The Florida Armed Occupation Act of 1842 (5 Stat. 502) was passed as an incentive to populate Florida. The Act granted 160 acres (0.6 km²) of unsettled land south of the line separating townships 9 and 10 South(a East/West line about three miles (5 km) north of Palatka and about ten miles (16 km) south of Newnansville) to any head of a family as long he satisfied the following conditions: The last statement implied that the person should bear arms for his own protection. The total land to be granted should not be more than 200,000 acres (800 km²) under the act.