Hollingsworth Papers

The Mount Vernon Plantation (the name was later changed to Pickney Hills) was located in Jefferson County about seven miles east of Monticello, Florida with a view overlooking "Razor Lake," so named by Mr. Hollingsworth because of its shape. The number of slaves listed, the livestock listed, records of sales of farm products, purchases of supplies, and descriptions of different parcels of land shown in the Last Will of John Hollingsworth indicate that Mount Vernon Plantation covered rather extensive acreage. The will also shows that he owned a home near Edgefield, South Carolina, which was situated on "about eleven hundred acres."

The papers consist of agreements, tax receipts, paid bills, production lists of slaves, account sales for cotton, bills for weighing cotton, bills for purchases, statements for tuition and board for children, doctor bills, account sales for butter, railroad bills for lading, express receipts, promissory notes, and lists of the sale of slaves. The collection also includes executor's papers of the estate of John Hollingsworth pertaining to distribution of his property, slaves (with values assigned), livestock, farm implements, household furniture, lands, legal papers signed by heirs who received slaves and other valuables they inherited through the will of Hollingsworth. Also included are bills for appraising property, doctor bills for visits to and service rendered slaves, for medicine, bills for shoeing horses and mules, for repairing wagons and buggies, for plantation supplies, etc. The last wills of both John Hollingsworth, Sr. and James Hollingsworth, Sr. along with genealogical data of Hollinsworth and Oliphant families are also included.

Also known as MSS 0-140.

Select documents from this collection have been digitized and are available through the FSU Digital Library.