CAPTAIN WINSTON J. T. STEPHENS, born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia about 1829. It is thought that his father could have been, Thomas Peter Goosby Stephens, and his mother, Mary Ann Stephens, moved to Alabama around 1834. He apparently died there, because she remarried and moved to Florida around 1846. Her husband, Lewis Gaines, and the family settled near Ocala, where they owned a considerable amount of land. Winston joined the army as a volunteer in the last of the Seminole wars. His career in the service made him somewhat of a hero in both Marion and Putnam County society in which he lived. He was credited with capturing 19 Indians in the Everglades. After other accolades, he was promoted to lieutentant-colonel.
He was mustered out of service of the mounted volunteers of the Florida Regiment on January 26, 1858. He then retuned to his home in Welaka. His brother, William Clark Stephens had moved into the area from Marion County, and was married to Augustina Fleming, their home was the center of family and community socials.
Winston and Octavia Bryant , Colonel James W. Bryant's only daughter, were courting from around 1856. The Colonel, discouraged the relationship, because of Octavia's youth, and the hopes of finding a better match for her. Although the Colonel was important socially as well as politically, although his material wealth was not overwhelming. He did not want his educated and sophisticated daughter to wed a farmer, however, they went against his wishes and married while he was out of town. They married November 1, 1859, a few days after her eighteenth birthday.
Winston had enlisted in General Benjamin Hopkins' company, as a first lieutenant, he stated that he could have been elected Captain, if he had allowed his name in opposition of Hopkins. The militia company did not march away until October of 1861. The Company started off as independent mounted volunteers under the command of Capt Benjamin Hopkins in 1861 near Palatka. Ben Hopkins died of fever Feb 2 ,1862 and Winston would be come Capt over the Company. They became known as "Captain Stephens' Independent Cavalry" until December 4, 1862 when by special orders ( order # 1487 issued by the East and Middle Florida Head quarters ) they formed the Co B 2nd Fla Cav.
Throughout the war, Winston and Octavia corresponded, their letters and her diary are currently housed in the P. K. Yonge Library, at Gainesville. They tell of the hardships endured on both sides of the war, his and hers' as the manager of their plantation, ROSE COTTAGE. The last letter written to Octavia, Winston stated that he was sick of war, and all of its horrors, etc., He was killed after the Battle of Olustee on March 1, 1864 at a skirmish near Cedar Creek, however, this was not all that Octavia had to endure, her mother died the next day, and her baby was born prematurally
He was first buried at West View Cemetery in Palatka and later moved to Oakwood Cemetery with his family.
He was mustered out of service of the mounted volunteers of the Florida Regiment on January 26, 1858. He then retuned to his home in Welaka. His brother, William Clark Stephens had moved into the area from Marion County, and was married to Augustina Fleming, their home was the center of family and community socials.
Winston and Octavia Bryant , Colonel James W. Bryant's only daughter, were courting from around 1856. The Colonel, discouraged the relationship, because of Octavia's youth, and the hopes of finding a better match for her. Although the Colonel was important socially as well as politically, although his material wealth was not overwhelming. He did not want his educated and sophisticated daughter to wed a farmer, however, they went against his wishes and married while he was out of town. They married November 1, 1859, a few days after her eighteenth birthday.
Winston had enlisted in General Benjamin Hopkins' company, as a first lieutenant, he stated that he could have been elected Captain, if he had allowed his name in opposition of Hopkins. The militia company did not march away until October of 1861. The Company started off as independent mounted volunteers under the command of Capt Benjamin Hopkins in 1861 near Palatka. Ben Hopkins died of fever Feb 2 ,1862 and Winston would be come Capt over the Company. They became known as "Captain Stephens' Independent Cavalry" until December 4, 1862 when by special orders ( order # 1487 issued by the East and Middle Florida Head quarters ) they formed the Co B 2nd Fla Cav.
Throughout the war, Winston and Octavia corresponded, their letters and her diary are currently housed in the P. K. Yonge Library, at Gainesville. They tell of the hardships endured on both sides of the war, his and hers' as the manager of their plantation, ROSE COTTAGE. The last letter written to Octavia, Winston stated that he was sick of war, and all of its horrors, etc., He was killed after the Battle of Olustee on March 1, 1864 at a skirmish near Cedar Creek, however, this was not all that Octavia had to endure, her mother died the next day, and her baby was born prematurally
He was first buried at West View Cemetery in Palatka and later moved to Oakwood Cemetery with his family.
CAPTAIN WINSTON J. T. STEPHENS, born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia about 1829. It is thought that his father could have been, Thomas Peter Goosby Stephens, and his mother, Mary Ann Stephens, moved to Alabama around 1834. He apparently died there, because she remarried and moved to Florida around 1846. Her husband, Lewis Gaines, and the family settled near Ocala, where they owned a considerable amount of land. Winston joined the army as a volunteer in the last of the Seminole wars. His career in the service made him somewhat of a hero in both Marion and Putnam County society in which he lived. He was credited with capturing 19 Indians in the Everglades. After other accolades, he was promoted to lieutentant-colonel.
He was mustered out of service of the mounted volunteers of the Florida Regiment on January 26, 1858. He then retuned to his home in Welaka. His brother, William Clark Stephens had moved into the area from Marion County, and was married to Augustina Fleming, their home was the center of family and community socials.
Winston and Octavia Bryant , Colonel James W. Bryant's only daughter, were courting from around 1856. The Colonel, discouraged the relationship, because of Octavia's youth, and the hopes of finding a better match for her. Although the Colonel was important socially as well as politically, although his material wealth was not overwhelming. He did not want his educated and sophisticated daughter to wed a farmer, however, they went against his wishes and married while he was out of town. They married November 1, 1859, a few days after her eighteenth birthday.
Winston had enlisted in General Benjamin Hopkins' company, as a first lieutenant, he stated that he could have been elected Captain, if he had allowed his name in opposition of Hopkins. The militia company did not march away until October of 1861. The Company started off as independent mounted volunteers under the command of Capt Benjamin Hopkins in 1861 near Palatka. Ben Hopkins died of fever Feb 2 ,1862 and Winston would be come Capt over the Company. They became known as "Captain Stephens' Independent Cavalry" until December 4, 1862 when by special orders ( order # 1487 issued by the East and Middle Florida Head quarters ) they formed the Co B 2nd Fla Cav.
Throughout the war, Winston and Octavia corresponded, their letters and her diary are currently housed in the P. K. Yonge Library, at Gainesville. They tell of the hardships endured on both sides of the war, his and hers' as the manager of their plantation, ROSE COTTAGE. The last letter written to Octavia, Winston stated that he was sick of war, and all of its horrors, etc., He was killed after the Battle of Olustee on March 1, 1864 at a skirmish near Cedar Creek, however, this was not all that Octavia had to endure, her mother died the next day, and her baby was born prematurally
He was first buried at West View Cemetery in Palatka and later moved to Oakwood Cemetery with his family.
He was mustered out of service of the mounted volunteers of the Florida Regiment on January 26, 1858. He then retuned to his home in Welaka. His brother, William Clark Stephens had moved into the area from Marion County, and was married to Augustina Fleming, their home was the center of family and community socials.
Winston and Octavia Bryant , Colonel James W. Bryant's only daughter, were courting from around 1856. The Colonel, discouraged the relationship, because of Octavia's youth, and the hopes of finding a better match for her. Although the Colonel was important socially as well as politically, although his material wealth was not overwhelming. He did not want his educated and sophisticated daughter to wed a farmer, however, they went against his wishes and married while he was out of town. They married November 1, 1859, a few days after her eighteenth birthday.
Winston had enlisted in General Benjamin Hopkins' company, as a first lieutenant, he stated that he could have been elected Captain, if he had allowed his name in opposition of Hopkins. The militia company did not march away until October of 1861. The Company started off as independent mounted volunteers under the command of Capt Benjamin Hopkins in 1861 near Palatka. Ben Hopkins died of fever Feb 2 ,1862 and Winston would be come Capt over the Company. They became known as "Captain Stephens' Independent Cavalry" until December 4, 1862 when by special orders ( order # 1487 issued by the East and Middle Florida Head quarters ) they formed the Co B 2nd Fla Cav.
Throughout the war, Winston and Octavia corresponded, their letters and her diary are currently housed in the P. K. Yonge Library, at Gainesville. They tell of the hardships endured on both sides of the war, his and hers' as the manager of their plantation, ROSE COTTAGE. The last letter written to Octavia, Winston stated that he was sick of war, and all of its horrors, etc., He was killed after the Battle of Olustee on March 1, 1864 at a skirmish near Cedar Creek, however, this was not all that Octavia had to endure, her mother died the next day, and her baby was born prematurally
He was first buried at West View Cemetery in Palatka and later moved to Oakwood Cemetery with his family.
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