Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University History Dissertations Department of History Summer 7-8-2013 The Atlantic Legacies of Zephaniah Kingsley: Benevolence, Bondage, and Proslavery Fictions in the Age of Emancipation Mark J. Fleszar Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/history_diss Recommended Citation Fleszar, Mark J., "The Atlantic Legacies of Zephaniah Kingsley: Benevolence, Bondage, and Proslavery Fictions in the Age of Emancipation." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2013. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/history_diss/34 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of History at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in History Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ATLANTIC LEGACIES OF ZEPHANIAH KINGSLEY: BENEVOLENCE, BONDAGE, AND PROSLAVERY FICTIONS IN THE AGE OF EMANCIPATION by MARK J. FLESZAR Under the Direction of Dr. Jeffrey Robert Young and Dr. Jared C. Poley ABSTRACT Nineteenth-century slaveholders of the Atlantic master class had many reasons to be con- cerned with the future. In a world ushered in with the aid of the Haitian Revolution, slave revolts in these sensitive times seemed to erupt with increased frequency, leaving greater destruction in their wakes. Abolition and a transatlantic antislavery movement appeared as determined cru- sades to bring an end not only to human suffering in black chattel slavery but to the system’s un- surpassed wealth. In this era of sweeping changes a vision of British West Indian society with- out slaves was first debated and then made a reality on 1 August 1834. In the months and years that followed British Emancipation, there was much to debate in the postslavery situation from what seemed like all quarters. Abolitionists scrutinized production levels and profits. Slave- owners clamored for compensation for losing property in persons and, on the whole, feared the complete breakdown of Caribbean society that was sure to follow. In recent years scholars have noted the ways in which the institution of slavery and the practice of slaveholding were quite diverse across time and space. Less attention has been given to variations within slavery’s demise and to the master class’s attempts to control the postslavery landscapes of the Atlantic world. The following dissertation examines the legacies of Zephaniah Kingsley, a planter from northeast Florida who confronted the Age of Emancipation in the last decade of his life with an ambitious proslavery colonization scheme in 1830s Haiti. Establishing a large plantation there stocked with some of his former slaves, Kingsley conducted his elaborate efforts under benevolent pretenses in order to manipulate public opinion but worried about his own sordid actions in the long march of history. Since his death in 1843, generations continue to be haunted by Kingsley’s enigmatic life and the tragedies of his exploits. In studying the ambi- tious events that occupied his final years, we can better understand the ways in which slavehold- ers like Kingsley confronted the prospect of emancipation and launched new mechanisms of con- trol. INDEX WORDS: Atlantic world, Caribbean history, West Indies, Hispaniola, Slavery, Race, Colonization, Emigration THE ATLANTIC LEGACIES OF ZEPHANIAH KINGSLEY: BENEVOLENCE, BONDAGE, AND PROSLAVERY FICTIONS IN THE AGE OF EMANCIPATION by MARK J. FLESZAR A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2013 Copyright by Mark Joseph Fleszar 2013 THE ATLANTIC LEGACIES OF ZEPHANIAH KINGSLEY: BENEVOLENCE, BONDAGE, AND PROSLAVERY FICTIONS IN THE AGE OF EMANCIPATION by MARK J. FLESZAR Committee Co-Chair: Jeffrey Robert Young Committee Co-Chair: Jared C. Poley Committee: H. Robert Baker Michele Reid-Vasquez Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University August 2013 iv DEDICATION For everyone who stuck by me through the thick of it all. In good times and bad, I was fortunate to have been guided always with the help of many lighthouses and their keepers. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I had imagined many times over the years what I might say in the acknowledgements of my dissertation after living the graduate school life for what feels like an eternity. Now that the time is here at last, I realize that the task seems ill-suited to succinctly thank everyone who helped, supported, or was even just kind to me in my educational pursuits when it mattered. While most of those people will never read this dissertation, it is their collective generosity that made it possible in the first place. I’ve managed to collect a lot of information about the life of Zephaniah Kingsley during this process, and wasn’t surprised to find several instances that overturn myths of longstanding. But that’s for another day. Over the years such research has taken me to many places with many fine people graciously offering their time and assistance. Through a strange and happy set of circumstances I was extremely fortunate to have Jeff Young as a dissertation director at Georgia State University. His brilliant works are both humbling and inspiring. To him I am grateful that he happily accepted the position, even though the circumstances could’ve been better, and for his valuable comments, suggestions, and support over the years. Now at the University of Pitts- burgh, Michele Reid-Vazquez showed an unwavering interest in my scholarship and always had time for my endless ramblings and complaints about this, that, and the other. Her invaluable aid over the years made my research possible, and her encouragement gave me the confidence to go where the project took me. Jared Poley and Rob Baker fulfilled many roles for me during my long stretch at GSU that aren’t exactly in their job descriptions. Both of them pushed and prod- ded me when I needed it, though their services as life coaches were second to none when times were tough. For their fine scholarly expertise, time, and friendship I am indeed a very fortunate recipient. vi Many archives, archivists, and personnel were particularly helpful for this project. Alt- hough they have since moved on to other pursuits, Carol and Roger Clark at the Kingsley Planta- tion helped me a tremendous amount from day one. From tracking down obscure documents to offering invaluable information, they were second to none. At the St. Augustine History Society Research Library my visits were quite productive because of Robert Nawrocki, Charles Tingley, and Dr. Susan Parker. Very special thanks to Dr. James Cusick at the University of Florida for his invaluable expertise and willingness to explain matters however small. To the following scholars I am much indebted for aiding me with this project over the years: Laurent Dubois, David Eltis, David Geggus, Dennis Hidalgo, Walter Johnson, Charles Joyner, Darrell Meadows, Joseph Miller, Nathaniel Millett, Daniel Rood, Rebecca Scott, Philip Smith, Dan Stowell, Buddy Sullivan, James Sweet, Dale Tomich, and Robert Weir. Special thanks to the late Eugene Genovese for his support and encouragement. Thank you as well to Jane Landers and Matt Childs of the Latin American and Caribbean Section of the Southern His- torical Association for providing me a platform for some of the dissertation material and for awarding me the Ralph Lee Woodward, Jr. Prize in 2010. I have formed some enduring friendships over the years that deserve special mention. While at GSU Jeff Marlin, Greg Brooking, Joe Bagley, and Karcheik Sims-Alvarado have be- come dear confidants. Few have supported my work as much as Barb Orsolits, whose support has been unwavering. I owe John Williman more than he’ll ever admit for his extreme generosi- ty, hilarious and interesting conversations, and his continued friendship. For a dozen years Doug Egerton has gone from academic adviser to friend, and I can’t thank him enough for everything. And few could ever know how much Matt Childs at the University of South Carolina has ever helped me. He is an outstanding scholar and a better person. vii Without family and friends I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere. While very few ever un- derstood what I was doing so far from home, they nonetheless made the best of the miles that lay between us. Love and gratitude to: my aunt and uncle, Pat and Bill Bozek, and cousins Mike and Crystal; my Great Uncle Joe and Aunt Josephine, cousins Josette and Ginger; Dora “Gram” Fleszar, my grandmother and matriarch of the Fleszar family; and to my grandmother, Dawn Sill, and to the memories of Stewart and Bill Sill. Lots of love and gratitude goes out to Chris and Michele Evans, Chris and Erin Clemente, Jim and Laura Granger, Stephen and Alicia Horne, the Phillips Family, Bob and Judy Tengeler, and Nathan VaVone. Thank you to Jim and Gwen Howell. They welcomed me with open arms from the be- ginning, and their love and support have been incredibly generous and much appreciated. In this life I have been blessed to have Stanley and Charlene Fleszar as parents. Some- how I’ve managed to make it to the end of this journey in one piece (more or less). It’s because of what they taught me and their unending love and devotion that I am who I am today. Dudley, my beloved English Bulldog and best friend in this world and beyond, has wait- ed patiently for me during this process and never complained. I intend to spoil him (more). And finally to Heather, in good times and bad I am forever grateful for her love, support, and the infinite ways that she has made me better than I am.