James Ormond III was only 12 years old in 1829 when he buried his father James Ormond II on the family's plantation Dametta. "I had the best tomb I could have made over father's grave." wrote James Ormond. The tomb is now a historical landmark located on Old Dixie Highway just south of Halifax Plantation. Much later he added a marble slab, and had it inscribed An Honest Man.
Born in Scotland on May 7, 1815 James Ormond III arrived in Florida in the fall of 1824 with his mother, two sisters and a brother. His father, James Ormond II, had come over earlier to work the plantation left to him by his father, Captain James Ormond 1. The plantation had been a Spanish Land grant.
"Pumpkins to me were a huge fruit, sweet potatoes were a queer thing, and when they told me of Cabbage Trees I opened my eyes to see them." recalled James III on his first impressions of Florida life. "We had plenty of milk, butter, and eggs, but for fresh meat depended on the Indian hunters with whom we were on best terms. The Indians came with droves of wild turkeys, wild honey venison, wild hogs and coontie flour, which they traded for blankets, powder, red cloth, calico, beads. etc. The trade almost always ended in a big drunk. One time Billy Bowlegs kicked up a big fuss, after partying too much.
After his father's death, an overseer was hired to take care of the plantation. Upon the overseer's departure, James Ormond put in one planting, then gave up the plantation.
The family scattered and the plantation was abandoned. James went to school in Charleston, SC and learned to be a merchant.
When the Seminole war broke out in 1835, he returned to Florida and joined the Mosquito Roarers taking part in the Battle of Dunlawton (Sugar Mill Ruins in Port Orange). A band of indians headed by Coacoohee also known as Wildcat in war paint and wearing the reflectors taken from the Inlet Lighthouse as a war bonnet, came charging at the unit. "The Indians had the advantage," said James who received four bullet wounds in the skirmish. "We were completely whipped by the Indians. No dought about it."
After the war, James married Elizabeth Chaires and went back into the grocery and hardware business in Port DeLeon,Fl. and then in Newport Fl. They had 9 children, 3 died young. During the Civil War, James guarded the Federal prisioners in Andersonville. He then established several successful grocery and hardware stores in Atlanta.
In his later years he returned to the Ormond area, searching out what was left of the Damietta Plantation. He found his father's tomb, the old well, the foundation of the plantation and bits of his mother's china. The large oak tree he had probably played on as a child now called the Fairchild Oak was also there. He became friendly with two prominent citizens, John Anderson and Charles Bostrum. As a results when it came time to incorporate the settlement the name was changed from New Britain to Ormond.