Middlelurg the Oldest Settlement, Cont'dp-3
off hie elothea as he ran, and dived into Black Creek at the old Folly
Knight Landing. The soldiers watched for him, hut he did not come up, so
they reported him drowned. Brannlng swam under water, down to the edge of
the creek and stayed hid In the hushes. Late that night he went to Tom Oillshury's
and got clothes. Dillsbury was a sailor that had moved into the Pgrtugese
settlement.
During the same battle, John Batton was riding horseback, going into
Jacksonville with a load of fodder. The soldiers were coming his way, so he
made his horse swim the creek, and finally reached Jacksonville.
*
Soldiers were hurled In the ditches near John Hallacy's, The bodies were
found scattered over the fields, the razorback hogs having dragged them there
by their arms and legs.
Descendants of some of these old Spanish settlers still live In Middleburg
and Green Cove Springs. The Alvarles family was one of the first settlers.
Louise Alvarles married the Scotchman Begister, and Bob Beglster of Green
Cove Springs is their son. William Tarratus was a Spanish farmer on Black
Creek, who married an English woman, Hester Hideout. This family was the sugar
maker for the farmers. Hideout Ferry was named for them.
Clay and St. John counties formed Duval County in those days, and court
was held at St. Augustine. Descendants of these old settlers say that the
Shands Bridge will bring St. John and Clay Counties back together as old
friends.
In 1865 700 people lived in this old town of Middlebufg, or, as the court¬
house was known, Webster. Before the Civil War two of the largest slave holders
were George Brannlng and 0. A. Whitesville. These men disagreed and the towm