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 develop 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 develop 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.
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 at Fort George Island. The daughters Mary and Maria married local men and the sons Joseph and Samuel could not be accounted for.
