The Last Spanish Land Grant in Florida

Join us at the Fernandina Beach Branch library on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 7 pm to hear the fascinating story of the family of Domingo and Mary Fernandez who owned large plantations on Amelia Island, donated land for the Fernandina Lighthouse, but whose descendants retain ownership of probably the Last Spanish land grant in Florida, which constitutes one acre between St. Michael’s Church and St. Michael’s School between North 4th and 5th Streets. Descendants were plantation owners, not only in Florida, but also in Kenya; they were attorneys, scholars, ordinary people whose influence has been felt around the world.

Speaker: Jean Mann

Speaker Jean Dixon Mann was born only a few miles from where her Dixon ancestors came to (Nassau County) Florida by 1805. She grew up in Fernandina Beach and graduated from Florida State University where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education. Jean and her husband returned to Fernandina Beach in 1992. She was a member of the Historic District Council in Fernandina Beach for 11 years, serving as chairman for two years. She served as treasurer and member of the Board of Trustees of the Amelia Island Museum of History from 1993 to 2000. She was a founding member of the Amelia Island Genealogical Society and served as president (2015-2016) and editor of The Nassau Genealogist, the quarterly publication of that organization for 25 years. Jean has published six family histories and was the editor for two publications for AIGS, all of which are available in the Fernandina Beach Branch library.