National Register of Historic Places

Stafford Plantation Historic District

St. Marys, Camden County, Georgia

Listed

November 23, 1984

Type

District

Period

Listed

Ref No.

84000265

About this property

The Stafford Plantation was a plantation on Cumberland Island in Camden County, on the southeastern coast of Georgia. It was established in the early 19th century by Robert Stafford. Stafford acquired portions of lands belonging to General Nathanael Greene through auction, and continued to assemble former Greene family lands so that by 1830 Stafford controlled 1,360 acres (550 ha) with 148 slaves. In 1843 Stafford acquired 4,200 acres (1,700 ha) from P.M. Nightingale, a Greene descendant who retained Dungeness. The primary crop was Sea Island cotton. Robert Stafford died in 1877. His heirs sold the property to Thomas M. Carnegie and his wife Lucy, who had also acquired Dungeness. All that remains of Stafford's house is a ruin known as "the Chimneys," a series of 24 hearth-and-chimney structures representing Stafford's slaves' housing, about one kilometer east of the main house. The Stafford Mansion was built by Lucy Carnegie in 1901, for one of her children. It was one of a series of Carnegie houses on the island, including Plum Orchard, Greyfield, and the main Carnegie residence at Dungeness. The property is privately held under a life estate by a Carnegie descendant within Cumberland Island National Seashore. National Register of Historic Places listings in Camden County, Georgia Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. GA-2360, "Stafford Plantation, Cumberland Island, Camden County, GA", 1 photo, 1 photo caption page HABS No. GA-2360-A, "Stafford Plantation, Playhouse, Cumberland Island, Camden County, GA", 10 photos, 1 measured drawing, 1 photo caption page

Location

St. Marys, Camden County, Georgia

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Overview

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The Land

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

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The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

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Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

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Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

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Questions about this property

When was Stafford Plantation Historic District listed on the National Register?

Stafford Plantation Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Stafford Plantation Historic District?

Stafford Plantation Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Stafford Plantation Historic District?

The period of significance for Stafford Plantation Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Stafford Plantation Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Stafford Plantation Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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