Black Hammock Island

Samuel & Joseph Mills 

Prior to packing up his family, Samuel Mills also resided in Augusta, Ga., New Hanover, Ga., Burnt Fort, Ga., Cumberland Island and then to Cedar Point, Florida.   

During the year of 1783, Sam Mills, an established land owner on Black Hammock Island, his wife, Ann Mills and his son, Joseph Mills received a signed Spanish Grant that records him as the landowner of 200 acres at Cedar Point Plantation on the southern portion of Black Hammock Island, Florida.  

The 1783 Spanish census of East Florida shows:   "Joseph Mills: Farmer, Native of born city or state (is omitted) writes for permission to leave the country; he holds title to 200 acres of land on which he lives; it is in a place called Cedar Point; he has 3 Negroes, 4 horses, his father, Samuel Mills, who also lives with him and he has 1 Negro.

Resource: 1783 Spanish Census

Sometime during the year of 1790, Samuel Mills died leaving the land on Cedar Point to his son, Joseph Mills.  The actual burial location is presumed to be somewhere on the island. Joseph Mills (son) was married to Isabel Lean and the Catholic Parrish records in St. Augustine Florida shows that on 4-29-1790, daughter, Elizabeth Rachel Mills was baptized into the faith, and subsequently their second daughter Elizabeth was also baptized on 05-23-1793.

On 2-15-1793 Joseph Mills applied to the Spanish Government for another grant for the land on Cedar Point, as a result of the birth of his first daughter and explained that he had inherited the land from his father.   

Joseph Mills and Daniel William Lane, his father-in-law were somewhat known as “Rebels” against the Spanish Crown, as they were unable to trade or visit their friends, visit their family across the St. Mary’s River and must comply with the Catholic religion.  

During the years of 1793 – 1794, the Egan plantation owned by Daniel Lane was confiscated and auctioned off to Spanish soldiers.  Later, Joseph Mills decided to return to his family roots in Centreville.  

Resource:  "The Crypt" 

The William Fitzpatrick Family: During the 18th century the King of Spain Charles IV (1788-1808), signed the proclamation known as the “Royal Order of 1790, which attempted to persuade farmers to leave their current land to establish new plantations in the land of “Spanish Florida”.   

The Early Years:   As a result, on November 12, 1795 William Fitzpatrick, (his Spanish name was Don Guillermo Fitzpatrick) who was a native of Kingsland Georgia, received a Spanish grant from King Charles IV for the 440 acres in the south point of Black Hammock Island which is known as Cedar Point.  The Cedar Point area was also known “Punta de las Sabinas” by the Spanish ruling power.   

He was very successful with his new found land, in which he develops as a plantation, therefore he was granted an additional 100 acres on or around 1802 by the Fernando IV, the King of Spain.   

William Fitzpatrick, his wife, Susanna, born 1772 in McIntosh, Georgia.  They had 8 children and 15 slaves lived on the Fitzpatrick Plantation from 1795 through 1848.   William Fitzpatrick he was born 1764 and died during 1809.  His wife, Susa Boswood  was born in 1772 and her death is unknown.    

Their children, Cornelia Fitzpatrick born, 1790, Anna Maria Fitzpatrick, 1800, Dorcas Fitzpatrick,   William C.H. Fitzpatrick Jr. 1800, Samuel Fitzpatrick , Mary Fitzpatrick, 1812 and Thomas Fitzpatrick 1832.

He was very successful with his new found land, in which he develops as a plantation, therefore he was subsequently awarded an additional 100 acres on or around 1802 by the Fernando IV, the King of Spain.   He was very proud of his accomplishment for his entire family, Susanna, his wife and 8 children.   

In order to provide for his family, he utilized his land to produce salt from the marsh wetlands which was a natural resource for preserving food.   On January 11, 1808, the Spanish document confirms an account for the 440 acres in where he gave to each family member and his slaves. 

William Fitzpatrick, 50 acres, Susanna Fitzpatrick, 50 acres, Maria, 12-15, Dorcas, 12-15, William Jr. 10-15, Samuel 7, Maria, 3 and Thomas 1 acre.   

His Negroes, Bounty 25-30 acres, Safat 29-30, Solomon, 21-25, Derry 22-25, Pompy 17-25, Charles 15-19, Invenif, 12-15, Tim, 15-25, Harriett 25-36, Fibby 25-28, Amy 15-25, Birim 11-15, Marr 11-15, Bicil 7-15, and Sophia 3-15 acres.  

In 7-1825 William Fitzpatrick mortgaged his plantation to Edwin H. Alberti and was satisfied on 6-1826 by Susanna, paying $159.62 and $1,217.17 to redeem the land at Cedar Point.    

On or around 1848, the plantation was struggling due to hard times which led to the selling of his homestead to Colonel John P. Broward.  At that time, the landowners were William Fitzpatrick, Jr. and Mary Fitzpatrick Beasley, son and daughter of William Fitzpatrick.  

Subsequently, he purchased an additional 146 acres from Cornelia Fitzpatrick and Maria Fitzpatrick Maxey, both were daughters.  As of 1850 the children Thomas Fitzpatrick was deceased, William, Jr. worked for Kingsley Gibbs on Fort George Island.  The daughters Mary and Maria married local men and the sons, Joseph and Samuel could not be located and no one knew what had happened to them.    
 

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