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For this history I have used the 1870 census for my general reference. In 1870, the census enumerator only listed one family on Big Pine. There were however more on Big Pine’s neighbor - No Name Key. It lists 44 inhabitants which was a large settlement for a Key of its size. Here is an excerpt from the 1870 census: |
| Name | Key | Age | Sex | Occupation | Property Value | Birthplace |
| Wilson, George | Big Pine | 30 | M | Charcoal Burner | -- | New York |
| Thrift, William | No Name | 24 | M | Farmer | $200 | Bahamas |
| Thrift, Joseph | No Name | 60 | M | Farmer | $250 | Bahamas |
| Thrift, Hannah | No Name | 60 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Carey, William | No Name | 27 | M | Farmer | $200 | Bahamas |
| Carey, Hannah | No Name | 21 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Carey, Mary | No Name | 2 | F | Florida | ||
| Knowles, Thomas | No Name | 44 | M | Farmer | $300 | Bahamas |
| Sands, John | No Name | 39 | M | Seaman | $200 | Bahamas |
| Sands, Amelia | No Name | 30 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Sands, Amelia | No Name | 1 | F | Florida | ||
| Lowe, Joseph | No Name | 60 | M | Farmer | $250 | Bahamas |
| Knowles, William | No Name | 23 | M | Farmer | $300 | Bahamas |
| Knowles, Susannah | No Name | 20 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Matcovitch, Nichols | No Name | 45 | M | Farmer | $1,000 | Louisiana |
| Matcovitch, Eliza | No Name | 35 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Matcovitch, George | No Name | 1 | M | Florida | ||
| Knowles, Alexander | No Name | 29 | M | Seaman | $200 | Bahamas |
| Knowles, Mary | No Name | 18 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Cates, William | No Name | 25 | M | Seaman | $200 | Bahamas |
| Cates, Margaret | No Name | 26 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Thompson, Joseph | No Name | 79 | M | Farmer | $300 | Bahamas |
| Thompson, John | No Name | 34 | M | Farmer | Bahamas | |
| Knowles, David | No Name | 14 | M | Bahamas | ||
| Sands, John | No Name | 27 | M | Farmer | $250 | Bahamas |
| Sands, Susan | No Name | 50 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Sands, John | No Name | 21 | M | Seaman | Bahamas | |
| Sands, Susan | No Name | 9 | F | Bahamas | ||
| Carey, Benjamin | No Name | 28 | M | Farmer | $275 | Bahamas |
| Carey, Susan | No Name | 25 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Carey, Margaret | No Name | 5 | F | Bahamas | ||
| Carey, Emma | No Name | 1 | F | Florida | ||
| Cates, John | No Name | 34 | M | Seaman | $200 | Bahamas |
| Cates, Isabella | No Name | 27 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Cates, Catherine | No Name | 6 | F | Florida | ||
| Cates, Mary | No Name | 1 | F | Florida | ||
| Carey, John | No Name | 50 | M | Seaman | $225 | Bahamas |
| Carey, Sarah Ann | No Name | 40 | F | Bahamas | ||
| Carey, Harriet | No Name | 13 | F | Florida | ||
| Carey, Sarah | No Name | 4 | F | Florida | ||
| Knowles, James | No Name | 35 | M | Farmer | Bahamas | |
| Knowles, Frances | No Name | 35 | F | Keeping House | Bahamas | |
| Knowles, Mary | No Name | 12 | F | Bahamas | ||
| Knowles, James | No Name | 7 | M | Florida | ||
| Knowles, Louisa | No Name | 3 | F | Florida | ||
| Knowles, Margaret | No Name | 2/12 | F | Born in April | Florida |
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Of those listed above
William Cates homesteaded 115.4 acres in 1883. Other homesteaders with
the same surname were Sands (William Henry, 1905) and Knowles (Henry
{1901} and John T. {1911}) State records show there were 19
homesteaders. The first patented land deed was issued to William F. Wood
on January 25, 1882. As with much of the Keys, the late official land
surveying made homesteading and patenting of land title impossible.
Charles F. Smith surveyed Big Pine Key for the state of Florida on March
21, 1873.
William Sands was a Bahamian shipbuilder and captain. He had his own sawmill and used local pine for parts of his boats. History
of Big Pine Key |
