There Is A Graveyard And A Civil War Homestead Hidden In Starkey Park New Port Richey

Today, let's take a little dive into one of my favorite places, specifically Starkey Park in New Port Richey. Yes, it's a beautiful 8,300-acre tract of land with green space in an ever-shrinking natural world. However, did you know there is an old "Florida Pioneer Cracker" homestead site out there? One day, a park employee was on a very heavily traveled trail and discovered this site sometime in 2005. It turns out that nobody had ever heard of this guy, McNeil.

The oaks tell a storyPhoto byAbandonedReclamation

Heading out to the park, you'll find the trailhead sort of in the tent camping area, but officially, it's near the horse corral. This place is so cool; you can see parts of the foundation, an old horse tack, a brick-lined well, an old vehicle (a Model A Ford!), fencing, and most importantly, graves! Back in those days, you buried your loved ones right there on the property, as there was no "transportation" for the deceased back then. Pioneer graves were sometimes surrounded by sea shells, limestone rocks, pottery, or brick. The little bit of research I found on census records states James McNeill's first wife, Martha (1849), and his son, Donald (1870), are buried here.

Grave markerPhoto byAbandonedReclamation

This tract is known as the McNeil Homestead (back then it was 61 acres from Florida's Internal Improvement Fund) and was first surveyed in 1847 for the newly established state of Florida by Deputy Surveyor George Watson. James McNeil, a Confederate Florida Infantry veteran of the Civil War, purchased the land (for 91 cents an acre) in 1882. When Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, McNeill was there! I'm sure the McNeil family lived there for a while before buying the land because there are McNeil family members buried on the site that date back to around 1880. He farmed this land, had livestock, and produced turpentine as well. Census records show between 1867 and 1879, James and Martha had at least five children-- John S., Donald J., Martha J., James F., and Georgia-- who were all likely born right here.

Sign at the start of the trailPhoto byAbandonedReclamation

So back when they found this site, they cleaned it up as much as they could (you all know how much Florida nature can take back in a short period of time), but nothing was rebuilt. What you'll see there is exactly how it was left.

It's not all roses, however. Pioneer life was hard. REALLY hard. McNeill sold his property, destitute and suffering from ailments incurred during his four hard years during the war. McNeill's 1905 pension application shows he had kidney problems and severe arthritis.

Foundation of the old cabinPhoto byAbandonedReclamation

Have you been to this historic pioneer homestead inside Starkey Park? Let me know in the comments below!

Attributions:

https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/jay-b-starkey-wilderness-park