Full day

This was indeed a full day. We had breakfast this morning with Don and Connie Sarver, and then saw them off at about 11 am. It was so nice they were able to visit for a week. We truly enjoyed our time with the Sarvers. They are on their way west now--safe travels!


We then met with Bob and Bonny Herman to visit the Kingsley Plantation, a National Parks System Historic Site. The plantation is on Fort George Island, east of Jacksonville and bordering the Atlantic. The plantation was a trip back into history, seeing the remnants of the slave quarters, set in an arch near the gates to the compound. The main house is under restoration, but the grounds were simply beautiful and well kept. The house faces the Fort George River, and is amid gorgeous palms and mossy oaks.

Tim stands near the ring of slave cabins, made of tabby (cochina shells + mixture, covered with a plaster)

Zephaniah Kingsley moved to Fort George Island in 1814 with his young freedwomen wife from Senegal (he freed her and married her in 1811 when she was 13). The plantation produced Sea Island Cotton, sugar cane and Indigo, and had 80-100 slaves at its peak. As Florida became a state, its legislature made laws more stringent for slaves. This irked Kingsley, as his view was that slaves were part of the plantation 'family'. He ended up moving to Haiti where he could function without such repressive (for his family) rulings.



We had a picnic on the grounds, thanks to Bonny for packing some dynamite chicken salad sandwiches, tea, cherries and chips.

After touring the plantation, we went on to the Herman's campsite at Little Talbot State Park, touring the park and part of the seashore. Bonny fed us once again with spaghetti and snacks. It was a very full day.

A view of the main house looking towards the Fort George River