plantation known site estate jacksonville florida named early owner spent years located northern tip fort george inlet ecological managed plantation originally acres km2 taken forest structures grounds park comprise approximately acres evidence pre life island remains spanish mission named san_juan del puerto british rule plantation established owners florida transferred spain united_states longest span ownership family household controlled resistant issues race slavery free blacks private owners lived plantation transferred state florida acquired national_park_service prominent features owner house structure architectural significance built probably cited oldest surviving plantation house state attached kitchen house barn remains valuable slave endured foundations house kitchen barn slave quarters constructed cement making notably evidence found slave given researchers insight african traditions slaves recently arrived north_america wrote defense slavery tier social system acknowledged rights free people color existed florida spanish rule briefly served planning transition florida annexed united_states time council attempted influence florida recognize free people color allow mixed race children inherit property addition architectural qualities site significant home unique family history pre settlement colonization located miles northeast downtown jacksonville marsh island mouth surrounded tidal little north atlantic coast florida inhabited approximately years spanish explorer landed near spanish met tribe largest group indigenous people region numbering bands extended central florida south georgia estimated existed territory societies complex large villages sustained fishing hunting agriculture frequently unrelated groups native americans spanish concentrated efforts exploration settlement gulf_coast florida led french explorers mouth built garrison calling fort caroline years population indigenous people florida disease constant fighting left evidence existence massive shell filled discarded food shells primarily ownership florida transferred united_kingdom spanish settlers established missions including named san_juan del puerto eventually gave nearby frequent battles decline mission activity development british controlled florida established plantations region owned plantation harvesting dozen enslaved spain regained ownership florida american revolution recruited new americans promises free land veteran john lightning lured south_carolina spanish government rewarded island settled slaves constructed large house unique architectural style exhibiting corner surrounding great room soon bankrupt possession plantation turned georgia revived took leading role patriot rebellion americans annexation florida united_states rebellion unsuccessful fled georgia escape punishment spanish family born bristol england educated london family moved colonial south_carolina established career slave trader shipping magnate allowed travel widely settled purchased land buildings owned plantations lower today jacksonville central florida managed time wife slave named married anna years old recently arrived cuba west_africa freed charged running plantation modern day legal emancipation submitted spanish colonial government read let known possessed slave black woman called anna eighteen years age bought newly imported african port havana slave cargo permission government introduced said black woman given birth children george years months martha months old mary month old good qualities shown said black woman fidelity shown reasons resolved set free children marriages white plantation owners african women common east florida spanish government provided separate class free people color encouraged slaves purchase freedom slavery spain florida considered lifelong condition free blacks involved economic development region owning slaves anna oversaw slaves fort george island grew sea island cotton citrus corn beans potatoes fourth child born anna lived maintained relationships african women acted wives remained family historian familiar concepts marrying slave master acquire freedom visitors plantation invited dinner table displayed multi racial children pride provided best education afford considered shield potential racial uprising authors study slavery characterized man complex proud success dedicated family published defense slavery identifying florida institution necessary condition society beneficial owner slave alike overall economy consider race factor determine status writing think deny color condition properly considered separate qualities legislators mistaken shadow substance different things law dangerous better foundation prejudice president appointed florida tried persuade define rights free people color apparent resigned council passed laws increasingly restricted rights free blacks enjoyed spanish control treatise response restrictions favored spanish tier system white landowners black slaves freed blacks pamphlet reprinted arguments defend slavery debates leading civil war passed laws forbidding marriage right free blacks mixed race descendants inherit property avoid difficulties new government termed spirit prejudice sent wives children slaves haiti time free black republic daughters married white remained florida sold plantation nephew transferred slaves plantation neighborhood jacksonville started plantation haiti worked slaves servants slavery allowed haiti earn freedom years gave interview abolitionist asked aware occupation slave trader perceived akin piracy responded yes glad look slave trading respectable business young merchants engaged people hide things think people don like conceal went exhibit considerable pride plantation built help sons wish anna best house ought happy human race fine rich valley thirty miles heavily round flowers beautiful fruits abundance delicious refrain stopping eat till eat sons laid good roads built bridges mills people improving prosperous died year route new_york_city work land deal anna returned florida settle inheritance dispute husband white relatives spanish law inheritance free blacks legal court ruled favor control holdings florida remained children years sold plantation moved inhabitants moved slaves arlington neighborhood jacksonville live remaining years ownership island farms immediately following sale unknown american civil war managed island recently lived slave quarters farmed land new_hampshire farmer named purchased island finding agriculture florida successful wished transitioned island tourist resort building large luxury hotel attracting celebrities banker writer slave quarters displayed tourist attractions hotel burned family successfully cultivated citrus freeze destroyed crop daughter family live main house sold island private investors clubs constructed island wealthy jacksonville residents plantation house headquarters constructed building private clubs popular great depression subsequently went fashion world war acquired including plantation houses barn slave quarters calling effort restore property appearance family residence began ecological created national_park_service established president ronald_reagan sites including significant properties jacksonville management ecological transferred national_park_service labor carried task system slave given assigned set tasks day processing cotton constructing barrels slave cooper day jobs completed slaves free chose described task system journal october work today people gather crop rule day spring plant day fall rule plantations fixing tasks required day occurs long days summer hand generally task sooner abundance time work crop fish etc etc task system slavery common sea island plantations contrast cotton tobacco plantations virginia parts south practiced gang system slave drove slaves work entire day slaves african generation african american records information area today guinea received grant study artifacts found slave quarters findings published initiated interest research african american concentrating particular bordering avenue found cooking animal bones fish pigs turtles discarded food musket balls fishing weights described unusually slave owner wrote physical superiority europeans armed slaves protection gave suggests hands approach slave management intended prevent slaves running away wrote interfering slaves family lives encouraged possible dancing dress saturday afternoon night sunday morning dedicated perfectly honest appeared happy having fear hardly occasion apply correction plantation slave trading headquarters training slaves specific tasks increase value sale developed skilled educated agriculture planting trained higher price sale average percent higher market price excavation sponsored uncovered artifacts slave tools slaves cabin intact sacrificed chicken egg unearthed adding evidence hypothesis african slaves kept traditions alive north_america discovered evidence added porch facing away main house feature slave cabin owners constructed quarters view times slave houses constructed built slaves probably 1820s 1830s evidence exists indicates inhabited constructed shells left burned barrel open pits lime particles mixed water sand shells poured wooden foundations foot high set dry process repeated stacked desired height wall reached floors kitchen house basement owner house constructed material houses remarkably resistant weather insects better wood ingredients accessible cheap labor intensive slave quarters widely considered best surviving examples use building material cabin consisted room fireplace sleeping arrangement quarters distinctive originally laid arc interrupted main plantation avenue formation unique plantations historian given slave families privacy suggests slave managers arranged quarters able watch slaves owner house time author suggests responsible layout west african villages commonly constructed circular pattern king ruling family living center 1890s slave build boat house dock significance site considerable majority slave quarters built quality materials quarters destroyed emancipation graves thought contain slaves unearthed bodies ranged age elderly woman adults probably born west_africa house structures main residence fort george plantation unique story house probably constructed indicated letter time built comfortable house house resembling 17th century british gentry homes large center room story corner allowed air cooler summer bedroom fireplace heat efficiently winter second story house large rooms roof deck house faces fort george inlet features rear house brick walkway joined porch wharf inlet residence indicates oldest plantation house state main house protected family neighbors attacks invading creeks wrote time people took refuge following raids americans patriot rebellion house plantations far south destroyed rebels fleeing georgia arrived metal fixtures doors wooden slave quarters burned added sections east west sides house 1890s removed fireplace chimneys clubs owned island 1920s added electricity main house story kitchen house called probably built 1820s doubled center food preparation ground floor residence children second west_africa uncommon wives lived separate quarters husbands nephew wife lived grounds probably second floor office main house surrounded grove orange lemon banana trees occasional ornamental built roof walkway kitchen house main house barn constructed sits feet owner house wells survived ownership tombs unknown origin constructed came island located near plantation ruins house sits near entrance avenue origins unclear called fourth wife oral history related left daughter recently referred named died constructing activities restoration currently showcases remains slave houses original located approximately feet south main owner house slave houses restored appear early 19th century states repair ruin kitchen house features display slavery island barn garden display house currently closed structural rehabilitation maintenance historical structures significant work kitchen owner house closed severe structural damage caused humidity kitchen building restored work ongoing owner house despite slave quarters vulnerable vandalism cabin shows evidence damage slated completion date rehabilitation owner house room kitchen house open contains exhibits hosted annual day event october called family reunion relatives notable youngest sister daughter participated mother attempting block property served model son artist arrangement grey black artist mother popularly known brother south near governor south_carolina duncan descended branch descendants lives dominican_republic near lived haiti great grandparents married florida black original investor black lewis family active jacksonville black community decades black female president descended lewis moved black history month february cole speaker heritage celebration events music storytelling ranger led talks history regularly occur
Kingsley Plantation