Friday Feature: The Legend and True Story of the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge

by | Aug 15, 2025 | Ag History, Feature Video, General Agriculture

This week, Jackson County turned 203.  On August 12, 1822, Jackson County was formed by dividing Escambia County, and was named after the Territorial Governor, Andrew Jackson (who later became the 7th U.S. President in 1829).  This took place just 11 months after the U.S. Government acquired the Florida Territory from Spain.  When Jackson County was formed, there were an estimated 150 frontier families living in this designated area that stretched from the Choctawhatchee River to the Suwanee River.  There were no organized communities at the time the county was formed, so imagine the challenges those first county commissioners faced.

In order to celebrate the birth of Jackson County, I thought I would share a video about one of its oldest farm family legends, the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge.  The following video shares both the legends and the limited true history available on this early Jackson County farm family.

–

The true story of the Bellamy Family and legend of the Bellamy Bridge Ghost

Edward and Samuel Bellamy were sons of a wealthy plantation owner in North Carolina who married daughters of General William Croom, also of North Carolina.  Edward married Ann Croom, and Samuel married the younger sister Elizibeth Croom.  Samuel likely became acquainted with Elizabeth during the courtship, engagement and marriage of Ann and Edward.  Edward and Samuel moved their new families to the Florida Territory to build their fortunes in this new frontier.  Both purchased land along the Chipola River in Jackson County.  Tragically, just three years after marriage, Elizabeth died on May 11, 1837, from fever (malaria or scarlet fever) 18 months after giving birth to their son Alexander. Alexander also died of fever eight days after his mama did.  Samuel buried his beloved wife and son near the Chipola River, not far from where the Bellamy Bridge was later built.  He never remarried, and after 15 years as a widower he took his own life at the Apalachicola Ferry Landing near Chattahoochee.  Because of the stigma of suicide, Samuel was hurriedly buried in a Chattahoochee cemetery and was not laid to rest with his wife and son.  Legend has it that right after Samuel was buried, Elizabeth’s ghost began to appear along the river swamp around Bellamy Bridge searching for her lost husband.

Bellamy Bridge was built in 1914 on the site of a previous wooden bridge that dated back to 1840. It is one to the ten oldest bridges in Florida.  Today you can visit the Bellamy Bridge by taking the 1/2 mile walk down the Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail located at:  4057 Hwy 162, Marianna, Florida.  If you visit the trail after dark, you may also experience the ghost of Elizabeth Bellamy. (Don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent with you!)

–

********************************

If you enjoyed this video, you might want to check the other 300+ YouTube videos highlighted in the Friday Feature Archive

If you come across an interesting, inspiring, humorous or innovative video related to agriculture, please send in a link, so we can share it with our readers.  Use the share button from the YouTube or Facebook video you like and send the link via email to:  Doug Mayo

Doug Mayo
Follow Me
Latest posts by Doug Mayo (see all)