Grace McAlister
news@greenepublishing.com
Ruben and Rebecca Charles were original settlers in the North Florida region long before statehood. During the waning years of the Spanish occupation of the area, they set up a trading post west of Saint Augustine.
As they conducted business, Ruben and Rebecca developed friendships with the Native Americans living further inland and established long-lasting relationships with them. This was before the United States' 1821 purchase of Florida from Spain.
Eventually, the United States government decided to establish forts in the area and built a military road stretching from Saint Augustine to Pensacola. This later became known as The Bellamy Road. Ruben was a savvy businessman and quickly established a new location for his business alongside the road. In 1824, he built a trading post and ferry near the place now known as Charles Springs.
Ruben and Rebecca Charles, still companions with the local tribe, were caught in the inevitable tensions brought about by increasing numbers of American settlers and military personnel entering the region. Hostilities increased, and many communities in the area were attacked and burned, but the Charles' community was never attacked because of their partnership with the Native Americans. When Ruben died in 1840, the Charles family arrangement was still honored between the Native Americans and the family.
Rebecca continued to operate the ferry and other facilities at Charles Spring after his death and raise the three children still at home. In May 1852, her estate obtained deeds to two parcels of land located along the Suwannee River, a few miles south of the location of her trading post and ferry. These parcels were identified as two land lots, adding up to 193 acres in Newmansville, Fla.
In 1852, Rebecca was shot while standing on her front porch, at the age of 57-years-old. This resulted from hostility with the local white settlers over her friendliness with the Natives. The descendants of Rebecca and Ruben Charles operated their business until 1875, when it was abandoned.
The graves of Rebecca, her husband and some of their children are located at Charles Cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries known to Florida. The cemetery is adjacent to a Native American burial ground located in Luraville, Suwannee County, Fla.
The following is inscribed on her gravestone.
"In hope I lie beneath the ground
though mingles with the dust,
yet when the angels trump shall sound
I will rise in Christ, I trust.
Thou art laid in the grave,
we no longer behold thee,
nor tread the rough paths
of this world by thy side.
But the wide arms of mercy
are spread to enfold thee,
and sinners may hope
since the Saviour hath died."