Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries-Saint Augustine, Florida

San Sebastian and Pinehurst Cemeteries are located in West St. Augustine on Pearl Street. The two cemeteries are next to each other and are stated to be among the oldest Black cemeteries in the state of Florida. There is conflicting information on whether the cemeteries began before or after the Civil War.

The cemeteries contain a mixture of commercial and vernacular headstones, along with military ones. Additionally, there are mementos left on many graves. Everything from conch shells to dolls is scattered throughout.

Mr. James Jones Remembrance of his daughter Elizabith. Aslapp.

Edwin Mansell (1947-1999). This is one of the newer vernacular headstones I’ve seen. It uses tile which is a common material in handmade markers.

The name is hard to read, but the Masonic symbol is still visible.

Ellen Simmons, d. 1910. This marker resembles an Angel.

One of the many concrete crosses in the cemetery.

Victorian grave markers heavily influence this marker.

There is no truth that carved chains on a headstone mean someone is born into slavery. Most chains represent the fraternal organization Fraternal Order of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows. They are frequently joined with the letters “ F L T,” which stands for “Friendship, Love, Truth.”

I read several journal articles about the documentation of slave and Black cemeteries, and there was no mention that markers with chains meant someone was born into slavery. What is consistently mentioned are broken dish ware, clocks, shells, and different plants.

A circle of chains, broken or unbroken, can represent death or hope respectively.