their direct lineal descent from an ancestor who settled in Florida prior to Florida's achieving statehood on 3 March 1845

Florida Pioneer Descendant Certificate - County - This certificate is awarded to a descendant who can prove their direct lineal descent from an ancestor who was a resident of a county of Florida before the county was formed

Settlers & Builders of Florida Certificate - This certificate is awarded to a descendant who can prove their direct lineal descent from an ancestor who settled in Florida between 3 March 1845 and 31 December 1900

Florida Pioneer Researcher Certificate - This certificate is awarded to an individual who has successfully completed the research for a descendant of a newly established Pioneer, and who is not eligible for a certificate for that Pioneer

Memorial Pioneer Certificate - This certificate is awarded to recognize a deceased individual for whom proof is established of their direct lineal descent from a Florida Pioneer or Settler & Builder.

​The Florida Pioneer Descendant Certificate applications and proof documents are available at the State Archives of Florida  (with privacy restrictions) and become a permanent part of Florida history:

State Archives of Florida

R. A. Gray Building
500 South Bronough
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
850-245-6719

Scanned copies are also available for research (with privacy restrictions) at:

Florida Historical Society's Library of Florida History
435 Brevard Avenue
Cocoa, Florida 32922
Contact the archivist at 321-690-1971, Ext 211 or by email.

Questions? Email the Pioneer Committee at [email protected]

PIONEER COMMITTEE

The following members of the Pioneer Committee review applications for the Florida Pioneer Descendant Program
 

Patricia Rand, Chair
Mount Dora, FL

Clyde Stickney, Records Administrator
Orange City, FL

Kathy Stickney
Orange City, FL

Cedar Armbruster
Seattle, WA

Carol Anderson
Wildwood, FL

Doug Burnett
Satellite Beach, FL

Pat Giordano
Sarasota, FL

Delores Jeffrey
Raiford, FL

Bill Meister
Palm Coast, FL

Donna O'Steen-Mixon
Yoder, CO

Marcia Pertuz
Fernandina Beach, FL

Marie Santry
Fernandina Beach, FL

SUGGESTED FLORIDA REFERENCE RESOURCES

Florida County List with dates of origin and county record information

Recommended

  1.          FLORIDA, NGS Research in the States Series.  C. Ann Staley and Amy Larner Giroux.  Arlington, VA: National Genealogical Society, 2016.
  2.          Evans, Katherine G.  Finding 19th Century Florida Records, for Biographical, Genealogical, and other Historical Research. Brandon, FL: Terra Expressions, 2014.

General

  1. American State Papers: Documents Legislative and Executive of the United States. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832-1861. (See Index Grassroots of America by Philip W. McMullin, Gendex Corp., 1972.)
  2. Carter, Clarence E., editor. The Territorial Papers of the United States.27 Vols. Vols. 22-26 are for Florida. Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 1934-
  3. Coker, William S. & G. Douglas Inglis. The Spanish Census of Pensacola, 1784-1820: A Genealogical Guide to Spanish Pensacola. Pensacola, FL: Perdido Bay Press, 1980.
  4. Davidson, Dianne Hatcher, comp. The Florida Genealogist Index, Volumes I-X: 1977-1987. Decorah, IA: Florida State Genealogical Society, Inc., 1992.
  5. Florida Election Returns Through 1865. 9 Microfilm.
  6. Florida Voter Registration Lists 1867-68. Tallahassee, FL: Tallahassee Genealogical Society, Inc., 1992.
  7. A Guide to the History of Florida. Paul S. George, Ed. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1989.
  8. Guide to the Records of the Florida State Archives. Tallahassee, FL: Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, 1988.
  9. Internal Revenue Service Tax Assessment Rolls, 1865-66. National Archives M761 - 1 Microfilm.
  10. Michaels, Brian E. Genealogical Research in Florida. National Genealogical Society Quarterly, June 1988.
  11. The Papers of Panton, Leslie and Company. Woodbridge, CT: Research Publications, 1986. Microfilm.
  12. Pioneers of Florida's First Coast. Jacksonville, FL: The Southern Genealogist's Exchange Society, 1991.
  13. Record of Appointment of Postmasters 1832-1971. National Archives M841 - 3 Microfilm.
  14. Servies, James A. & Lana D. A Bibliography of Florida. Vol. 1: 1507-1845; Vol. 2: 1846--1880; Vol. 3: 1881-1899. Pensacola, FL: King and Queen Books, 1993-1999.
  15. Servies, James A. A Bibliography of West Florida. Vol. 1: 1535-1915; Vol. 2: 1916-1971; Vol. 3: Index; Vol. 4: Supplement. Pensacola, FL: King & Queen Books, 1982.
  16. Ship Passenger Lists: Key West, FL. National Archives T940 - 41 Microfilm.
  17. Ship Passenger Lists: Other Florida Ports 1890-1924. National Archives T517 - 26 Microfilm.
  18. Taylor, Anne Wood, Compiler. Florida Pioneers and Their Descendants.Indexed by Mary Lee Barnes Harrell. Decorah, IA: Florida State Genealogical Society, Inc. 1992.
  19. Taylor, Anne Wood and Mary Lee Barnes Harrell. Florida Connections Through Bible Records. Vol. 1. Tallahassee, FL: Florida State Genealogical Society, 1993.

African-American

  1. The American Slave: A Composite Autobiography. Vol. 17 (Florida) George P. Rawick, General Editor. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Co., 1941.
  2. The Black Experience: A Guide to Afro-American Resources in the Florida State Archives. Tallahassee, FL., Department of State, 1988.
  3. Brown, Canter Jr. Florida’s Black Public Officials, 1867-1924. Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama Press, 1998.
  4. Jones, Maxine D. and Kevin M. McCarthy. African Americans in Florida. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc., 1993.
  5. Landers, Jane. Black Society in Spanish Florida. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1999.
  6. McDonogh, Gary W., ed. The Florida Negro: A Federal Writers’ Project Legacy. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 1993.
  7. Negroes, &c, Captured from Indians in Florida, &c. Washington, DC: War Department, 1839 (25th Congress, 3rd Session, House of Reps., War Dept.) 126p.
  8. Slave Schedules for 1850-Florida. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1964. Microcopy 432. /Microfilm Roll 60.
  9. Slave Schedules for 1860-Florida. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1967. Microcopy 653. /Microfilm Roll 110.
  10. Smith, Julia Floyd. Slavery and Plantation Growth in Antebellum Florida, 1821-1860. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press, 1973.
  11. Walton-Raji, Angela Y. Black Indian Genealogy Research: African American Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1993.

Census:

  1. 1783 Spanish Census of East Florida
  2. 1821 & 1823 Census Index, West Florida - Internet:
  3. 1830-1920 Federal Census (There is no Federal census for 1790-1820 or 1890) All Florida census are indexed.
  4. 1864 Military Census - Jacksonville, Fernandina and St. Augustine. Ordered by the Department of the South, Hilton Head, SC.
  5. 1885 Federal Census. Indexed by Tom and Patti Martin.
  6. 1935 and 1945 State Census.
  7. Mills, Donna Rachal. Florida's Unfortunates: The 1880 Federal Census: Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes. Tuscaloosa, AL: Mills Historical Press, 1993.

Churches & Cemeteries:

  1. Crews, Walter Lee, Jr. Sources for Lists of Florida Marked Graves and Bordering Georgia Counties. Orlando, FL., 1993.
  2. Florida Veterans Graves Registration Project - 9 Microfilm
  3. The Pioneer Churches of Florida. Daughters of the American Revolution, Chuluota, FL.: Mickler House Publishers, 1976.

Land Records:

  1. 1824 East Florida Land Titles. House of Representatives Document Numbered 413, 18th Congress - First Session, 1824.
  2. 1830 Private Land Claims in East Florida. Secretary of the Treasury. 21stCongress, 1st Session.
  3. Armed Occupation Act of 1842. United States. General Land Office. Florida District. Applications for permits to settle from 1842 to 1843. The permits were filed at the Saint Augustine and Newnansville Federal District Land Office.
  4. Bureau of Land Management - Pre 1908 Florida Land Records. Internet:
  5. Davidson, Alvie. Florida Land: Records of the Tallahassee and Newnansville General Land Office 1825-1892. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1989.
  6. Land Claims in Florida: 1824. House of Representatives, Document Number 412, 18th Congress, First Session.
  7. Land Claims in East Florida: 1826. Taken from the 19th Congress First Session. House of Representative Report Number 503.
  8. Spanish Land Grants in Florida. Unconfirmed and Confirmed Claims. 6 Vols. Tallahassee, FL: State Library Board, 1940.

Military:

  1. Biographical Rosters of Florida's Confederate and Union Soldiers 1861-65.6 Vols. Compiled by David W. Hartman & David Coles. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1995.
  2. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers. National Archives M251 - 104 Microfilm.
  3. Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers from the Florida Indian Wars (1835-1858). National Archives M1086 - 63 Microfilm.
  4. Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers from the Spanish American War. National Archive M1087 - 13 Microfilm.
  5. Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers. National Archives M400 - 11 Microfilm.
  6. Florida Militia Muster Rolls, Seminole Indian Wars. 10 Vols. on the Internet at Internet Archive and at the Florida Department of Military Affairs. Published at St. Augustine, FL: Florida Department of Military Affairs and the Jacksonville Genealogical Society, Inc.
  7. Fritot, Jessie Robinson. Pension Records of Soldiers of the Revolution Who Removed to Florida with Record of Service. Jacksonville, FL: Daughters of the American Revolution, 1946.
  8. Index of Volunteer Union Soldiers. National Archives M264 - 1 Microfilm.
  9. Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During Indian Wars and Disturbances, 1815-1858. National Archives M629 - 42 Microfilm.
  10. Index of Service Records of Confederate Soldiers. National Archives M225 - 9 Microfilm.
  11. Ponce de Leon Land and Florida War Record. 8th Edition. St. Augustine, FL: George M. Brown, 1902. (Lists men who died during the Florida War.)
  12. Soldiers of Florida in the Seminole Indian, Civil and Spanish-American Wars. Macclenny, FL: Richard J. Ferry, 1983.
  13. Register of Deceased Veterans. St. Augustine, FL: Veterans' Graves Registration Project, Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration, 1940-41.
  14. White, Virgil D. Register of Florida CSA Pension Applications. Waynesboro, TN: National Historical Publishing Co., 1989.
  15. World War I Draft Registrations. National Archives M1509 - (Microfilm - 39 reels)

Native American:

  1. Bowen, Jeff. Seminole of Florida: Indian Census 1930-1940, with Birth and Death Records 1930-1938. Signal Mountain, TN: Mountain Press, 1997.
  2. Lantz, Raymond C. Seminole Indians of Florida, 1850-1874. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1994.
  3. Lantz, Raymond C. Seminole Indians of Florida, 1875-1879. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1995.
  4. Walton-Raji, Angela Y. Black Indian Genealogy Research: African American Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1993.
  5. Wickman, Patricia R., Ph.D. So You Think There's a Seminole in Your Family Tree? Seminole Tribe of Florida, 1997,

Territorial Period:

  1. Armed Occupation Act of 1842. (See #43)
  2. Archives of Spanish Government of West Florida, 1782-1816. National Archives T1116, seven Microfilm and Index to the Archives of Spanish West Florida 1782-1810. New Orleans, LA: Polyanthos, 1975.
  3. Bourguard, Shirley Chaisson. Marriage Dispensations in the Diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas: 1786-1803. New Orleans, LA: Polyanthos, 1980.
  4. Coldham, Peter Wilson. American Migrations 1765-1799. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000. (East & West Florida, pp.796-805 & 818-822)
  5. The Delegates to the Saint Joseph Constitutional Convention 1838-1839.Tallahassee, Florida. Department of Natural Resources. Division of Recreation and Parks, 1980.
  6. Dwyer, Clifford S., Compiler. Index to Series I & II of American Loyalists Claims. (2 Vols.) Defuniak Springs, FL: Ram Publishing, 1985.
  7. Michaels, Brian E. Florida Voters In Their First Statewide Election, May 26, 1845. Tallahassee, FL: Florida State Genealogical Society, 1987.
  8. Mills, Donna Rachal. Florida's First Families: Translated Abstracts of Pre-1821 Spanish Censuses. Tuscaloosa, AL: Mills Historical Press, 1992.
  9. Nile's Register 1811-1849 (Microfilm) - Indexed on CD-ROM
  10. Records of Special Agents for Securing the Florida Archives 1799-1836.National Archives 6 Microfilm.
  11. Siebert, Wilbur Henry. Loyalists in East Florida 1774-1785. Deland, FL: Florida State Historical Society, 1929.
  12. Wolfe, William A. and Janet B., Compiler. Names and Abstracts from the Acts of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida 1822-1845. Rev. Ed.. Decorah, IA: Florida State Genealogical Society, Inc., 1991.

Vital Records:

  1. Florida Courthouse Records for all counties are available at the Florida State Archives and through the LDS church. Check the LDS Library Catalog.
  2. Microfiche indexes to Marriage 1927+, Death 1877+ and Divorce 1927+ at the Jacksonville Vital Records Office. These indexes are available at the Florida State Archives. The libraries listed on this page also hold the indexes.

Don't forget to use some of the following excellent resources such as:

  • City Directories
  • Manuscript collections at local, state and national libraries, archives and universities
  • Newspapers
  • County & Local Histories
  • Periodicals - local, state and national

APPLICATION FEES

The fee is $60 for each application, which can include multiple pioneers and multiple descendants in the same direct family line of descent. The fee is due when the application is submitted, please do not submit it until you are ready to mail your application.   You may make your check payable to FSGS or pay with PayPal below.

The fee includes 1 Pioneer certificate and 1 Pioneer Descendant pin; each additional certificate or pin is $5.  You will be billed for additional certificates and pins after your application is approved.

You may pay your Pioneer Application Fee using a credit card through PayPal or Venmo.

Click here to pay your application fee.

We encourage each applicant to become a member of the FSGS in order to enjoy the benefits we offer.  For further information on becoming a FSGS member,  please visit the Join or Renew section of this website.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A FLORIDA PIONEER DESCENDANT CERTIFICATE

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU START, AS THEY WILL MAKE THE APPLICATION PROCESS EASIER. 

Step One:

Download all the APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

  1. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS including:
    Primary & Secondary Sources and Citing Sources
  2. APPENDIX A – County Formation Dates
  3. APPENDIX B – Checklist to Organize Documents
  4. APPENDIX C – Sample Filled-In Application

Step Two:

Download the APPLICATION FORM and save it to your computer.  This is a fillable form in Microsoft WORD.  If you do not have WORD, you may use Google Docs.

Step Three:

Mail your completed application to:

FSGS Pioneer Program, c/o Stickney
1524 Holly Branch Lane, Orange City, FL  32763

FOR QUESTIONS, CONTACT THE COMMITTEE AT [email protected].