Page 48 - Our Place in History

Ormond Beach, Florida

In these turbulent times what was called Old Kings
Road had been often destroyed in Indian fights. Bridges
were burned, and the road itself relocated and repaired.
Soldiers marched and countermarched along it. Forts
were built, abandoned and fell into the wilderness.
Revolutionary War soldiers in both 1776 and 1812 had
used this pathway in pursuit of the enemy.

Many of the British Plantations along Old Kings Road
south of St. Augustine had, for the most part, been
abandoned after the Spanish takeover.

During the War of 1812 between England and the
young United States, Old Kings road had been actively
used by troops both American and Spanish. In 1821 when
ownership of Florida was returned to the citizens of the
then United States, it soon became apparent that this old
trail and road had to again be rebuilt, repaired and put in
order for the new territory to become viable again. Where
it was not maintained, the aggressive Florida fauna
quickly took over, or it sank again into swamps and
wetlands.

By 1821 it was reported that sections had vanished
into the muck and Palmetto Palms. The Spanish wishing
to repopulate this area issued many land grants to
encourage settlers to return. In spite of wars, Indian
fights, and the constant battle with Florida’s climate and
rapidly growing foliage, what was called “Old Kings Road”
endured. A succession of grants was made along the east
coast between St. Augustine and the Mosquito inlet along
side of Old Kings Road. These grants later became the
basis of many famous early families and settlers to trace
their lineage and ownership. Old Kings Road was the
reference point and was also called “the public road”.

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