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Library > Special & Area Studies Collections > Library of Florida History > Finding Aids



A Guide to the James Thomas O'Neill Papers

Finding aid prepared by Dept. Staff

University of Florida Smathers Libraries - Special and Area Studies Collections
March 2005


Descriptive Summary
Provenance: O'Neill, James T.
Title: James Thomas O'Neill Papers
Dates: 1812-1887
Abstract: Business and legal documents and correspondence relating to plantation life and cotton cultivation.
Extent: 2 linear feet.
Identification: Ms 77

Biographical/Historical Note

Plantation owner and judge. O'Neill owned Woodstock, St. Marys, Georgia and New Hope, Fernandina, Florida. He was a judge in Nassau County, Florida, 1832-1861. His father built New Hope plantation near Fernandina in 1792. During the Civil War, O'Neill built another plantation at White Springs, Florida, and called it Rebel's Refuge. In 1865, he returned to Fernandina to practice law.

Scope and Content

Business and legal documents and correspondence, dated 1812 to 1887, relating to plantation life and cotton cultivation.

Access or Use Restrictions

Access

Collection is open for research.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], James Thomas O'Neill Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Contents List

Hodges Papers


Box 1
Business Papers: invoices, receipts, ledger sheets (dry goods, groceries, furniture, taxes, freight charges etc.). 1821, March- 1849

Box 2
Business Papers. 1850-1864; 1867-1872

Box 3
Business Papers. 1873-1887
Correspondence: business, some personal. 1827-1841

Box 4
Correspondence. 1842-1867
Correspondence. 1872; 1877-1878
Correspondence. 1883; 1886
Legal Documents. 1815-1839, 1841-1874
Deeds, contracts, sales (land, horses, slaves), taxes (see also Boxes 1-3, Business papers)

Box 5
Dunbar, Asaph. Papers (O'Neill executor for estate). Dunbar was in the mercantile business in Nassau County.

Box 6
Andrew, Robert (O'Neill executor of the estate).
Clarke, Samuel (O'Neill executor of the estate).
Fernandez, Eliza L (O'Neill executor of the estate). (Also had guardianship of children: Isobel, Edwin, Evelyn and John).
Barber, Israel (O'Neill executor of the estate). (Also had guardianship of children Elizabeth, Jemima and Virgil)
Map: Township #1, Range #26
Map: Township #2, Range #27
Map: Township #3, Range #27
Map: Lanceford Creek, Nassau County. (hand-drawn)


Selected Subjects and Access Points
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog:
Personal Names:
Andrew, Robert.
Barber, Israel.
Dunbar, Asaph.
Fernandez, Eliza L.
Subject Terms:
Cotton farmers -- Florida.
Fernandina (Fla.) -- History.
Plantation life -- Florida -- Fernandina.
Plantation life -- Florida -- White Springs.
Plantation life -- Georgia -- Saint Marys.
Saint Marys (Ga.) -- History.
White Springs (Fla.) -- History.

For further information, please contact: Special Collections Access Services.

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