Draft:Jacob Summerlin born November 1792 in Floridda

Jacob Summerlin was born November 1792 in Florida, the son of Joseph and Sarah Maccarter Summerall during Florida's second Spanish Period (1784-1821). His family lived on the West side of St. Johns River. His father owned property at Long Bluff and Wills Swamp area until 1793 when the Spanish Government required they move to the East side of St. Johns River. Jacob was baptised by Father Thomas Hassett on the 13th of May, 1793 in St. Augustine, St. Johns, Florida. Priests held mass in a portion of St. Augustine's hospital as the church had burned. (Jacob's baptism name was Summerall, but he changed his name around 1845 to Summerlin.)

Jacob Summerlin married three times. First to Lydia Lang in Camden, Georgia in 1817. Lydia died about 1820. Second to Mary Ann Hagin in Camden, Georgia in 1821. Mary Ann died in 1836. Third to Mary Ann Elizabeth (last name possibly Partridge), about 1837. He had three sons and five daughters: Jacob Summerlin Jr., Joseph Summerlin, John Alexander Summerlin, Mary Ann Summerlin, Nancy Hagin Summerlin, Rebecca Branch Summerlin, Louisa A. Summerlin, and Caroline Victoria Summerlin.

Jacob was active in local events and was a signer of the 1812 Patriot Constitution. Jacob was a guide for Lt. Col. Thomas Smith, who led an invading force of Georgians into Florida, allegedly to punish Indians who were raiding farms and settlements north of St. Marys River. March 1826, Jacob Sumerall was appointed Justice of the Peace in Alachua County. Jacob lived in an area of Alachua County which became part of Columbia County. In 1832 when Columbia County was formed from parts of Duval and Alachua counties, Alligator Town was designated as the seat of the county government.. Only twenty-five percent of the early residents owned slaves. Jacob was one of the largest slave holders owning ten male and four female slaves.

In 1831 Jacob Summerlin served in the Territorial Legislature. In 1833, Governor Duval appointed Jacob Summerall, Burnett M. Dell, Abel G. Loper, Willson Brooks, and Asa Clark in Columbia County as appraiser for the Union Bank, Florida's most important bank at the time. Jacob served in the 6th Regiment, Florida Militia in 1835. Jacob Summerlin (Sr.) lived in Columbia, Florida during the time of the Seminole Wars, two conflicts that devastated Florida's communities.

Elected representative to the Florida territorial legislative council in 1834. Jacob Summerlin won election again to the House of Representatives, Territory of Florida in 1842 when R.K. Call was Governor of Florida. Jacob was one of East Florida's leading Whig politicians. He was Senator of Eastern Florida Territory in 1845. That year, Florida became a state.

Captain Jacob Summerlin, aged 56 years, died at his residence in Alligator, Columbia County, Florida, on Saturday 15th January 1848 after a painful illness.

References

1. Spanish Florida 2. Roman Catholic Church, Saint Auguste, Saint Johns, Florida, reference; FHL microfilm 874052 3. "Jacob Summerlin, King of the Crackers" by Akermans 4. Florida Territorial Papers, Volume XXIII, p. 469 5. A History of Columbia County, Florida, p. 26 6. A History of Columbia County, Florida, p. 30 7. Florida Territorial Papers, Vol. XXIV, pp. 813-817 8. Columbia County Representatives in the Legislative Council, Columbia County File, Florida Collection, Florida State Library. 9. Florida Territorial Papers, Volume XXII, p.479 10. Florida Territorial Papers, Volumn XXII, p.815 11. Florida State Archives 12. Star of Florida articles 1842 and 1845 13. "Ossian Bingley Hart, Florida's Loyalist Reconstruction Governor" by Canter Brown, Jr. p. 57 14. The News obituary article 1848 dated January 29, 1848.