Fort George Island near Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Fort George Island
The Plantation Era in Florida
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 26, 2019
1. Fort George Island Marker
Britain established a plantation economy and encouraged its growth by awarding land grants. As the struggle for Florida continued and Spain regained control in 1783, plantations remained the way of life. For 100 years Fort George Island was run as a plantation by a succession of owners. The one constant was slavery.
1765 Richard Hazard British Florida Indigo
1770 Patrick Tonyn British Florida Crop unkown
1791 John McQueen Spanish Florida Sea island cotton
1804 John McIntosh Spanish Florida Sea island cotton
1814 Zephaniah Kingsley Spanish Florida Sea island cotton
1821 Florida becomes United States Territory
1839 Kingsley Beatty Gibbs United States Territory Sea island cotton
1853 John Lewis State of Florida Sea island cotton
1854 Charles Thompson State of Florida Sea island cotton
1860 Charles Barnwell State of Florida Sea island cotton
1865 Plantation Era ends
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
this page online
Location. 30° 26.431′ N, 81° 26.296′ W. Marker is near Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is on Fort George Island. Marker can be reached from Palmetto Avenue, 2.1 miles north of Fort George Road when traveling north. Marker is located at the Kingsley Plantation Historical Site, within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Marker is in an interpretive kiosk at the north edge of the plantation site, overlooking the Fort George River. Access to Kingsley Plantation is north from Florida State Route A1A (Heckscher Drive), onto Fort George Road, and then about 1/2 mile north to the intersection of Fort George Road and Palmetto Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11676 Palmetto Avenue, Jacksonville FL 32226, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Waterways (here, next to this marker); Choices (here, next to this marker); Plantation House (here, next to this marker); Slave Trade / La Traite d'Esclaves (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Very Comfortable Habitation (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Slave Trade / La Traite d'Esclaves
2. Marker detail: Slave woman and George Williams Gibbs (nephew of owner Kingsley Beatty Gibbs)
Regarding Fort George Island. Kingsley Plantation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, #70000182.
Also see . . . Kingsley Plantation (Wikipedia). Slaves on Fort George Island were African or first generation African-American. Records and archeological information show they were Igbo and Calabari from Nigeria, and others from the area around what is today Guinea, and a few from Zanzibar. (Submitted on February 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 26, 2019
3. Fort George Island Marker wide view
(related marker on right)
(related marker on right)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 26, 2019
4. Fort George Island Marker kiosk wide view
(Fort George River in background)
(Fort George River in background)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
