Verdura Plantation

[1] Benjamin bought 500 acres (200 ha) 10 miles east of Tallahassee in 1832 and built a brick plantation house in Greek Revival style there.

He died in 1838 and tax records in 1839 show his estate to consist of 9,440 acres (3,820 ha) and 80 enslaved humans.

The estate continued to grow after his death and in 1842, before it had been divided among his heirs, it foreclosed on land and yet more enslaved people valued at $35,570.

Chaires had ten children, five of whom were minors, and in 1845 the county court authorized the division of the estate among them, including about 10,000 acres (4,000 ha), enslaved people, provisions, livestock, and equipment.

The loss of forced labor after the Civil War and a depression in the cotton market began its ruin.