Fairways Forest in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Historic Newcastle Plantation

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Historic Newcastle Plantation Marker

Inscription. In 1769 during the English occupation of Florida English investors established Newcastle Plantation. The plantation was first managed by David Courvoisie, but in 1771 was placed under the charge of Francis Philip Fatio, a native of Switzerland. Fatio became a Spanish subject in 1784 after Spain regained possession of Florida.

The 780 acre plantation, which grew mostly indigo and grains, was a prime parcel of land with high bluffs along Mill Cove. The cove provided a safe harbor for ships and Newcastle Creek, which divided the bluffs, provided fresh water. Like many of the beautiful homes on the site today, Fatio's plantation home was elegantly furnished and many important guests visited, including in 1774 the renowned botanist William Bartram. After Fatio moved to his New Switzerland plantation up the St. Johns River, Newcastle was again managed by David Courvoisie and Courvoisie was eventually given title to the property.

Around 1851 the land was sold to the Amander Parsons family, mill owners from Mayport, Florida. Parsons' daughter Mary married Napoleon B. Broward and moved with her husband to Broward family land

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on the north side of the river. After the homes of the Parsons and the Broward families were burned by Union soldiers during the Civil War, Mary and Napoleon moved back to the Newcastle area where her father had rebuilt his home and started an orange grove. Mary died in 1869, supposedly from the stress of the hardships created by the war, and Napoleon died in 1870. Mary is buried in the Parsons family cemetery. Their son, Napoleon B. Broward, Jr., orphaned at age 13, lived for a time with his grandfather Parsons on the family farm. In 1905 Broward, Jr. would become the 19th governor of Florida.

In the early 1930s A. Anderson Petrinovich built a two story Spanish style home overlooking the St. Johns River near the Parsons cemetery. He called his home Cherokee Villa, hence the origin of the name of the current day community.

(captions)
1918 Arlington Map
The Arlington Story, The Arlington Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, 1959
Florida Governor Napoleon B. Broward, Jr. standing on bridge of his ship, Three Friends State Library & Archives of Florida

Erected by Comcast, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Old Arlington Inc.

Topics.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Historic Newcastle Plantation Marker

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1769.

Location. 30° 21.996′ N, 81° 35.262′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is in Fairways Forest. It can be reached from the intersection of Fort Caroline Road and Rogero Road, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located at the southwest entrance to Gerrie’s Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6629 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville FL 32277, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3

Gerrie’s Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Gerrie’s Park Sign

miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Historic St. Isabel Plantation (approx. 1.4 miles away); Arlington - A Unique Community (approx. 1.4 miles away); Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley (approx. 1.4 miles away); Delius House (approx. 1.6 miles away); Historic Gilmore Community (approx. 1.9 miles away); Historic Floral Bluff (approx. 2 miles away); Historic McNeil Plantation - Reddy Point (approx. 2.1 miles away); Historic Chaseville Community (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Historic Eggleston Community (was approx. 2.1 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Arlington Plantations. (Submitted on December 26, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. A Brief History of Arlington. (Submitted on December 26, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 26, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.