History of the Office of Clerk of Court
The Office of the Clerk of Court was established in 1821 by the territorial governor, Andrew Jackson. Yes, the same Army General and 7th President of the United States (1829-1837)! Within two days of the United States accepting possession of Florida from Spain, the territorial governor appointed a clerk of court and assigned duties to him. His primary, foremost and immediate duty was to obtain the land records from Spanish officials to verify and confirm land ownership. The Clerk and the Governor had such resistance to obtaining the land records that they had the former Spanish governor arrested!
Within a week, Florida had two clerks of court, one for each county! Yes, Florida once had only two counties - West Florida (Escambia County; Pensacola) and East Florida (St. Johns County; St. Augustine). Today, Florida has 67 Clerks of Court & 1 Comptroller (Orange County has a separately elected clerk and comptroller).
Florida's Constitution
Florida has been governed by six constitutions.
1. 1838 - 1st territorial constitution. The meeting was held in Port St. Joe and it was barely passed by the voters with a
vote of 2,070 for and 1,975 against.
2. 1861 - 2nd constitution (1st as a state). This constitution was adopted in Tallahassee during the Civil War and
became void in 1865 with the fall of the Confederacy.
3. 1865 - 3rd constitution. After the Civil War, President Andrew Jackson convened a constitutional convention. The
1861 constitution was annulled and the new constitution was never ratified by the voters.
4. 1868 - 4th constitution. The "Reconstruction Constitution" was voted on by Florida's citizens and gave all local
power to the Governor and all county offices were appointed rather than elected.
5. 1885 - 5th constitution. This constitution reversed many of the reforms made in the 1868 version, gave power
back to the local government by electing all local offices. It was this constitution that expanded the duties and
responsibilities of the office of Clerk of Court by making the Clerk the Clerk of Court, County Recorder and
County Auditor.
6. 1968 - 6th and current constitution. This constitution was the product of the newly formed Constitution Revision
Commission. Florida's 1968 Constitution has been revised or amended from time to time through the CRC or
voter amendment process.
The Courthouse
In those early days, as new counties were created and clerks were appointed (not elected yet), many times court was held in the Clerk's personal house until a courthouse could be built! Wakulla has had several courthouses in its history.
1. Port Leon - the town of Port Leon (once the 6th
largest town in Florida with 1,500 residents was
Within a week, Florida had two clerks of court, one for each county! Yes, Florida once had only two counties - West Florida (Escambia County; Pensacola) and East Florida (St. Johns County; St. Augustine). Today, Florida has 67 Clerks of Court & 1 Comptroller (Orange County has a separately elected clerk and comptroller).
Florida's Constitution
Florida has been governed by six constitutions.
1. 1838 - 1st territorial constitution. The meeting was held in Port St. Joe and it was barely passed by the voters with a
vote of 2,070 for and 1,975 against.
2. 1861 - 2nd constitution (1st as a state). This constitution was adopted in Tallahassee during the Civil War and
became void in 1865 with the fall of the Confederacy.
3. 1865 - 3rd constitution. After the Civil War, President Andrew Jackson convened a constitutional convention. The
1861 constitution was annulled and the new constitution was never ratified by the voters.
4. 1868 - 4th constitution. The "Reconstruction Constitution" was voted on by Florida's citizens and gave all local
power to the Governor and all county offices were appointed rather than elected.
5. 1885 - 5th constitution. This constitution reversed many of the reforms made in the 1868 version, gave power
back to the local government by electing all local offices. It was this constitution that expanded the duties and
responsibilities of the office of Clerk of Court by making the Clerk the Clerk of Court, County Recorder and
County Auditor.
6. 1968 - 6th and current constitution. This constitution was the product of the newly formed Constitution Revision
Commission. Florida's 1968 Constitution has been revised or amended from time to time through the CRC or
voter amendment process.
The Courthouse
In those early days, as new counties were created and clerks were appointed (not elected yet), many times court was held in the Clerk's personal house until a courthouse could be built! Wakulla has had several courthouses in its history.
1. Port Leon - the town of Port Leon (once the 6th
largest town in Florida with 1,500 residents was
destroyed by a hurricane in 1843, the same year
Wakulla became a county. It is unknown if Port
Leon had a dedicated courthouse or if the court
met in the Clerk's house.
Wakulla became a county. It is unknown if Port
Leon had a dedicated courthouse or if the court
met in the Clerk's house.
2. Newport - After the hurricane, the citizens moved
upriver about two miles to Newport. A courthouse
was built (or re-built) and served from 1843-1866.
While no photo of this courthouse exists, we do
have a plat map of the town square along the St.
Marks River (shown right).
In 1866 this courthouse was disassembled, moved
to Crawfordville and reassembled. Either its re-
construction was poorly done or it simply didn't
survive the move, but it was later torn down and a
a new one was built in 1870.
3. 1870 Crawfordville - The newly constructed
courthouse served the citizens of Wakulla for
22 years until it was burned down by arson in
1892. We have no photos of the third
courthouse.
4. 1892/93 Crawfordville - A new courthouse was
upriver about two miles to Newport. A courthouse
was built (or re-built) and served from 1843-1866.
While no photo of this courthouse exists, we do
have a plat map of the town square along the St.
Marks River (shown right).
In 1866 this courthouse was disassembled, moved
to Crawfordville and reassembled. Either its re-
construction was poorly done or it simply didn't
survive the move, but it was later torn down and a
a new one was built in 1870.
3. 1870 Crawfordville - The newly constructed
courthouse served the citizens of Wakulla for
22 years until it was burned down by arson in
1892. We have no photos of the third
courthouse.
4. 1892/93 Crawfordville - A new courthouse was
built on the same ground. It served our citizens
for 54 years. In 1948 it was moved by oxen one
block away and still stands today and is known as
the "Old Courthouse". Photo below right.
5. 1949 Crawfordville - A new courthouse was built in
1948-1949. The "Old Courthouse" has three stories
and one courtroom. The new courthouse only had
two stories and one courtroom originally as shown
in the bottom left and center photos. In 1990/1991
a third story and an additional three-story wing was
added to provide additional space and a second
courtroom as shown in the bottom right photo.
There was a significant modernization renovation
done in 2010, updating the electrical, heating and
cooling, and information technology systems.
The Clerks of Wakulla County
Wakulla County has had 28 elected Clerks of Court in its history since 1843. A couple clerks served as little as six months and the longest serving clerk, Brent X. Thurmond (24 years) just recently retired in 2021. The list and a few details are below:
block away and still stands today and is known as
the "Old Courthouse". Photo below right.
5. 1949 Crawfordville - A new courthouse was built in
1948-1949. The "Old Courthouse" has three stories
and one courtroom. The new courthouse only had
two stories and one courtroom originally as shown
in the bottom left and center photos. In 1990/1991
a third story and an additional three-story wing was
added to provide additional space and a second
courtroom as shown in the bottom right photo.
There was a significant modernization renovation
done in 2010, updating the electrical, heating and
cooling, and information technology systems.
The Clerks of Wakulla County
Wakulla County has had 28 elected Clerks of Court in its history since 1843. A couple clerks served as little as six months and the longest serving clerk, Brent X. Thurmond (24 years) just recently retired in 2021. The list and a few details are below:
| No. | Name of Clerk | Date Service Began (Length of Service) | A Few Details: |
| 28 | W. Greg James | 1/5/2021 (Current) | |
| 27 | Brent X. Thurmond | 1/7/1997 (24 yrs.) | The longest serving elected Clerk in Wakulla history. |
| 26 | J. Harold Thurmond | 1/3/1989 (8 yrs.) | |
| 25 | Beatrice Duggar | 6/23/1988 (194 days) | The only female Clerk elected in Wakulla history. |
| 24 | Carlton Tucker | 1/2/1973 (15 yrs. 6 mo.) | |
| 23 | Moody Pearce | 1/8/1957 (16 yrs.) | |
| 22 | Gilbert J. Langston | 1/7/1941 (16 yrs.) | |
| 21 | L.L. Pararo | 1/4/1921 (20 yrs.) | |
| 20 | J. M. Towles | 1/7/1913 (8 yrs. & 16 yrs. Total) | |
| 19 | H. N. Walker | 1/5/1909 (4 yrs.) | |
| 18 | J. M. Towles | 1/3/1901 (8 yrs.) | |
| 17 | John J. Harrell | 12/30/1892 (8 yrs.) | |
| 16 | Joseph W. Duval | 12/8/1888 (4 yrs, 1 mo.) | |
| 15 | George R. Smith | 3/16/1887 (1 yr. 9 mo.) | |
| 14 | Nat R. Walker | 1/25/1878 (9 yrs. 2 mo.) | |
| 13 | James W. Smith Sr. | 10/27/1873 (4 yrs. 3 mo.) | |
| 12 | John H. Hogue | 2/9/1871 (2 yrs. 9 mo.) | |
| 11 | W.W. Walker | 8/17/1868 (2 yrs. 6 mo.) | Post Civil War Clerk |
| 10 | David Lewis | 10/29/1863 (4 yrs. 10 mo.) | Civil War Clerk |
| 9 | Herndon L. Henderson | 10/31/1857 (6 yrs.) | |
| 8 | John C. Mound | 10/27/1855 (2 yrs.) | |
| 7 | T. J. M. Richardson | 11/1/1853 (2 yrs.) | |
| 6 | William W. Mound | 3/11/1851 (2 yrs. 7 mo.) | |
| 5 | Charles Ingram | 2/22/1850 (1 yr. 1 mo.) | |
| 4 | George L. Bryant | 1/20/1847 (3 yrs. 1 mo.) | |
| 3 | A. R. Alexander | 6/30/1846 (204 days) | |
| 2 | Joseph Woodruff | 12/27/1845 (185 days) | The shortest serving Clerk in Wakulla history. |
| 1 | Amos M. Alexander | 4/16/1843 (2 yrs. 8 mo.) | The first Clerk in Wakulla history. |