Pine Hill Plantation - The Owner

The Owner

Dr. Edward Bradford was born August 2, 1798 and was a descendant of Oliver Cromwell. As a planter, Edward, along with his brothers, is said to have been among the more progressive agriculturalists and more sincerely paternalistic (in the best sense) slave masters. Edward Bradford took turns with his brothers, Richard, Thomas and William in hosting an annual holiday celebration, for the slave populations of Water Oak Plantation, Walnut Hill Plantation, and Edgewood Plantation every 4 July. This included a massive barbecue and, when held at Water Oak, fishing parties on Lake Iamonia. No whites were allowed to partake of or interfere with these festivities. Records from 1840-1866 show transactions with commission merchants and New York cotton brokers evidence that a prosperous business was transacted at Pine Hill.

Dr. Edward Bradford was a signee to the Southern Rights Association of Centreville District on secession from the Union for "the protection of Southern interests and the vindication of Southern rights to preserve and protect the Constitution in its purity as the basis of Federal compact, and the only foundation on which the Union of the States was made, or on which that Union should be preserved."

Dr. Edward Bradford would go on to establish Horseshoe Plantation east of Lake Iamonia. Edward Bradford died in 1871. This area of plantations would later be known as Bradfordville.

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Famous quotes containing the word owner:

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