Middleburg the Oldest Settlement, Cont‘dp-4
was divided into two factions. The Branning side was known as Middleburg
and the Buddington section was known as Whitesvllle.
With the exception of St. Augustine, it is stated that Uiddlehurg was the
only shipping point in Florida for a number of years. Ocean steamers from
Savannah and Charleston came up Black Creek. The Dicatator and Barling were
two of the most famous boats that were owned by Captain Brock.
Thomas and Hedges owned two stores, a hotel and a shipping dock. Col.
Thomas charged $1 a bale for all cotton that was taken over his dock. In
one day a thousand bales were shipped from this dock. Cotton was hauled
from Tallahassee and the adjoining country and shipped from Middleburg.
Before these loaded ships could go down Black Creek they had to obtain Spanish
passes from St. Augustine.
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Buring the most prosperous years at Middleburg six of the leading stores
were owned by Warrick J. C. Richard, Peter Haws, Jesse Branning and Thomas
Hedges. And there were two churches, the Cathollc and Methodist. The old
bell that was to ugh t for $50 in Hew York in 1855 Is used today in the Middleburg
Methodist churdi. The people there say that each year the tones are growing
clearer. An old piano that was owned by the Buddingtons before the Civil War
is to be found today in one of the old houses.