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Zephaniah Kingsley had a strange relationship with his slave force. He could speak an African language and worked his slaves under a “task system” which meant that once the daily work was done, slaves were free to take care of their own business, like tending their own gardens, going fishing, or taking care of their cabins. If a slave produced crafts or vegetables he was free to sell them and keep the profits. Zephaniah Kingsley went a step beyond having an unusual relationship with his slaves, he also married one in an African ceremony, a union that produced three children. His wife, Ana Madgigine Jai, was from Senegal, West Africa, and she played a major part in the plantation’s management. She eventually owned her own property and became one of the wealthiest women in East Florida. When Florida became a U. S. territory in 1821, Kingsley became concerned with the American laws that placed harsh restrictions on slaves and discriminated against free persons of color. This prompted Kingsley to move his family and their slaves to Haiti in 1837, where they established their own colony. The Kingsley plantation house is still standing on twenty-five acres of the original property, so are the ruins of several slave quarters that sit in a half-moon shaped row. The narrow, unpaved road to the Kingsley house is scenic, but a little bumpy, and at the edge of dark downright frightening…at least according to some folks. This is the domain of Old Red Eyes, you can see him in your rear view mirror or hear the sounds of his victims in the wood along the road. Old Red Eyes is the wicked spirit of a slave that raped, brutalized, and killed, several of the plantation’s female slaves. He was caught by the other slaves and hanged from an oak tree near the entrance to the plantation. Although there are no historical records that document these events. |
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The eeriest thing witnessed by me was some twisted trees and vines hanging over the narrow road, but it’s easy to understand how a ghost could be conjured up in these woods, especially if you’re driving through there at the edge of dark. Ghostly Peacocks of Kingsley Plantation Warning: Red Eyes in Rearview Mirror May be Closer Than They Appear! |