| Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery Fort King Highway Thonotosassa, Florida 33592 |
![]() The church & cemetery area early 2007 |
![]() The church & cemetery area mid 2009 |
In the early 1880's W.A. Eliot donated a piece of property on Fort King Highway about a quarter mile north of Florence Avenue with the stipulation that it only be used for a church or school. Carolyn Edwards Fleetwood described this area this way:
"Where Florence Avenue enters Ft. King, there was a small two story building on the corner we called Uncle Mark's office, Uncle Mark being LaMarcus Edwards, Sr. At a distance of what would be a city block, and far off the road, was an unpainted house where the Portervint family liven, although they later moved into the office. Across the road was the Gresham grove, and in the grove a packing house, although it was never in operation as far as I can recall. Usually some old bachelor occupied a room in the downstairs of the packing house, although a family of Smiths lived there for awhile. Our large white house was north of the Portervint residence and also on the west side of the road. Next door was the abandoned Episcopal Church and cemetery, then a very small section of grove, and sitting on a wooded lot, the chapel. I would judge the chapel was a quarter mile from Florence, or maybe a little more, but certainly less than a half a mile. The abandoned Episcopal Church had stained glass windows, red carpet and varnished pews, but there was nothing fancy about the chapel. It was just a white building in the shape of a rectangle, and except for the sign wouldn't have been recognized as a a place of worship, as there was no cross, no spire, or bell tower."In the 1955 Chamber of Commerce minutes I found the following: "Mr. Jefferson took the floor and gave a history of the old chapel. It was first a public building and school in Thonotosassa in 1884. The ground was donated by a Mr. W.A. Eliot to be used only for school or religious purposes, and if not so used for 2 years, the property to return to Mr. Eliot or his heirs. It was used by various chuch denominations but after a while ceased to be used. Mr. Eliot was dead so the property was put under trustees, Mr. Jefferson was one, and a Mr. Davis. Property was finally sold except a 40 foot strip where the graves were. This was deeded to the Episcopal Diocese and the property now belongs to Mr. Evans except for the 40 foot strip."A 1938 aerial of the area definately shows a building in the curve of Fort King Highway and another building further north. A 1973 aerial shows an orange grove, so some time between 1938 and 1973 a citrus grove was planted on the site where the church had been. Later on, probably due to a freeze, the citrus trees were all removed. I would seriously doubt if any remnants of the graves will ever be found. List of burials
*The following information was supplied by Catherine Sevenau. Owen Mastick Born: Dec 20, 1802, Grafton, Windham County, Vermont Died: Dec 20, 1884 (age 82), Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida Buried: Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County, Florida Note: cemetery was later planted as a citrus orchard; no remnants of graves now found 4th of 9 children of NATHANIEL MASTICK & LYDIA CARYL Occupation: Farmer Married: Nov 30, 1830, HARRIET COOK, Burton, Geauga, County, Ohio (license: Jan 1, 1829) (Harriet Cook: daughter of Ephraim Cook & Susannah Ives Born: Sep 27, 1804, Cheshire County, Connecticut Died: May 20, 1894 (age 90), Ridgeville, Indiana Buried: Ridgeville, Indiana) Five children: 1. Harriett Eliza Mastick 2. Melissa Marietta Mastick 3. Julius E. Mastick 4. Lovina/Lavina L. Mastick 5. Owen Burdell Mastick Note: partial source: History of Erie County (pg 764) Parents: Nathaniel Mastick (1772 - 1847) Lydia Caryl Mastick (1773 - 1857) | |