Drayton Island

Looking west from land that was once part of Lillington Plantation, Drayton Island can be seen. It was acquired by William Drayton, a migrant from South Carolina and a graduate of the Inns of Temple in London. Drayton was a learned jurist who became Chief Justice of East Florida and resided in the province from 1765 until 1780 when disputes with Governor Patrick Tonyn prompted him to return to South Carolina. Drayton acquired numerous rural properties but he was an indifferent planter whose tracts were often left idle. The beauty of the island and its flora and fauna attracted numerous explorers through the years, including John and William Bartram.