Huguenot Cemetery, St. Augustine

The Huguenot Cemetery, also known as the St. Augustine Public Burying Ground, is a historic burial ground in St. Augustine. It was established in 1821 as a Protestant cemetery for the newly arrived American settlers, as the only existing cemetery, Tolomato cemetery, was reserved for Catholics. The first burials took place just prior to a yellow fever epidemic that devastated the city. The cemetery remained in use until 1884 when it was closed along with the Tolomato cemetery.

The cemetery is named after the Huguenots, a French Protestant sect, but it is not believed to contain any Huguenot burials. The cemetery is known to contain at least 436 burials based on city records. The cemetery was owned by Rev. Thomas Alexander before being turned over to the Presbyterian Church in 1832.

Visitors to the cemetery may encounter supernatural phenomena and ghostly apparitions. One of the famous ghosts believed to haunt the cemetery is that of a young girl, who died from yellow fever and was buried in an unmarked grave outside the cemetery gates. She is often seen wearing a flowy white gown and waving to visitors. Another ghost is that of Judge John Stickney, who was buried in the cemetery in 1882 but had his gold teeth stolen during a later exhumation. It is believed that his ghost haunts the cemetery, seeking revenge on the thieves who stole his teeth.

The Huguenot Cemetery is a popular destination for visitors interested in history and the paranormal. It provides a unique window into the past and offers a glimpse into the supernatural world.