The Cedars Plantation, Jefferson County, Florida

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Jefferson County, Florida, United States
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage Plantations

Index of Plantations

History of The Cedars

The Cedars was a large cotton planation which consisted of 5,500 acres of land, with approximately 2,000 under cultivation. It was established in Jefferson County, Florida near Monticello, by General William Bailey (abt.1790-1867) sometime between 1824 and 1850. It was so prosperous that William Bailey also started a textile mill in 1857 in the area called Southern Rights Manufacturing Company, which also benefitted other planters in the area.^[1]

Upon William Bailey's death, The Cedars was passed down to his daughter, Sarah Burch, whose husband died in the Civil War. She sold the plantation to her first cousin, Burton Williams Bellamy (1830-1891). When Burton died, the property passed to his sister Victoria Bellamy Eppes' son, Randolph Eppes. Randolph was a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson, after whom the town of Monticello and county of Jefferson was named. The Cedars was eventually sold as a stock farm along with the old plantation house.^[1]

The Cedars is currently an immense game preserve.^[1]

Slaves

See Slaves of General William Bailey, Florida

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Plantations, Jefferson County, pp 11-21

• Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey. History of Jefferson County. 1939 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory