Prologue: Acknowledging the Foundations
Any discussion of Florida’s plantation history must recognize the foundational role of slavery and the displacement of Indigenous peoples, especially the Seminoles. Plantation success was built on land taken from Native tribes and sustained through the forced labor of enslaved individuals who faced inhumane treatment, physical abuse, and family separations.
Despite this, many enslaved individuals were highly skilled. They worked as masons, carpenters, metallurgists, sailors, cooks, agriculturalists, and builders. They constructed cities, railroads, forts, and homes—both for plantation owners and for themselves. These individuals cleared forests, molded bricks, raised livestock, and performed domestic duties. They endured relentless labor from dawn to dusk, often under brutal conditions.
This page presents basic information on Florida plantations and their owners, understanding the immense cost to those forced into slavery.
Colonial Shifts and Economic Growth
Florida’s plantation history began with European colonization. During the First Spanish Period, Florida was mainly a strategic outpost with forts and missions. In 1763, through the Treaty of Paris, Britain gained control and divided the territory into East and West Florida. St. Augustine and Pensacola served as their respective capitals.
The British encouraged plantation development via land grants. Crops such as indigo and rice flourished. Other crops like sugar and cotton were also tested. After the American Revolution, Spain regained Florida in 1783. During the Second Spanish Period, planters from the West Indies and U.S. returned. Spain removed religious conversion requirements and granted land to promote agriculture.
With the start of the Territorial Period (1821), plantation agriculture merged with Industrial Era advances. Steam-powered mills enhanced sugar and rum production. Cotton also became a major crop before sugar overtook it due to high demand.
Enslaved Labor and Agricultural Expansion
British Governor James Grant believed Africans were suited for Florida’s harsh environment. Planters brought enslaved individuals from South Carolina, Georgia, and Africa, relying on their expertise in cultivating rice, cotton, and sugar.
Florida plantations often used coquina stone in construction. Some featured elaborate gardens and manor homes, while others focused on industrial farming. The enslaved population built and operated mills, homes, and ports, contributing significantly to Florida’s economy.
Collapse and Conflict
On December 25, 1835, during the Second Seminole War, most plantations were set ablaze. Whether by Seminole forces or through abandonment, they were never restored to their original use. Some were destroyed in battles between Seminole allies and opposing factions.
Slavery, however, continued until the Civil War. Florida’s Antebellum Period (1845–1861) marked continued growth in plantation life, which ended with emancipation.
Free Black Landowners
During the Second Spanish Period, many free Black individuals were granted land. Examples include:
- Stephen Cheves: 200 acres
- Tory Travers: 100 acres
- Felipe Edimboro: 100 acres
- Flora Leslie (Free woman): 500 acres
- Isabella Wiggins (Free woman): 300 acres
Land was often inherited, subdivided, or abandoned. Some plantations kept their original names, others were renamed. Families often owned multiple plantations or divided them among relatives, leading to densely concentrated kin-based ownership.
Notable Plantation Owners (1770–1835)
- Mount Plenty – Robert Bisset
- Rollestown – Denys Rolle
- Harmony Hall – Artemas Ferguson
- Mount Hope – John Vaughan
- Constancia – Daniel O’Hara
Lord of Egmont: Expansive Ownership
John James Perceval, Lord Egmont, controlled over 50,000 acres. He never visited his land but managed it from England. Notable holdings included:
- Mount Royal – 20,000 acres on the St. Johns River
- Amelia Island Plantation – 10,000 acres
- Cecilton Plantation – Developed after the burning of Mount Royal
Stephen Egan managed Egmont’s plantations, overseeing enslaved labor and the construction of towns for both workers and enslaved individuals.
William G. DeBrahm and Christianaborough Plantation
DeBrahm, a surveyor general, acquired 1,000 acres upriver from Cecilton. After Florida returned to Spanish control, the land was renamed San Jose Plantation. Today, it includes Jacksonville landmarks like Epping Forest and the Bolles School.
Henry Strachey and Beauclerc Bluff Plantation
Strachey managed 1,000 acres near Goodby’s Creek. He expanded the estate to include dwellings, slave quarters, barns, and mills. His holdings stretched to Biscayne Sound and included multiple tracts. The estate was abandoned when Florida reverted to Spain.
Joseph Goodbe: Early Cultivator
Goodbe began farming indigo on a 250-acre tract in 1765. After his accidental drowning, the land was incorporated into Strachey’s estate.
Suttonia Plantation
Owned by John Baker and Thomas Ashby, this 10,000-acre tract was named for Ashby’s wife. Abraham Marshall, their agent, built residences and outbuildings. The plantation featured multiple settlements with crop production and livestock.
Richard Oswald: Multiple Settlements
Oswald owned 20,000 acres and operated several plantations via overseers. Key sites included:
- Mount Oswald – Rice and indigo plantation
- Ferry Settlement – Corn and rice fields
- Adia Settlement – Indigo production
- Swamp Settlement (Three Chimneys) – Sugar plantation
Additional Notable Landowners
- James and George Anderson – Settled land once owned by Oswald
- James and John Moultrie – Operated Rosetta (Rozetta) and other properties
- John Bunch – Owned Rosetta until selling to Thomas Dummett in 1825
Thomas Dummett and Carrickfergus Plantation
Dummett purchased two East Florida plantations and built a sugar mill and rum distillery. Carrickfergus was destroyed during the Second Seminole War. His daughter later converted the family home into the St. Francis Inn.
McHardy Plantation
Robert McHardy, a Scotsman, married into the Bunch family and developed a plantation for cotton and sugar. The land passed through several generations, with some family members becoming prominent naval officers.
This page summarizes key developments in Florida’s plantation history, emphasizing the role of enslaved individuals, colonial transitions, and notable estates that shaped the region’s agricultural landscape.