Manatee Burying Ground
Due to privacy reasons, not all investigations conducted by Integrity Investigations are provided below for public viewing. In addition, some information provided may not contain all experiences or names of individuals that were noted during our investigations.
Case# TT15HA
Location:
Manatee Burying Ground (Bradenton, FL)
History:
Known as one of the oldest organized burying grounds of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Manatee Burying Ground is in fact the oldest cemetery in Manatee County.
The property was deeded on May 30, 1850, by Josiah Gates and his wife, Mary M. Gates, and now owned by the City of Bradenton.
While serving as the area’s first public graveyard, it was officially closed in 1892, with the exception of immediate family members of those that had already been buried at the location, with the last burial taking place in 1967 for Eva May Gates, granddaughter of Josiah and Mary.
There are many unmarked graves within the small boundaries of the cemetery. However, 94 of them can be distinguished to include eleven Confederate soldiers and four Union army veterans such as Brigadier General John Riggins. Riggins served as an aide-de-camp to Union General Ulysses S. Grant and was responsible to providing critical information to officers such as General Sherman as well as the secretary of War for President Abraham Lincoln.
Reports:
There have been several reports from those that visit this local historic site that include the feeling of being watched, hearing sounds of leaves rustling as if someone were waling nearby, unexplained cold breezes, and hearing voices when no one else is present. People have also reported white streaks caught in photographs, whether taking during day or night.
Investigation:
Investigators Bobby and Dianne were able to conduct a short investigation during the daytime hours. Many photos were taken of the area. However, nothing out of the ordinary was captured. No audio records were conducted as there was much traffic in the area that would have contaminated any evidence.
Conclusion:
There was no evidence of paranormal activity during our visit. However, Integrity Investigations plans on continuing investigations of this location.