Q. What is the history behind the St. Johns County Clerk’s Office?
A. Our office’s history goes all the way back to 1821 when it was established by Governor Andrew Jackson along with the County Clerk/Sheriff. The first deed was then recorded on Sept. 13, 1821, at the Governor’s House, still standing in Downtown St. Augustine.
The deed names the grantor as Jose Maria Ugarte and Francisco Reyes as the grantee and details the sale of a piece of property in St. Augustine for $600. The document even names two witnesses and a notary. Some of the same legal language used in the first recorded document from 1821 is still used in deeds today. Some of our office’s recorded deeds are written in Spanish, which aligns with St. Augustine’s prominent Spanish history.
Q. What was the responsibility of the Clerk’s Office back in the 1800s?
A. Many of the clerk’s responsibilities remain the same as 202 years ago, including recording court activities, property deeds, and other transactions; however, while many of the functions are the same, the county’s boundaries were much larger as St. Johns County encompassed all land from the Suwannee River east and south down to Key West. We still maintain these records which showcase how residents traveled hundreds of miles to record documents. It’s a remarkable testament to the importance of accurate records and their importance to our quality of life.
Q. How is the Clerk’s Office honoring its unique history?
A. We are honoring our office’s unique history with a historical marker designating the Governor’s House as the original clerk’s office in Florida. On Sept. 28, our office will host an unveiling and dedication ceremony to share this historical marker with the St. Johns County community and fellow clerks around the state.
Q. How does the Clerk’s Office work to maintain its history?
A. As the official record keeper for St. Johns County, the clerk’s office has a plethora of historical items. We have historical maps as well as books that all point back to our extensive history. We even have local county commission meeting minutes from April 30, 1866.
The Official Record books, court records, and maps in our office paint a picture of the growth in St. Johns County. As the county keeps growing, it’s essential our office continues to protect the public’s trust in record keeping by preserving these records for generations to come. Many records remain available for viewing in our office and some are on display at the St. Augustine Historical Society.
Q. What is the best way for residents to contact you?
A. Residents can call my office at (904) 819-3601 or my cell at (904) 599-8688. My email address is BPatty@stjohnsclerk.com. A lot of questions can be answered and services, such as paying traffic citation or searching records, can be used by visiting our website, www.stjohnsclerk.com.
