Lake Ray still believes.
He knows historic Fort Caroline is along the St. Johns River near Mayport, on a southern bank closer to the mouth of the river. Not near St. Johns Bluff, as he and others thought for years. Certainly not Georgia, as some still claim.
He came forth with his findings in July, basing his belief off of historic records, maps showing details decades of changes and his own experience. The state representative, along with his son, Lake Ray IV, and legislative assistant, Mark Lloyd, found what they believe to be artifacts on the island.
In the past several months, they’ve sent those items — what they think could be pewter pieces from cups, trays and wares of the fort’s tenants — to the U.S. Navy for testing. They’re still waiting for those results, Ray said.
The Navy and National Parks Service also have lent assistance, with the Navy helping protect the site from possible trespassers.
In the several months since his announcement, more doubters also have come out to question Ray’s findings and speculation. But, he said, his findings haven’t been disproved — just the opposite.
“What has been interesting … is the number of people telling me why it’s not the site, posing all these questions,” he said. “Every time it was people trying to prove it’s not the location, but every time we came back to the same place.”
For the Georgia contingent, Ray said their premise was based on a misunderstanding of their maps — the river “looks nothing like it does now,” he said.
Others have shown interest and wanted to see the site. Others have showed him items collected from around that area that could help or hinder his argument.
“People have looked for over 150 years,” he said. “This is not a new pursuit.”
Although he is waiting on confirmation about the authenticity of his possible artifacts, other pieces of his theory have been solved.
The oyster shells that populated part of the island came from dredging of the St. Johns River. Initially, he thought a portion of them could have come from the fort’s tenants.
That dredging material also covers about half the island, meaning it will take some effort to work to dig and find additional artifacts.
He’s also made a few appearances to talk about the site and its history. Last week, days after winning re-election, he was the keynote for a few dozen attendees of the “Whistle Talk” program of The Beaches Museum & History Center last week.
He told the group about the findings and a story of Nicholas Le Challeux, a French carpenter near the fort during a Spanish raid. Le Challeux, he said, led a party fleeing the fort toward Fort George.
Ray said he enjoys telling the tales and history surrounding the fort, but really is looking forward to the results of his findings.
“We’re probably still a couple months away,” he said, “but I am waiting with great anticipation.”
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