The John L May Family

John L. May, his wife Marina Hill May, and her mother Matilda Howard Sanderson May migrated from Greene County, Alabama, with their slaves, following the death of patriarch Dr. James May in 1856

The John L. Mays family settled the eastern part of town. In 1855, John L. May purchased  property from Richard Wiggins, and built a 4-room home for his family. John lived in the simple four-room house with his wife, Marina, and their daughters, Matilda and Annie.  Unfortunately, John died of tuberculosis three years later.

Marina remained in the home throughout the Civil War and eventually married Confederate hero Frank Saxon. She died giving birth to the couple's child, a girl named Jessie Mae, in 1869. Jessie survived her birth but died of unknown causes three years later. Marena and Jessie were buried on the property, as were John May and the infant son of Frank and Marina, a detail which fuels many rumors about the May-Stringer haunting. It is known as one of the most haunted houses in Florida.