New Blog: History of Gadsden County, Florida

I have started a new blog (web log) on the history of Gadsden County that might be of interest.

Visit it at http://gadsdencountyhistory.blogspot.com.

The new page focuses on the history, historic sites, folklore, culture and people of Gadsden County, Florida.

I have launched the site with excerpts from the chapter about the McLane Massacre from my new book, The Early History of Gadsden County.

I hope you will take time to visit and feel free to let me hear from you with thoughts, questions or suggestions!

New Book - "The Early History of Gadsden County"

I am pleased to announce the release of my latest book, The Early History of Gadsden County.

The book is now available for online order and delivery directly from the printer. Just click here for more information.

The official release of the book will take place on Sunday, October 19th, at an event hosted by the West Gadsden Historical Society, Inc., at the Gadsden Art Center across from the courthouse in Quincy. The event will begin at 3 p.m. (Eastern) and the book will only be available for online purchase and delivery before that date.

Proceeds from this book will help the West Gadsden Historical Society in its efforts to preserve and interpret the rich history of Gadsden County.

The book covers a number of episodes from the county's early history and hopefully will be of interest to anyone curious about the history of Gadsden County, the upper Apalachicola River valley and the area in general.

Chapters include:

• Hernando de Soto
• Santa Cruz de Sabacola
• Chislacasliche and the Apalachicola Fort
• Ellicott's Observatory
• Nicolls' Outpost and the War of 1812
• Scott's Massacre
• Andrew Jackson in Gadsden County
• First Settlers and Neamathla's Reserve
• King Cotton and Prince Tobacco
• Early Scientists of Gadsden County
• The Comte de Castelnau
• The U.S. Arsenal at Chattahoochee
• The Second Seminole War
• The McLane Massacre
• Seizure of the U.S. Arsenal
• The C.S.S. Chattahoochee
• Gadsden County and the Battle of Natural Bridge

Bellamy Bridge, Part Two

This is part two of a continuing series on the true story behind Jackson County's famed legend of the "Ghost of Bellamy Bridge." If you would like to read part one first, just scroll down the page.

As I explained in my last post, the legend of Bellamy Bridge is certainly colorful, but is it true?

The story first began to appear in local newspapers roughly 100 years ago, indicating that it was well known by the beginning of the 20th century. Interviews with senior residents of the area confirm this.

Fortunately, the events related in the legend involved people who were prominent and well-known in their day. As a result, their true stories can still be traced.

Dr. Samuel C. Bellamy grew up in North Carolina and attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. His brother, Dr. Edward C. Bellamy, was also a physician and the two men were close during their youth.

The Bellamy family was prominent in North Carolina at this time and closely associated with another prominent clan, the Croom family. Dr. Edward Bellamy fell in love with Ann Croom, the daughter of Gen. William Croom, and the two were married in North Carolina during the early 1830s. Not long after, Dr. Samuel Bellamy began to court Ann's sister, Elizabeth "Betsy" Bellamy. At this point, the story begins to diverge from the legend.

Newspaper records confirm that Samuel and Elizabeth Bellamy were married in North Carolina on July 15, 1834, three years before the date of the supposed Florida wedding (and tragic reception).

On the surface the discovery of proof that Samuel and Elizabeth were married in North Carolina three years before legend holds she died on her wedding day in Florida might seem to disprove the legend of the ghost of Bellamy Bridge, but true history reveals there is much more to the story.

I'll continue this fascinating true story in the next post. Until then, if you would like to read more and see an actual photo of the "ghost" of Bellamy Bridge, please click here.

The complete story can be read in my book, Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends and Unusual Facts, now available through www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com, or for order through your favorite bookstore. It can also be purchased in downtown Marianna at Chipola River Book and Tea (on Lafayette Street across from the Battle of Marianna monument).

New Book: "A History of Jackson County, Florida" to be released soon

The first volume of my new three volume set of books, A History of Jackson County, Florida will be released in a couple of weeks. Volume One covers the years 1674-1865 and will be the first of the three books to be released. Volume Two, which covers the years 1866-1935 will be released this summer and Volume Three, 1936-Present will be out by Christmas.

I divided the book into three volumes because of its length (over 700 pages). This will keep each of the the parts affordable (retail price is set for $24.95) instead of them all being put together into one large book that would cost more than many readers could afford to pay in one lump sum.

Volume One will be available through www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com and most other online retailers by around the end of January. It will also be available in Marianna at Chipola River Book and Tea downtown (same block as the Gazebo Restaurant).

Here are some of the chapters from Volume One:

• San Nicolas and San Carlos, The Spanish Missions of Jackson County
• Ellicott's Observatory, 1799
• The Perryman Family and the War of 1812
• The First Seminole War
• Andrew Jackson's March through Jackson County
• First Settlements
• The Establishment of Jackson County
• Greenwood and Campbellton
• Marianna vs. Webbville
• The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge
• Fort Marianna and the Second Seminole War
• The Plantation Era
• Slavery
• The Riverboat Era
• The Calhoun County War of 1860
• The War Between the States
• The Battle of Marianna

Thank you, Jackson County!

I want to thank everyone who came by the book signing at Chipola River Book and Tea in Marianna on Saturday. The event was a big success and the turnout was very heart warming. I enjoyed having the chance to talk with so many friends and the opportunity of meeting so many new ones.

I remain amazed at how much people seem to be enjoying the Two Egg, Florida book. You never know when you write something how it will be received or whether people will enjoy reading it. I'm glad that everyone is finding the stories to be so much fun. There wasn't a great deal of creativity involved in this one, the stories just tell themselves.

If you still would like an autographed copy for Christmas, Chipola River Book and Tea has a few left. They are located on Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna right across from the Battle of Marianna monument (on the same block as Watson's Drugs and the Gazebo restaurant).