James Bright and his wife, Elizabeth, share the same grave marked by a marble obelisk. Their grave is remarkable at St. Michael's Cemetery as a step down tomb, there are only two other step down tombs in the cemetery.

James Bright (1769-1840) was born in Dobbs County, North Carolina to Simon and Mary Graves Bright. His family owned a large plantation and was one of the most distinguished families in the region. Simon Bright signed the Halifax Resolves, the first official action in the thirteen colonies that advocated independence from England.

James inherited his father's vast plantation and landholdings when he was only eight years old. In 1796, James married Elizabeth Lovick. The couple had eleven children.

Shortly after the United States assumed possession of the territory of Florida, James moved his family to Jackson County, later named Washington County.

James established the community of Vallombrosa, Florida named after Vallombrosa, Italy home to an order of Benedictine monks who lived a solitary Godly life.

In Vallombrosa, James built a large plantation home. He also purchased a home in Pensacola on lot 296 off Government Street, between the streets of Alcaniz and Tarragona.

James Bright served on the Legislative Council from Jackson and Walton Counties, as the first postmaster of Vallombrosa, and as an appraiser of local cotton planters for Union Bank of Tallahassee.

One of his goals, the creation of an education system for the Territory of Florida was halted by the economic panic of 1837.

James died at his plantation home in Vallombrosa on June 29, 1840, and was buried at St. Michael's Cemetery.

After James' death, Elizabeth moved the family to Pensacola where they lived through the Civil War.

Edited by Cynthia Catellier, University of West Florida Department of Public History