5. Thomas Spalding
Thomas Spalding, owner of Sapelo Island, was both an agricultural innovator and a ruthless exploiter. In 1802, Spalding sold his plantation on St. Simons Island and began purchasing land on Sapelo Island. By the time of his death in 1851, Spalding and his family owned all of Sapelo Island with the exception of 650 acres at Raccoon bluff.
He implemented experimental techniques for cultivating sugar and cotton, methods that often intensified the suffering of the enslaved workforce he commanded. Spalding’s plantations became infamous for their harsh regimens and relentless pace. While he is occasionally celebrated for his agricultural advances, the enduring trauma inflicted on generations of enslaved people forms the true legacy of his empire. Source
