Menorca the Island

Side Note: Eight ships are ready to depart Mahon Menorca with 1403 passengers. Dr. Andrew Turnbull has made a contract with the People that are leaving The Island. The history of the Island dates back 3000 years BC and heritage comes from the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Roman Warlords and many others as will be brought out. The families of Noda, Mastre, Mir, Camps, Leonardy, Baya, Crespo, Salazar, Riudavet, Capella, Canova, Pacetti, Segui, Triay,Ponz, Vens,eyes, Pomar, Pamies, Oliveros, Manucy, Genovar, Fornes, Genopoly, Famanias, Benet', Bonelli and many more Menorcan Family names are prepared to leave the security of "Their Island" and establish a life and make history in a new land. The sea is as smooth as a sheet of glass and Jose Hernandez is standing on the deck of the ship the "New Fortune". His thoughts are back at home in the Valley Arrabel de San Phelipe. He would see Maria Mier, his future wife traveling on the deck of the scow the "Friendship" and one day give birth to their child in "les Mesquites and ten other children in St. Augustine.

THE STORY:

BY

ELEANOR PHILIPS BARNES 1949

" The Pomar, the Hernandez and the Usina(pronounced-Uzina) families were all eager to leave. The tiny ships float quietly in readiness to put to sea and were just waiting for good weather to start the crossing.

Segui, Andreu and Villalonga had all signed up. They were from the Island of Strong Arms and Loyal Hearts for which the people were justly famous for generations.

The people of Menorca were gathered, ---ready to bid farewell to their 1403 sons and daughters as they departed it's shores on April 17th. 1768. Menorca's mountain peak showed purple in the dusk. It's towering cliffs, chalk-white in mute good-bye, were clear until clouded by a hazy tear in the eyes of your/our ancestors.

SO DEEP IS OUR HERITAGE

The history of the Island dates to prehistoric times. Its heritage comes from the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Roman Warlords. From the origin of the Carthaginians and under the domination of the Almohade, the Moorish Conquerors of Spain, and as victims of many piracies. Our Ancestors have lived and died upon this lovely Island and a small group are preparing to leave its shores and rocky cliffs to start a new life in a foreign land.

The day finally came,--farewells, tears, hugs and religious items are given to the departing Menorcans. This group is never to return to their home land and ancestors,--they are bringing a new culture to a new land,--filled with hardship--starting a new beginning. From the Port of Mahon in 1768, they set sail toward the New World. They were going to an ancient Spanish province and a tiny Spanish presidio called St. Augustine. St. Augustine was at this point in history bursting with British activity."

Side Note: Many of the Menorcan names listed in the story are no longer with us. Some died making the journey and the first few years at the colony of New Smyrna there were 627 individuals that died. It is unrecorded as to how many births occurred during that same period. When the Menorcans reached the sands of Florida, there was no food awaiting them,--no housing,--no hygiene facilities--no running water. Hard times and hard work were to take a toll on our

ancestors. The Governors report indicates that 28 died on one ship alone.

At the time of this writing I cannot find evidence of any personal belongings, live stock or manifest of cargo. One may conclude that some personal items from their home Island were loaded aboard.

DEEP ARE OUR ROOTS