Plantations of Leon County, Florida

Last updated May 25, 2024

The forced-labor farms of Leon County were numerous and vast. Leon County, Florida, was a hub of cotton production. From the 1820s through 1850s Leon County's fertile red clay soils and long growing season attracted cotton planters from Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, among other states as well as countries abroad.

Enslaved workers in Leon County

For some time before the early stages of the Civil War Leon County was the fifth-largest producer of cotton in Georgia and Florida.^[1] Another source states that Leon County led the state in cotton production.^[2] Because of this, in 1840, there were only 654 adult white males, but 3980 people "engaged in agriculture".^[3] In 1860, 73% of the population of Leon County consisted of enslaved black persons;^[4] as was true elsewhere in the South,^[5] the value of those enslaved persons far exceeded the value of all the land in the county.^[6] Leon County had more enslaved people than any other county in Florida,^[7] and it was, therefore, the wealthiest county in Florida.^[8] It was also the center of Florida's slave trade.^[7]^: 28

Forced-labor farms in 1860

Note: Value = plantation value in United States dollars.^{[ when? ]} TA = total area. IA = improved area. UA = unimproved area. Corn = in bushels. Cotton = bales of cotton

Leon County Plantations 1860
Enslaver	Value	TA (acre)	IA	UA	Enslaved people	Corn	Cotton	Notes
William Alderman	$5000	980 acres (4.0 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	480 acres (1.9 km²)	36	3000	75	^{[ citation needed ]}
Silas D. Allen	$2000	550 acres (2.2 km²)	250 acres (1 km²)	300 acres (1.2 km²)	22	1000	180
Jesse Averett, Sr.	N/A	19,601 acres (79 km²)	1,200 acres (5 km²)	680 acres (2.8 km²)	60	2500	80
William Bailey	$42,670	2,510 acres (10 km²)	825 acres (3.3 km²)	564 acres (2.3 km²)	75	4000	352
Bannerman	$14,475	1,440 acres (6 km²)	700 acres (2.8 km²)	840 acres (3.4 km²)	67	4000	120
Barrow Hill	$10,000	3,990 acres (16 km²)	2,590 acres (10 km²)	1,400 acres (6 km²)	71	3200	204
S. A. Belton	$12,000	N/A	600 acres (2.4 km²)	400 acres (1.6 km²)	N/A	500	N/A
Bellevue Plantation	$10,000	520 acres (2.1 km²)	470 acres (1.9 km²)	50 acres (0.2 km²)	24	N/A	N/A
Betton Hill	$00,000	0000	0000	00	0000	000	000
Blakely	$9000	900 acres (3.6 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	400	N/A	3000	40
William D. Bloxham	$7000	1,400 acres (6 km²)	600 acres (2.4 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	52	2500	100
J. R. Bradford	$1300	N/A	700 acres (2.8 km²)	300 acres (1.2 km²)	N/A	1500	75
Burgesstown	$22,000	8,100 acres (33 km²)	3,800 acres (15 km²)	4,300 acres (17 km²)	274	1300	825
William H. Branch	$13,375	1,070 acres (4 km²)	670 acres (2.7 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	57	3000	120
William A. Carr	$31,000	2000 acres (8 km²)	1000 acres (4 km²)	1,000 acres (4 km²)	77	5000	260
Casa de Laga	$15,000	1,228 acres (5 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	428 acres (1.7 km²)	70	3000	200
Josesph Chaires	$50,000	3,800 acres (15 km²)	1,400 acres (6 km²)	2,400 acres (10 km²)	130	5000	200
Chemonie	$18,400	1,840 acres (7 km²)	1000 acres (4 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	64	5000	200
J. B. Christie	$12,000	1,420 acres (6 km²)	600 acres (2.4 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	37	1500	80
Charles Cole	$7680	N/A	600 acres (2.4 km²)	300 acres (1.2 km²)	30	1500	85
Henry Copeland	$10,000	N/A	300 acres (1.2 km²)	200 acres (0.8 km²)	55	3000	81
John A. Craig	$20,000	1,150 acres (5 km²)	600 acres (2.4 km²)	550 acres (2.2 km²)	44	3500	150
William P. Craig	$13,000	1,150 acres (5 km²)	690 acres (2.8 km²)	350 acres (1.4 km²)	38	1000	62
Alex Cromartie	$12,600	1,255 acres (5 km²)	600 acres (2.4 km²)	700 acres (2.8 km²)	53	4000	90
John Cromartie	$5760	960 acres (3.9 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	460 acres (1.9 km²)	52	1500	37
J. Q. Cromartie	$13,000	1,320 acres (5 km²)	300 acres (1.2 km²)	840 acres (3.4 km²)	40	3000	50

Leon County Plantations 1860 (Continued)
Enslaver	Value	TA	IA	UA	Enslaved people	Corn	Cotton	Notes
Edgewood	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
El Destino (partly in Jefferson County)	$17,000 (1832)	7,638 acres (30.91 km²)						^{[ citation needed ]}
Evergreen Hills	$53,600	6,700 acres (27 km²)	3,600 acres (15 km²)	3,100 acres (13 km²)	135	6000	350
Francis Eppes	$24,000	1,920 acres (8 km²)	950 acres (3.8 km²)	970 acres (3.9 km²)	70	3000	70
A. A. Fisher	N/A	1,144 acres (5 km²)	625 acres (2.5 km²)	475 acres (1.9 km²)	46	3000	105
R. N. Fisher	$11,800	1,080 acres (4 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	580 acres (2.3 km²)	45	3000	100
Dr. George Galphin	$12,500	989 acres (4.0 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	500 acres (2.0 km²)	50	1300	75
C. B. Gamble	$10,000	N/A	600 acres (2.4 km²)	240 acres (1.0 km²)	N/A	2500	60
William Germany	$20,000	3,240 acres (13 km²)	1000 acres (4 km²)	1,240 acres (5 km²)	40	1500	47
Goodwood	$33,640	1,675 acres (7 km²)	1,050 acres (4 km²)	625 acres (2.5 km²)	58	2500	150
William A. Harvin	$11,500	N/A	600 acres (2.4 km²)	550 acres (2.2 km²)	36	3000	91
Alex B. Hawkins	$38,700	2000 acres (8 km²)	1,130 acres (5 km²)	860 acres (3.5 km²)	51	1800	93
Richard Hayward	$62,680	N/A	7,444 acres (30 km²)	450 acres (1.8 km²)	51	2000	150
Griffin W. Holland	$30,000	1,600 acres (6 km²)	1,200 acres (5 km²)	1,400 acres (6 km²)	95	7000	225
Horseshoe Plantation	See (Pine Hill)
House Place	$16,600	1,800 acres (7 km²)	900 acres (3.6 km²)	900 acres (3.6 km²)	47	3000	216
Edward Houstoun	$25,000	N/A	900 acres (3.6 km²)	3,600 acres (15 km²)	78	3500	180
Ingleside	$25,000	2,620 acres (11 km²)	1500 acres (6 km²)	1,140 acres (5 km²)	116	7000	181
James A. Kirksey	$33,000	2,600 acres (11 km²)	1,320 acres (5 km²)	1,280 acres (5 km²)	180	6000	454
La Grange	$55,200	4,150 acres (17 km²)	3,150 acres (13 km²)	1000 acres (4 km²)	232	N/A	N/A
T. B. Lamar	$1500	1,120 acres (5 km²)	1,200 acres (5 km²)	750 acres (3 km²)	41	2000	100
Thomas J. Laversage	$8000	1,560 acres (6 km²)	1,700 acres (7 km²)	300 acres (1.2 km²)	48	2000	70
Live Oak	$4000	1,560 acres (6 km²)	820 acres (3.3 km²)	260 acres (1.1 km²)	68	2000	73
Ellen C. Long	$13,000	N/A	700 acres (2.8 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	52	1800	120
Daniel B. Meginniss	$40,000	1,600 acres (6 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	810 acres (3.3 km²)	70	3000	150
John Miller	$35,000	2,517 acres (10 km²)	1,400 acres (6 km²)	1,300 acres (5 km²)	80	5000	180

Leon County Plantations 1860 (Continued)
Labor Camp	Value	TA	IA	UA	Enslaved People	Corn	Cotton	Notes
Miccosukee	$35,000	2,517 acres (10 km²)	1,400 acres (6 km²)	1,300 acres (5 km²)	80	5000	180	^{[ citation needed ]}
John C. Montford	$800	1,080 acres (4 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	540 acres (2.2 km²)	35	2000	41
Mossview	$20,000	2,204 acres (9 km²)	1,200 acres (5 km²)	1,200 acres (5 km²)	80	2000	80
William S. Murray	$8000	1,120 acres (5 km²)	520 acres (2.1 km²)	400 acres (1.6 km²)	33	2500	45
Oaklawn	$26,720	5,640 acres (23 km²)	1,200 acres (5 km²)	4,440 acres (18 km²)	20	5000	300
Orchard Pond	$31,000	3,844 acres (16 km²)	1,300 acres (5 km²)	2,544 acres (10 km²)	118	4500	167
M. D. Papy	$9000	1,200 acres (5 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	700 acres (2.8 km²)	43	3000	54
William Perkins	$15,300	1,568 acres (6 km²)	900 acres (3.6 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	42	2500	93
Julian S. Pettes	$3000	N/A	350 acres (1.4 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	N/A	3000	75
Pine Hill	$28,000	3,270 acres (13 km²)	1500 acres (6 km²)	1,770 acres (7 km²)	130	4000	225
Ponder	$48,000	5000 acres (20 km²)	4,756 acres (19 km²)	5,756 acres (23 km²)	99	8500	206
L. S. Raines	$10,000	1000 acres (4 km²)	500 acres (2 km²)	500 acres (2.0 km²)	43	1500	75
Thomas Randall	$40,000	N/A	800 acres (3.2 km²)	2,800 acres (11 km²)	38	2500	75
W. F. Robertson	$12,000	1,320 acres (5 km²)	600 acres (2.4 km²)	720 acres (2.9 km²)	30	2000	100
J. A. J. Roney	$27,000	N/A	1,580 acres (6 km²)	550 acres (2.2 km²)	77	6000	198
G. W. Scott	$4000	60 acres (240,000 m²)	50 acres (200,000 m²)	5 acres (20,000 m²)	N/A	N/A	N/A
R. G. Shepard	$24,000	1,400 acres (6 km²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	600 acres (2.4 km²)	90	1000	225
Solomon Sills	$5000	840 acres (3.4 km²)	225 acres (0.9 km²)	N/A	26	97	1800
Smithwick	$10,000	520 acres (2.1 km²)	350 acres (1.4 km²)	250 acres (1 km²)	N/A	80	1500
Southwood	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Daniel Switzer	$6000	620 acres (2.5 km²)	300 acres (1.2 km²)	320 acres (1.3 km²)	N/A	N/A	N/A
Tuscawilla	$36,000	3000 acres (12 km²)	1500 acres (6 km²)	1500 acres (6 km²)	172	3000	200
Verdura	$20,000	2500 acres (10 km²)	1000 acres (4 km²)	1500 acres (6 km²)	63	2500	160
Walnut Hill	$12,000	2,120 acres (9 km²)	1,700 acres (7 km²)	420 acres (1.7 km²)	65	2500	80
Water Oak	$18,400	1,840 acres (7 km²)	900 acres (3.6 km²)	940 acres (3.8 km²)	65	2500	130
Waverly	$00,000	0000	000	000	000	000	000
J. E. Whitaker	N/A	2,280 acres (9 km²)	1,300 acres (5 km²)	1,200 acres (5 km²)	94	2000	157
Robert W. Williams	$8000	N/A	400 acres (1.6 km²)	400 acres (1.6 km²)	37 acres (150,000 m²)	2000	100
T. B. Winn	$13,920	N/A	800 acres (3.2 km²)	364 acres (1.5 km²)	52 acres (210,000 m²)	3000	81
Woodlawn	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Note: Value = Plantation Value. IA = Improved Acres. UA = Unimproved Acres. Enslaved People = Number of persons enslaved. Machinery = Worth of machinery. Livestock = Worth of livestock.

Leon County Smaller Farms 1860
Enslaver	Value	IA	UA	Enslaved People	Machinery	Livestock	Notes
E. P. Johnson	$1410	88 acres (360,000 m²)	388 acres (1.6 km²)	N/A	$10	$260	^{[ citation needed ]}
William Johnson	$1410	88 acres (360,000 m²)	388 acres (1.6 km²)	N/A	$10	$260
E. S. McCollum	$1000	75 acres (300,000 m²)	800 acres (3.2 km²)	N/A	$125	$880
Jackson Moody	$500	25 acres (100,000 m²)	165 acres (0.7 km²)	N/A	$20	$300
S. W. Sweatman	$1440	117 acres (0.5 km²)	123 acres (0.5 km²)	N/A	$100	$550

Related Research Articles

Burgesstown Plantation was a large forced-labor farm of 8,100 acres (3,300 ha) in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Frederich R. Cotten between 1850 and 1855. Cotten used the forced labor of enslaved people to work his land, which was primarily devoted to growing cotton as a cash crop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bannerman Plantation</span> United States historic place

Bannerman Plantation was a forced-labor farm of about 1,500 acres (610 ha) and located in northwest Leon County, Florida, just north of the old unincorporated community of Meridian and west-northwest of Lake Iamonia. Bannerman Plantation was established in 1852 or earlier by Charles Bannerman of North Carolina, who by 1860 had enslaved 67 people to work his land.

The James A. Kirksey Plantation was a moderate forced-labor farm of 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) located in northwestern Leon County, Florida, United States, established by James A. Kirksey. In 1847 he served as mayor of Tallahassee. He had a large number of slaves.

The William A. Carr Plantation was a small cotton plantation of 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) in northwestern Leon County, Florida, established by William A. Carr.

Blakely Plantation was a forced-labor farm of 900 acres (360 ha) located in extreme northeast Leon County, Florida. In 1850, the farm included 800 acres worked by 51 enslaved people.

Chemonie Plantation was a forced-labor farm of 1,840 acres (740 ha) in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Hector Braden. By 1860, 64 enslaved people worked the land, which was primarily used to produce cotton as a cash crop.

The William Bailey Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 2510 acres (10 km²) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States established by William Bailey.

Casa de Laga Plantation was a forced-labor farm of 1,228 acres (497 ha) located in west central Leon County, Florida, United States established by George Alexander Croom. It was also known as the Ball and McCabe Place and later as Shidzuoka. In 1860, 70 enslaved people worked the land, which was primarily devoted to producing cotton as a cash crop.

La Grange Plantation was a large forced-labor farm of 4,150 acres (1,680 ha) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States established by Joseph John Williams.

Evergreen Hills Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 6700 acres (27 km²) located in eastern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Green H. Chaires.

Joseph Chaires Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 3,800 acres (1,500 ha) located in southern Leon County, Florida, United States owned by Joseph Chaires.

The House Place Plantation was a small forced-labor farm of 1,800 acres (730 ha) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States established by R.A. Whitfield.

Walnut Hill Plantation was a small cotton plantation of 2,120 acres (860 ha) located in northern Leon County, Florida, United States owned by Thomas Anderson Bradford.

The Francis Eppes Plantation was a cotton plantation of 1,920 acres (8 km²) situated in east-central Leon County, Florida, United States and established by Francis W. Eppes in 1829.

The R. G. Shepard Plantation was a small forced-labor farm growing cotton on 1,400 acres (570 ha) located in south central Leon County, Florida, United States established by R. G. Shepard.

Ingleside Plantation was a forced-labor farm of 2,620 acres (1,060 ha) located in extreme northeast Leon County, Florida and established by Robert W. Alston and his family. Eventually, the property was acquired by Joel C. Blake. In 1860, Blake was enslaving 116 people to work his land, which was mostly devoted to producing cotton as a cash crop.

Orchard Pond Plantation was a large forced-labor farm originally growing cotton on 8754 acres, developed and owned in the 19th century by Richard Keith Call, attorney, planter and future Territorial Governor, in what is now northwestern Leon County, Florida, United States. In 1860 he owned 118 slaves to work the 1300 acres of improved land.

Miccosukee Plantation was a medium-sized forced-labor farm of 2,517 acres (10 km²) located in eastern Leon County, Florida, USA. It was developed by John Miller, from Duplin County, North Carolina, who had migrated south during the period of Indian Removal in the 1830s. He depended on the labor of enslaved African Americans to develop the plantation and produce cotton as a commodity crop.

The William D. Bloxham Plantation was a small cotton plantation of 1,400 acres (5.7 km²) located southwest of Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States, established by William D. Bloxham.

Barrow Hill Plantation was a large forced-labor farm of 3,990 acres (1,610 ha) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States. It was established by John S. Winthrop, who by 1860 enslaved 71 people to work his land, which was primarily dedicated to growing cotton as a cash crop.

References

↑ Clifton Paisley (1968). From cotton to quail an agricultural chronicle of leon country florida 1860-1967. Internet Archive.
↑ Larry E. Rivers, ""Slavery in Microcosm: Leon County, Florida, 1824 to 1860", The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 66, No. 3 (Autumn, 1981), pp. 235–245, at p. 240, https://www.jstor.org/stable/2716918 Archived 2020-08-02 at the Wayback Machine , consulted 6/4/2015.
↑ Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey (1941). "Historical Sketch of Leon County". p. 10. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
↑ Rivers, p. 237.
↑ David Brion Davis, Inhuman Bondage. The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World, Oxford University Press, 2006, ISBN 0195140737, p. 298.
↑ Rivers, p. 243.
1 2 Julia Floyd Smith, Slavery and Plantation Growth in Antebellum Florida 1821-1860, Gainesville, University of Florida Press, 1973, ISBN 0813003237, Appendix B, "Excerpts from County Tax Books in Florida Showing Ownership in Acreage and Slaves", pp. 213-222.
↑ Smith, p. 140.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Leon County, Florida, United States
County seat: Tallahassee
City	Tallahassee
CDPs	Bradfordville Capitola Chaires Fort Braden Miccosukee Woodville
Unincorporated communities	Belair Bloxham Centerville Felkel Iamonia Meridian Miccosukee Ochlockonee Wadesboro
Former communities	Anhaica Apalachen Escambe Lake Jackson Mounds Magnolia Mission San Luis de Apalachee (San Luis de Talimali) Port Leon State of Muskogee Velda Mound
Plantations	Andalusia William Bailey Bannerman Barrow Hill Blakely William D. Bloxham Burgesstown William A. Carr Casa de Laga Joseph Chaires Chemonie Edgewood El Destino‡ Evergreen Hills Francis Eppes Goodwood Horseshoe House Place Ingleside James Kirksey La Grange Live Oak Daniel B. Meginniss Miccosukee Mossview Oaklawn Orchard Pond Pine Hill W. G. Ponder George W. Scott R. G. Shepard Southwood Tuscawilla Verdura Walnut Hill Water Oak Waverly Woodlawn
Footnote	‡This plantation also has portions in an adjacent county.
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Plantations of Leon County, Florida

Contents

Enslaved workers in Leon County

Forced-labor farms in 1860

See also

Related Research Articles

References

Further reading