Jacksonville, FL: The Kingsley Plantation

It seems that October was tourista month as my mother's health care was somewhat stable and we were soon to leave the area for a different volunteer assignment.  So, one rainy St. Augustine day we drove 60 miles north to Kingsley Plantation where it was sunny and dry. 

Main house at the plantation
which was expanded with each owner

This area of Florida has been occupied since ancient times starting with native Americans, the Timucuan.  Later the French, Spanish, British, Spanish again, USA, Confederates, and now the USA again.  The park has changed hands many times during it's public life and is not a National Park.

However, this house is the oldest existing plantation house in Florida and dates back to Florida’s plantation period, 1763-1865, It resides on Fort George Island and was owned by multiple planters over those years. Zephaniah Kingsley and Anta (Anna) Madgigine Jai, his African wife, owned the plantation from 1814 to 1837.

Kiosk on the grounds

Aside: 

I've recently noticed a trend to down play slavery and the enslavement of Negros, Native Americans, and other people of color, including my relatives.  This seems to be a national trend so I'll let you compare these two statements about the house:

From ExploreSouthernHistory.com:

Built by slaves in 1798 as the centerpiece of a massive plantation on Fort George Island, the Kingsley Plantation house is the oldest plantation house in Florida.

From the National Park Site:

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many people came to Florida. Some, like Zephaniah Kingsley, sought to make their fortunes by obtaining land and establishing plantations. Others were forced to come to Florida to work on those plantations, their labor providing wealth to the people who owned them. Some of the enslaved would later become free landowners, struggling to keep their footing in a dangerous time of shifting alliances and politics. All of these people played a part in the history of Kingsley Plantation.

Slave quarters
Some residences were larger than others

To be honest, the Kingsley's had a different idea of slavery and appeared to be kind to their slaves and used a task system.  With this system, each person had a task to perform and once finished they were free for the remainder of the day to do as they pleased.  During planting and harvest seasons the tasks may take 12-18 hours but during slack times the task could be completed in a few hours.  This is reflective of an agriculture system.

Barn/Curing house

When the United States gained possession of Florida from Spain in 1821 slavery changed.  Laws and treatment became harsher and often free blacks were forced back into slavery. To no avail, Zephaniah Kingsley fought against the restrictive US laws as he urged lawmakers to retain the civil liberties of free blacks.

View from the plantation house
the vital waterway for transportation and commerce

Realizing the plight of his family, slaves, and freed men was in danger he sought refuge. Zephaniah and Anna opted to relocate to Haiti which was a free black republic following a bloody revolution in 1789.  They also took their two sons and 50 of their freed slaves to Haiti.  Their two daughters, having married white businessmen in Jacksonville, remained in Florida.  Zephaniah died in 1843 and Anna returned to Florida in 1870 after the US Civil War. 

Ranger ready for a tour

Plan a trip to the Ft. George Island and the Kingsley Plantation for a walk back in history.  Life will not be the same after your visit.  This was my second trip and each left me with a deeper appreciation for slavery and freedom.