Minchin Cemetery
Jackson County, Florida

Surveyed by:   Charles and Barbara Poythress Neal e-mail  [email protected]

Directions:  Located in the wooded area adjacent a currently-farmed-field, just to the southeast of the intersection of Nubbin Ridge Road and Sylvania Plantation Road, in Jackson County, FL. The land is owned by John Neel Bradbury, who has someone else farm it now; visitors should seek their permission before going on property.

The GPS location coordinates for this Minchin Cemetery are: North 30 degrees 52.754 minutes; West 85 degrees 5.371 minutes.

Note:  Each of the below markers were with vaults. The markers were all very simple, homemade small rectangular concrete markers with the names and dates put by hand (not by an engraver) in the concrete. The information in square brackets does NOT appear on the markers; it was added by us for clarification.

We did not take a photo of the area of the Minchin Cemetery because there are so many trees there, and it was so shady & dense with growth, that even with your naked eye you cannot tell you are at a cemetery until you spot one of the markers at ground level. The camera view would just look like you are in the middle of the woods somewhere

Survey:  Markers as recorded on 8 May 2000:

Joseph M[inchin] Neel, 1885-1938 [This vault has an urn at the top] [He was a son of Henry Clay Neel, listed below]
Joseph M[inchin] Neel, Jr., 1915 [Infant son of above Joseph] [He apparently died in infancy the same year he was born]
Henry C[lay] Neel, 1847-1917 [Son of William M.C. Neel]
Florida [Americus Minchin] Neel, 1856-1925 [Second wife of above Henry Clay Neel]
Jane Minchin, 1849-1932 [sister of above Florida]
Jane Minchin, 1815-1865 [Mother of above Jane & Florida] The web site photo of Jane Minchin's grave shows that she died in 1865..I find that is strange since she is listed in the 1870 census with three of her daughters... 1870 Census for Jackson Co., FL - MINIKIN Jane 55 F W Farmer GA - MINIKIN Charlette 22 F W At Home GA - MINIKIN Jane I? 20 F W At Home FL  - MINIKIN America 16 F W At Home FL
Edward Minchin, 1816-1858 [Father of Florida & Jane; wife of elder Jane]

Subj: Re: [FLJACKSO] Minchin Cemetery, Jackson Co FL
Date: 06/05/2000
From: [email protected] (cynthia dean)
In my database, I have a Joseph Minchen Neal who married Cora Mary J. Rodgers (No dates). They were parents of Virginia Lee Neal born 1918 who married Alfred G. Nichols. Can someone confirm that the Joseph Minchen Neal I have is the same one in the Minchen Cemetery?
Cynthia

Alfred G. Nichols and Virginia Neel were married 26 Nov 1936 in JacksonCo. FL.
Cynthia

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Yes, that is the same Joseph Minchin Neel [correct spellings], who was born 1885 and died 1938, and whose wife's name (per info I received in Aug 1999 from his grandson, Al Nichols III) was Cora Mary Jane Rogers [note spelling of last name]. Also according to Al's info, his mother [the daughter of that Joseph Minchin Neel and Cora M.J. Rogers], was Virginia Lee Neel [correct spelling], who was born in 1918, and who married Alfred G. Nichols, Jr. [note "Jr"]. Al gave no date for their marriage.
Charles and Barbara Poythress Neal e-mail  [email protected]

I found the name of Edward Minchin in the listing of War veterans at the cemetery. I am not sure if this is correct. This may be his father who was also Edward. If you have this listing or can tell me where to find it, I would appreciate it greatly.
[email protected] (Malcolm Minchin)

Subj: Re: Minchin Cemetery Jackson Co FL
Date: 06/05/2000
From: [email protected] (Malcolm Minchin)
The only information I have is what the Neals have sent you. After the Civil War, the Minchins were scarce. My Great Grandfather, Nathaniel, died in Tennessee during the war. His marriage is the second recorded in the records of Jackson County. His brother, Joseph Long, left for Brazil and the other brother, Edward, died from wounds shortly after the war. I don't know if this Edward is buried there or his Grandfather, Christopher C. We lost a lot of history after the war. The Neals know as much as we do because of their ancestors. My Great-Grandmother, Rebecca Collier Minchin, married a Jones and is buried in Campbellton at the Baptist Church. Thanks for your efforts and any info you have on our family is greatly appreciated.
Malcolm Minchin
850-638-1586 Chipley

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In answer to your wondering which Edward Minchin is buried there:

That marker at the Minchin Cemetery would be for your great-great-grandfather: the father of your great-grandfather - Nathaniel C Minchin, who was born 6 Sep 1837. This Edward Minchin was also the father of 6 other children: - Edward D. Minchin, who was born 1839 according to the 1850 Jackson Co, FL Census, and who was "Edward Minchin" veteran of the Civil War who was listed at the Jackson Co, FL website's listing of war veterans, as being in that cemetery [see further note about him below], - Joseph Long Minchin, who was born in 1841 according to the 1850 Jackson Co, FL Census, and who moved to Brazil after fighting in the Civil War, - Sarah M. Minchin, who was born in 1843 according to the 1850 Jackson Co, FL Census, - Charlotte F. Minchin, who was born in 1845 according to the 1850 Jackson Co, FL Census, - Jane F. Minchin [also buried there], who was born 1849 according to the 1850 Jackson Co, FL Census - Florida Americus Minchin [who is also buried there], born 1856 per her marker and of course not listed in the 1850 Jackson Co, FL Census [I haven't yet seen the 1860 Jackson Co, FL Census]

Since not only the elder Edward Minchin & his wife Jane [Miller] Minchin were buried at the Minchin Cemetery, and since two of their daughters, Jane & Florida, were buried there, it is certainly possible that the son, Edward D Minchin who was a Civil War veteran, MAY ALSO be buried there, and we just didn't locate any marker for him -- Considering the density of the growth and the thickness of the fallen leaves, etc at that cemetery, it is a distinct possibility.
Hope this helps.
Barbara e-mail [email protected]

Cynthia,
In answer to your question, Henry Clay Neel did indeed marry two women, and indeed the first wife was named Jennie, but Jennie (or Jane) Minchin was not his wife. Jane/Jennie Minchin never married; she was the elder sister of Henry's second wife, Florida Americus Minchin. My info on the Minchin line came from Leavie Brownlee Minchin, who resides in Chipley and who has worked on that line for some years. (I was glad we got to meet her last month when we were visiting in Jackson Co.)

Henry Clay Neel first married Martha L "Jennie" Johnson, on 13 Nov 1867. I don't know her parents or date of birth. Before she died in 1871, they had 2 children:
- Edward Preble Neel, b. 5 Aug 1868, d. 27 Mar 1893; buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Jackson Co, FL
- William Henry Neel, b.15 April 1871; I don't know how long he lived, but he was not named in Henry Clay Neel's obituary

Henry Clay Neel second married Florida Americus Minchin, on 17 Feb 1884. She was daughter of Edward Minchin & Jane Miller, and she was born 1856 according to her marker at Minchin Cemetery. They had 7 kids together, first of which was the Joseph Minchin Neel you & I spoke of, who married Cora Mary Jane Rogers.
Barbara e-mail [email protected]

Earlier Survey of this cemetery.

Web Page by
Betty James Smith
5 June 2000