Armed Occupation Act

The Florida Armed Occupation Act of 1842 (5 U.S. Statutes 502) was passed as an incentive to populate Florida.

The Act granted 160 acres of unsettled land south of the line separating townships 9 and 10 South. (a East/West line about three miles north of Palatka and about ten miles south of Newnansville) to any head of a family as long he satisfied the following conditions:

• the land should be two or more miles away from a garrisoned military post;
• the person who got the grant should be able to bear arms for his own protection;
• he would have to live in the grant for at least five years;
• he should build a house and clear five acres of land.