John H. Sams Homestead
N 28° 28.338 W 080° 43.037
17R E 527675 N 3149555
Features original buildings and extant archeological site.
Waymark Code: WM9JN6
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2010
Views: 43
Pioneer John. H. Sams originally from Beaufort South Carolina brought his family to Florida and successfully homesteaded his property here in 1875
Indian River Archeological Society in the years of 2006-2009 did a number of field studies on this site which revealed a number of Native American pre-Columbian artifacts.
Text of the marker:
The Sams family came to Brevard County from South Carolina in 1875 to take advantage of the 1860 Homestead Act. The family consisted of John Hanahan Sams, his wife Sarah, their five children, Johns brother William Sams, and his sister, Catherine DeVeaux Sams. The Sams Homestead consists of two buildings. The first, a single story home, was originally constructed in Eau Gallie on property homesteaded by John H. Sams in 1875. The family decided to move nearer to other relatives on North Merritt Island and the house was rafted up the Indian River in 1878 to the present site. It is the oldest dated structure on Merritt Island and a prime example of Florida vernacular construction. In 1884 Sams was granted a homestead deed for 156 acres and by 1888, built the second two-story home adjoining the older house on the property. Sams served as Superintendent of Schools for the county from 1880-1920, while growing citrus and pineapples. John H. Sams died in 1923 and the homes were occupied by his descendants until 1995. Archaeological excavations at the site discovered a prehistoric Native American occupation site that dates from approximately 5,000 BC to 1250 AD, and also a late Pleistocene fossil site.
Sponsors: The Brevard County Historical Commission, The Brevard County Tourist Development Council and the Florida Department of State. - 08-21-2010
Marker Number: F-575
Date: 08-21-2010
County: Brevard
Marker Type: Plaque
Sponsored or placed by: Brevard County Historical Commission
Website: [Web Link]
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