THE MINORCANS HISTORY

A short recap of chapter 1 and how Turnbull gathered Italians, Greeks, Minorcans put them on the Isle of Minorca and marriages took place. Now on the 17th of April in 1768,--1403 Italian, Minorcans, Greeks and a few Frenchmen sat sail in 8 ships for America. Many of the 1403 died on the way over to the Americas. In 8 sailing ships they left the Mediterranean and crossed the Atlantic to the banks of the ninth Inlet (Ponce Inlet--Daytona, Fl.), the colony of Mahonese.

Now Part Two

"The Minorcans' contract (agreement) with the British colonizers came under the Indentured Servant Law. Each person was to serve 6 to 8 years and some were to receive compensations for their work. Many died during this time from the poor conditions, lack of food, menacing Indians, disease, and cruel treatment by the over-seers. Following their contracted time they were to be freed and receive 50 acres of land plus five acres for each child at the end of the indenture period.

Because the colonist were mainly Catholic, they were accompanied by a priest.  He was the 38 year old Father Pedro Camps of San Martinde Mercadel in Minorca.  It was this saintly man who was to insure the Minorcans' place in St. Augustine history by his firm but gentle hold upon his people.  He pain stakengly recording of baptisms and marriages that form the background for the many family histories that are being recorded.  He also did much to keep peace within the colony.

"Les Mesquites," as the colony was called, came to a bitter end in 1777.  No one knows precisely what straw of misfortune finally caused the colonists to lose their patience.  In the face of all adversity, the colony of the Mahonese had lasted nine years.  Scorching heat, disease, death, menacing Indians, inadequate shelter, improper foods, insufficient clothing and cruel treatment made the Minorcans' dream an unendurable reality.  In July 1777, almost all of the colony came "en masse" to British controlled St. Augustine.  It had been three months of anxiety for the good Father.  He had been torn between the urge to administer to the flock preceding him and his zeal to comfort the aged and infirm left in his charge.