In its heyday, Excelsior was the cultural center of Bulloch County (this part of old Bulloch is now located in Candler County), and Josh Everett was one of its pioneer settlers. While this house was being built, his family lived in a log cabin which was later moved for use as a servants’ dwelling. The house was originally built in the Plantation Plain style (circa 1866); the wings were added later as the family grew.
This mule & horse barn, a landmark in its own right, was built around the same time as the store across the road (1900). Mr. Everett had a nail for every mule and horse. Each one’s gear was on a different nail. There was also a sawmill beyond the barn. You know when you see it from Dutch Ford Road that it’s quite special, the sort of historic farmstead that is all too rare today.
Howard Bland and Fate DeLoach bought the property in 1940 and it remained in the DeLoach family until 1988. Thanks to the Nevil family, who recognize its historic importance, it’s still a working farm and has been given a dual purpose as Dutch Ford Farms Wedding & Event Venue. Susan Nevil gladly shared its amazing story. If you need a great location for a wedding or family reunion, get in touch with them via their Facebook page. I can’t imagine a more peaceful place for hosting an unforgettable event.
My name is Jaida Everett. My family were slaves on this plantation from Nigeria. Any info?
It might be worth looking at Bulloch County census and also perhaps birth records (but I doubt there were any hospital births or birth certificates). This area became Candler County later (check for the appropriate years).
Georgia and the slave states wanted to include slaves for the census and representation, but NO VOTER REGISTRATION. So, the census may show up the slave households and their children in the lists. Expect sloppy children’s ages, due to lack of birth record keeping.
You might visit a Bulloch County librarian who might surprise you if there are local plantation records. But plantations were much more working farms not engaged in recording history much. But it may be worth a try. Also contact Candler County librarian.
Good job of being able to trace all the way back to Nigeria. Very few get to do that. If you ever visit West Africa, the coastal areas sometimes still have “slave castles” standing, where slaves were aggregated before shipping out. You could stand where your ancestors stood before leaving!
Through my recent research I have discovered that my 3rd Great Grandfather was a slave on the Everett Plantation. Then owned by John B Everett. Would he be related to Josh? We may be Cousins Lol! 🙂
Gabe and Tilman Cornelius were there names ….thx for any info 🙂
My family, Claude Morris; & I moved back behind the main house near a pond as a share cropper back in the late forties, like 1947 or 1948. Fate Deloach was the owner & occupant at that time.I was about 8 or 9 years old. Then a barn was across the road from the house where we stored cured tobacco.
I remember seeing this beautiful house but I did not know its history. I descend from the Joshua Everett who, as a boy, moved to Effingham County (later Bulloch, now Candler) with his parents ca. 1785 from North Carolina. The house is too recent to have been built by him, but it occurs to me that the log cabin you referred to could have been his. Does anyone know?