Stockton in Baldwin County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Major Robert Farmar Plantation

Photographed By TRCP Alliance, June 22, 2013

1. Major Robert Farmar Plantation Marker

Inscription. Here on the banks of the Tensaw River -- named for the Tensa Indian tribe whose principal village was located at this place -- Major Robert Farmar developed a plantation c. 1772. Farmar was one of the most prominent and controversial Alabamians of the British period, being commander of the regiments at Mobile from 1763-1765. He resigned his commission in 1768 and was elected to every Commons House of Assembly for the District of West Florida from 1769 until his death in 1778. Artist-Naturalist, William Bartram, visited Farmar here in 1775, and recorded eloquently and well the plant life of the area. Farmar’s plantation encompassed what is now the town of Stockton.

Erected 1977 by The Snook Foundation (John McClure and Marjorie Younge Snook) through the Alabama Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission, and the William Bartram Trails series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1772.

Location. 30° 58.981′ N, 87° 52.062′ W. Marker is in Stockton, Alabama, in Baldwin County. Marker is on Alabama Route 225 just north

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of Lower Bryants Landing Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stockton AL 36579, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Public Education in Baldwin County / Little Red Schoolhouse Historic Site (approx. 0.8 miles away); Baldwin County Korean War Monument (approx. 0.8 miles away); Baldwin County Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); First Creek War (approx. 0.8 miles away); Baldwin County World War II Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); All Gave Some - Some Gave All (approx. 0.8 miles away); Gen. Bernardo de Galvez (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Society War of 1812 in the State of Alabama (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stockton.

Additional commentary.
1. Date of William Bartram’s Visit
This marker and the Historic Stockton/Old Schoolyard Park marker (approximately 2.2 miles away) both mention William Bartram's visit with Major Robert Farmar but claim different years for his visit. This discrepancy is evidence that information on the two markers is drawn from different sources.

The year 1778, appearing on the Historic Stockton/Old Schoolyard Park marker, is found in William Bartram’s Travels Through North & South Carolina, Georgia, East & West Florida on page 404

Major Robert Farmar Plantation Marker (North) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By TRCP Alliance, June 22, 2013

2. Major Robert Farmar Plantation Marker (North)

where Bartram describes his activities in the Mobile area. Without closer scrutiny, Bartram's Travels, first published in 1791, might seem to be a credible source. However, examination of the whole volume reveals inconsistencies in his timeline. The chronology of Bartram’s journey as documented in Travels is obviously flawed.

A modern resource on the Bartram expedition is The Travels of William Bartram, A Naturalist Edition by Francis Harper published in 1958. This book includes a commentary section summarizing results of research into Bartram’s southern expedition. Corrections to Bartram’s chronology were established using additional historical resources. The year 1775, appearing on this marker, is the corrected date for Bartram's visit provided in Harper’s commentary.

— Submitted August 9, 2017, by Harry Gatzke of Huntsville, Alabama.

Major Robert Farmar Plantation Marker (South) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By TRCP Alliance, June 22, 2013

3. Major Robert Farmar Plantation Marker (South)

Town of Stockton, Alabama image. Click for full size.

Photographed By TRCP Alliance, June 22, 2013

4. Town of Stockton, Alabama

Downtown Stockton is located about 1 mile north of the listed marker.

Tensaw River image. Click for full size.

Photographed By TRCP Alliance, June 22, 2013

5. Tensaw River

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2013, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,954 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 29, 2013, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.