Virginia Ella Harrell
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 27 Sep 1860 - Pine Hill, New River County, Florida
Christening:
Death: 8 Jul 1921 - Bradford Co., Fla. ( at age 60)
Burial: in New Hope Primitive Baptist Cemetery, LaCrosse, Alachua County, Florida, USA
Spouses and Children
1. *James Crews
Marriage:
Status:
Children:
1. Minnie Ella Crews
2. Wallace Crews
Notes
General:
Virginia "Jennie" Harrell was the fourth child of Joseph Colley and Nancy
Holloway Harrell. She was born September 27, 1860, in Pine Hill (Brooker),
Florida, in the county of New River (now Bradford).
Jennie married James C. Crews, son of John and Sabra Dowling Crews. He was born in Pierce County, Georgia, on December 27, 1855. He moved to Bradford County, Florida, in 1876. James and Jennie were married in Starke, Florida, on August 1, 1877. They had five children, Minnie Ella, Wallace A., Alva Nancy, Calvin Jerard (Raude), and Gertie M.
James and Jennie bought land from her parents; the deed dated August 21, 1879, in the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke. They farmed this land and raised
their children and eventually died on this same land. They were members of the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church near LaCrosse, Florida, as were Jennie's parents and siblings.
Virginia Harrell Crews died July 8, 1921, at her home after a long illness.
According to her obituary in the Bradford County Telegraph, "The death angel visited the home of James Crews Friday morning and took his beloved wife,
Jennie. She was laid to rest in the New Hope Cemetery on July 9, 1921." James died seven years later on July 27, 1928. His obituary in the Bradford County Telegraph states that he died at the home of his son Wallie Crews. His death was caused by a fall that he never recovered from. He was laid to rest beside his beloved Jennie.
Benjamin F. Harris
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Anna Maria Milton
Marriage:
Status:
Frances Harris
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1800 - North Carolina
Christening:
Death: Abt 1838 - ( about age 38) 2
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *John Bennett
Marriage: Abt 1815 - Bryan Co., GA 2
Status:
Children:
1. Mary Ann Leticia Bennett
2. Richard Bennett
3. Frances Bennett
4. William Bennett
Judith Harris
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 16 Sep 1739 44
Christening:
Death: 15 Mar 1824 - ( at age 84) 44
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *James Crew 44
Marriage: 14 Jan 1759 44
Status:
Children:
1. Unity Crew
2. Littlebury Crew
3. Jesse Crew
Owen Harris
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Julia Ann Crews
Marriage: 14 Oct 1869 172
Status:
Nancy E. Harrison
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 18 Aug 1851 129
Christening:
Death: 24 Apr 1935 - ( at age 83) 129
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Isaac Carter
Marriage:
Status:
Children:
1. Isaac Thomas Carter
Isaiah David Hart
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 6 Nov 1792 - Georgia
Christening:
Death: 1861 - ( at age 69)
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Nancy Nelson
Marriage:
Status:
Children:
1. Oscar Hart
Notes
General:
PIONEERS OF FLORIDA'S FIRST COAST, page 43:
When Isaiah D. Hard arrived at the Cowford from St. Marys, GA in January 1821, he found there a single store, run by th e partners, William Dawson and Stephen Buckles. Legend has it that Hart pitched his tent at the foot of Liberty Stree t and lived there until he built his cabin and brought his family down from Georgia. Ruggedly handsome and a shrewd bu sinessman, Hart often recognized opportunity where others failed to see it. He invested in real estate, operated a lar ge boarding house for travelers and established a large plantation. In addition he served as postmaster, clerk of coun ty and superior courts and senator from East Florida in the first Territorial Council under Andrew Jackson. Hart was t he first to suggest and successfully implement a plan to have the town site known as The Cowford surveyed in 1822. Th e town was incorporated in 1833, and renamed Jacksonville, in honor of Andrew Jackson.
Nancy Edith Hart
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 20 Apr 1869 - Thomas County, Georgia
Christening:
Death: 30 Nov 1948 - Wachula, Hardee County, Florida ( at age 79)
Burial: in Hart Cemetery, Lemon Grove, Hardee County, Florida
Parents
Father: William Hart
Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Crawford Crews
Marriage:
Status:
Oscar Hart
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1819 - Camden Co., GA
Christening:
Death: 26 Apr 1896 - Otter Creek, Levy County, Florida ( at age 77)
Burial: in Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Duval, Florida
Parents
Father: Isaiah David Hart
Mother: Nancy Nelson
Spouses and Children
1. *Virginia Crews
Marriage: 28 Jul 1850
Status:
Notes
General:
Confederate Soldier. Co E, 1st Reg FLA Infantry Reserves
Deputy Clerk of Court Duval County, Florida 1844
ID: I25249
Name: Oscar Hart
Reference Number: 25269
Sex: M
Birth: 1819 in SC
Census: 1850 Duval Co FL
Note:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Bistro/4791/hisdocs.html
Petition for Florida Indian Agent, 1880
Oscar Hart to Carl Shurz, Secretary of the Interior
To the Honorable Carl Schurz, Secretary of the Interior.
The Memorial of Oscar Hart, respectfully shows, That the Seminole Indians now in Florida, are the remnants of those wh o once possessed the entire country, the four military posts held by the Spaniards on the coast, and on the river St. J ohns, and the American settlements on that river, and along the northern border, alone excepted. In after times, to mai ntain their right to it as they believed, they submitted to a destructive war, lasting from 1835 to 1842, and again fro m 1855 to 1858. A people whose heroism could inspire them to this, are still worthy of more than ordinary consideration . Too few now to create apprehension from voluntary hostility, they are yet too many to leave without the protecting ca re of the Government.
Where opportunity exists there will often be abuse. In the estimation of the common mind injustice to the weak and th e defenceless merits no reprehension. it may yet be pressed too far to be borne even by the weak. The outbreak that beg an the war of 1835-42, was caused by a party of armed white men who found a small party of Indians outside of the "Indi an limits", when the Indians were caught up and tied to trees and whipped. While this was going on the white men were f ired upon by other Indians, coming up.
The war of 1855-58, was caused by repeated acts of aggression by white men, the last act being by the soldiers who cu t down and carried away a quantity of tropical fruit, the property of the Indians, when, unable longer to endure thes e repeated deeds of spoilation the soldiers were fired upon.
The Indian in Florida is now at the mercy of the evil disposed of the white race, and liable at any time to outrage. On e act too many may cause an outburst, the end of which nobody can foretell. He is not devoid of rights because he is a n Indian. If he has no one to speak for him, no one to whom he can look for redress, if wring is practiced upon him, h e must submit or resist by force. Life to this alternative he justly feels the first, to be outrage; the last to be rev enge-ever most dear to the unenlightened mind-and bloodshed, in which, suffering to the innocent, and unknown injury t o the country must be the consequence. If left to himself, uncared for and unprotected, he must, in time, like the wil d beasts of the forest, give place, and where then will he go? Who shall say then, when he will or will not share thei r fate? He is not a wild beast but a noble and intellectual human being. Their Chiefs, are men of superior sagacity an d eloquence; the common man, quick to understand and to learn; and the women, distinguished for the possession of ever y feminine excellence, though they have no culture but that learned in the woods. They lack only the proper cultivatio n to reflect credit upon the Government that shall foster and care for them, as well as honor upon themselves, in pursu its in which they have never had a chance to engage.
We want immigration to our state: they are already settlers. We deplore the presence of ferocious wild beasts in it: i t is they who keep them under. We want intelligence to point out the unknown recesses of the vast region still unexplor ed by white men: they alone are capable of doing it. That same vast region, wants occupants: they are fitted for it, an d are already there. Here is their home-the remains of their country, to which they have been driven, and to which the y will now cling through life.
The attempts hitherto made to drive them from it cost the Government millions of money, and then did not wholly succeed . Any further collision between them and the white race is to be deprecated by every good citizen. It would again rais e a clamor for their removal, which could be accomplished only by their virtual extirpation, in unknown time, and at th e cost of, no one knows from many millions more. One tenth of the enormous sum expended in the Two wars mentioned woul d have cleared up the entire region inhabited by them, into one extended field, and settled every family upon a sectio n of land each, as a homestead, and furnished them educational, agricultural and mechanical schools and advantages, whi ch long since, would have made them civilized, enlightened, and valued citizens.
To this end, your Memorialist with the appointment of this Department, proffers to act as Resident Agent for the Indian s in Florida. A native, and life long resident of the country, well acquainted with the Indian character, with the coun try, and with the white people, he knows well the delicate and important duties he would have to discharge. How, by cul tivating among the white men, who are even found upon a frontier, sentiments of honor and nobility of conduct in thei r communication and dealing with the Indians; and among the Indians, respect and regard for the white people, and for t he Government that sends an Agent to take care that they shall suffer no detriment, he would hope to establish and main tain an amicable feeling and amicable relations between the two. He well knows that timely precaution may prevent disas ter, and should endeavor from the beginning, to promote harmonious intercourse, and by precept and example, to inculcat e that the most upright conduct and considerate deportment will ever lead to the happiest end.
He would be obliged to abandon the places of civilization and live in the region of swamps and morasses; but he likewis e knows that in no other way could he render so much public benefit, nor achieve so much good to those of his kind whos e condition calls for every generous sympathy, and the aid of everyone who can render aid, in his capacity. He would de vote himself to imparting to those amongst whom he should be sent, a respect for law and order, as well as a love of le arning; and with means sufficient, he would educate and improve, so far as should be possible, those who have attaine d adult age, as well as those of younger years-the older men and women, as well as the youth of the nation. He would al so, establish the most useful trading; those most required in the region, and bring the people to become producing, t o the extent of their ability; and superior productions he would stimulate the producers to ship to the best markets, b ringing back such things as were required. To accomplish this, he would awaken and arouse into activity the native an d now dormant talent and activity of the people, and impart such training as shall be required-confident of their capac ity, under proper instruction, to astonish those who do not know them, and now believe them incapable. he would find fo r every one employment, in the pursuit most congenial; would help; assist; save from discouragement the untrained mind , in its efforts in unaccustomed exertions, in unpracticed vocations; encourage, by just commendation, the achievement s of all, in the good work; and lead them in the way to business success, in callings they had never before known, an d in ways they had never before been taught to follow.
With the aid of the General and State governments, the next generation would see the Indians in Florida no longer subje cts of uneasy apprehension, but civilized, advanced, and intelligent citizens, self supporting, prosperous, and a happ y people.
And your Memorialist will ever be.
(Signed) Oscar Hart
[NOTE: Oscar Hart was born in what was then Spanish East Florida in 1819. He was 61 years of age at the time he wrote t he above petition. He was the oldest son of Isaiah David Hart and Nancy Nelson. A sketchy biography culled from primar y records and secondary sources indicate an unfortunate experience for Oscar Hart. He studied law and is listed in census records for Duval County as a lawyer although there is no evidence he was an affluent one. Hart married Virginia Crews on July 28, 1850. She was twelve years of age and he was 31 years old. The marriage did not endure and there were n o children. When Isaiah Hart's Last Will and Testament was read after his death in 1861, Oscar was criticized for writing what his father called "abusive letters." In his will, the father ordered the letters returned to Oscar and left his oldest son a single piece of property, one of the least valuable possessions in his estate. Isaiah Hart was one of the wealthier men of the town of Jacksonville, and has been credited for founding the city. In the early 1870s, Oscar was appointed clerk of the circuit court by his brother Ossian, then Governor of Florida. During his appointment, Oscar was arrested and charged with raping a child under ten years. In a public statement, he insisted the charge had no merit Ossian Hart, Florida's acting Governor, defended his older brother and the charge resulted in an acquittal by hung jury. After his clerk appointment expired, Oscar returned to the private practice of law. It was during this period tha the sought the position of Florida Indian agent. His willingness to abandon "the places of civilization and live in the region of swamps and morasses," may speak to his awkward standing in the community which had indicted him for raping a child some years before. Nonetheless, Hart's intelligent and caring depiction of the Florida Indians is in contrast to sentiments of many of his peers, who wanted the natives removed from the state by any means. In 1886, he moved to Levy County on the west coast of Florida and went into the lumber business. Oscar Hart died on 22 April 1896 near Otter Creek at the age of 77. He was buried in Jacksonville. I have not been able to determine whether Hart was appointed Indian agent but it does not appear so. TAWhite.