Delk Plantation, Orange County, Florida

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Index of Plantations

Florida Plantations

Plantations of William Shelton Delk

William Shelton Delk (abt.1815-1885) had two plantations in Florida. One in Marion County and one in Rock Springs.

Marion County, Florida Plantation

The Plantation in Marion was only occupied for a short period. Delk had been in Georgia and had a slave son born in 1846, then he was recorded in Marion County, Florida in 1850 Census and the Slave Schedule.^[1]

Rock Springs, Florida Plantation

Rock Springs is located in central Florida on the southernmost end of the Wekiva River. It is a natural spring where William Shelton Delk built a large plantation.

According to the book by the Apopka Historical Society written by Jerrell H. Shofner's graduate student team, "he cleared enough land for cotton, corn, sugar cane, and rice. Seeing the potential of Rock Springs Run, he built a dam and water wheel to power a grist mill, a sawmill, and a cotton gin, all of which were operating by 1861." He also used the equipment to gin and saw for others for income.^[2] The book does not cite any source for the information.

There were many deeds recorded in the County Comptroller's Office. regarding the Plantation of Delk both before and after his death. He did not record most of his purchases or sales.

• On 28 September 1850, the USA granted Bounty Land to Delk for having engaged in Military Service for 40 acres for service in Captain Boyar's Company Georgia Militia, Florida war in Section 15.^[3]

• Delk sold five cows and calves to Mary Newton 31 August 1860.^[4]

• He bought an additional 280 acres for only 75c from the State of Florida on the 8th of January 1862 for the Internal Improvement Fund.^[5]

• On 9 June 1868, the State of Florida Internal Improvement Fund system sold William Delk 120 acres in Section 15 for $1.25. His wife recorded after his death.^[6]

• On 8 March 1877, Leroy S Strickland and the State of Florida sold William S Delk for $140 39.74 acres in Section 10. Recorded after Delk's death.^[7]

• Josiah C and Francis Phillips sold unstated acres for $4,000 to William Shelton Delk on the 22nd day of Dec 1880 in Section 10 to Section 14 to Section 15 to Section 10 to Section 10 to Section 15. Yet it wasn't recorded until after William's death by his wife on 11 June 1885. This is why there are books and articles saying he bought and sold property in 1885.^[8]

• August 3, 1881, Delk and his wife Samantha sold property known as Rock Springs to Josiah C. Phillips for $12,500 in hand. Again, it wasn't recorded until 11 June 1885.^[9]

Slaves

See Slaves of William Shelton Delk

Slave Owner

• William Shelton Delk (abt.1815-1885), from Goshen, Lincoln, GA, first built a plantation in Marion, Florida then moved to Rock Springs, Orange County, Florida. In 1870, it was called Clay Springs after Mr. Clay.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 US Census, 1850 US Census, Slave Sched
2. ↑ History of Apopka and Northwest Orange County Florida, Shofner, J. H. (1982). Apopka Historical Society. p. 11
3. ↑ https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4269001.pdf?id=DOCC4269001.A0&parent=DOCC4269001
4. ↑ https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4426882.pdf?id=DOCC4426882.A0&parent=DOCC4426882
5. ↑ https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4269002.pdf?id=DOCC4269002.A0&parent=DOCC4269002
6. ↑ https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4269006.pdf?id=DOCC4269006.A0&parent=DOCC4269006
7. ↑ https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4269004.pdf?id=DOCC4269004.A0&parent=DOCC4269004
8. ↑ https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4267966.pdf?id=DOCC4267966.A0&parent=DOCC4267966
9. ↑ https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4269005.pdf?id=DOCC4269005.A0&parent=DOCC4269005
10. ↑ 1870 US Federal Census<ref></ref>
    • A deed was recorded for the purchase of Linda in Orange County in 1859.<ref>https://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/4430236.pdf?id=DOCC4430236.A0&parent=DOCC4430236</li></ol></ref>