Vendura Plantation

Vendura Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 3500 acres (14 km²) in eastern Leon County, Florida, USA established by Benjamin Chaires, Sr.

Plantation specifics

The Leon County Florida 1860 Agricultural Census shows that Vendura Plantation had the following: [ [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/fl/leon/census/1860agri.txt Rootsweb Plantations] ]
*Improved Land: 1000 acres (4 km²)
*Unimproved Land: 1500 acres (6 km²)
*Cash value of plantation: $20,000
*Cash value of farm implements/machinery: $650
*Cash value of farm animals: $4,235
*Number of slaves: 63 [ [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ajac/flleon.htm Largest Slaveholders from 1860 Slave Census Sschedules] ]
*Bushels of corn: 2500
*Bales of cotton: 160

In 1838, Vendura Plantation had 9440 acres (38 km²) of land.

Plantation house

Vendura's mansion was a 3 story brick home with 15 rooms. It had a very stately appearance with numerous columns in the front.

The owner

Benjamin Chaires, Sr. was an early arrival in Leon County and one of the wealthiest land owners in Leon County. Benjamin Sr. died in 1838. Benjamin was the brother of Green H. Chaires of Evergreen Hills Plantation and Thomas Peter Chaires of Woodlawn Plantation. [Paisley, Clifton; "From Cotton To Quail", University of Florida Press, c1968.]

Benjamin Chaires is listed as a voter in First Florida Election of 1845. [ [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/fl/leon/xmisc/1845votr.txt 1845 voters] ]

References

* [http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers_map.cfm Florida Historical Markers Program]