| 2nd Spanish Period John Cruden The 2nd Spanish period was set with difficulties almost before it began. John Cruden began a plot to seize control of the colony when the British received the news of the transfer by the Treaty of Paris. Governor Vizente Manuel de Zespedes The new Spanish governor was Governor Vizente Manuel de Zespedes. He was a sixty-three year old veteran of the army commanding an advance force of 500 soldiers. He arrived on June 26 on the San Matias. Zespedes met with British Governor Patrick Tonyn and gave him the official papers signed by King George III. The formal ceremony transferring control to the Spanish occurred July 12, 1784. On July 14 Zespedes issues a proclamation announcing the beginning of his governorship. Arriving with the convoy was Father Miguel O'Reilly and Father Francisco Traconis. Father Camps celebrated a thanksgiving mass the next day. By September Father Thomas Hassett reached East Florida. The transfer took one year. A census was made to determine who would be staying. The last English officials left in June of 1785. The last of the British subjects were gone in December, 1785. The remaining English influence was the firm of Paton, Leslie and Company that the Spanish kept to trade with the Indians. Zespedes held his Indian meeting in 1784 with ex-Governor Tonyn. In March Cowkeeper or Secoffee, the Seminole chief, had died. This made the transition easier since Cowkeeper was anti-Spanish. An Opportunity of Freedom - Zespedes Proclamation of July 26, 1784 This proclamation prohibited any of the departing ships from taking passengers of any color status without a license from Zespedes. Blacks had twenty days to clarify their status and obtain a work permit. At least 251 of these were made to the Spanish government. The British protested but to no avail. This attitude carried over into the return of runaway slaves from Georgia with the governor affirming that East Florida would not cooperate with Georgia on the return of runaway slaves because Georgia had not seen first to cooperate prior to 1763. "One of the provisions of the old rule is that no fugitive Negro from Georgia be returned , as the London court refused to reciprocate." Vincente Manuel de Zespedes to John Houstoun Governor of Georgia November 28, 1784. Thomas Bell - Pirates January 24, 1785 a pirate attack took place at Jesse Fish's home on Anastasia Island. 4 men anchored west of the island and rowed to shore. After looting the house they returned to their boat except for Thomas Bell who fell wounded. He died on the town plaza and his body was shown on the gallows of the Castillo the next day. Return of Slaves May 17, 1790 a royal order was issued directing the Governor of East Florida to apprehend and lock up all Negroes escaping from the United States and return them to after those claiming ownership had proved their ownership and paid costs. Father Thomas Hassett Father Thomas Hassett was a new priest for St. Augustine in 1783. Father Miguel O'Reilly was another Irish priest who had trained in Spain. Father Francisco Troconis y Rosas was appointed by Governor Zespedes "to teach the poor without charge." He was the chaplain of the Royal Hospital. In 1791 Father Troconis was promoted to Cuba. Father Hassett started (or continued) the school from 1787. To see how busy the Fathers were see the baptism list for 1800. Another important Irish person in the city was Carlos Howard, the secretary of the government. The Cathedral The original parish church was located where A1A Alehouse is today. It was called Nuestra Senora de los Remedios. The second parish church was located on St. George Street south of the plaza. On February 13, 1788 government officials, at the urging of Father Hassett, ordered work to begin on a suitable Catholic Church. The Spanish crown approved the plans in March of 1790. The Cathedral was started in 1793 in Spanish mission style. It represents the oldest Catholic congregation in the United States with records dating back to the 16th century. The original architect was Mariano de la Rocque. The contractor was Don Miguel Ysnardy (who acquired the title of Steward of the building). The Cathedral (picture) was dedicated on December 8, 1797 the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. There are three people buried inside the Cathedral: Father Camps, Don Miguel Ysnardy, and Father Font who died within a year of his arrival in St. Augustine (January 13, 1793). The Cathedral has parts of the old Numbre de Dios, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Tolomato, and Nuestra Senora de la Soledad within its building stones as they were all torn down for the building of the Cathedral. Don Manuel Solana House This house at 20 Charlotte Street was located on the site of much earlier houses including a tabby house. Manuel Solana built the house after 1788. The house later became the home of Oliver Bronson, Jr. a county commissioner after the Civil War. The house stands as a good example of Spanish Colonial architecture of the 2nd Spanish period. The main section of the house was constructed of coquina. This house has a loggia built on the rear (visible from Aviles Street). The flooring is all wood. Juan Nepomuceno de Quesada and the Rebellion of 1795 1790 saw the arrival of a new Governor --- Juan Nepomuceno de Quesada. In June of 1795 East Florida was invaded by Georgians and unhappy Floridians. The invaders were able to capture Fort Juana (June 30) on July 9 the invaders who were comprised of former British subjects, American transplants into Florida and Georgians crossed the St. Johns River. They were lead by Richard Lang, a local trouble maker. San Nicholas was overrun and Lieut Ignacio Lopez and 28 members of the Catalan Light Infantry were captured. The San Simon, a Spanish gunboat, and its crew were also captured. They flew the French flag over the forts. By August 2 the captives were abandoned and the rebels had retreated north of the St. Mary's River. 67 people were considered rebels by the Spanish government. Daniel Hogans, Richard Malpas, Solomon King, and George Arons died in the Castillo as prisoners. Francis Goodwin went insane. None of the sentences were carried out. Chapel in the Castillo This time period also saw the building of the Chapel in the Castillo. This was also engineered by Mariano de la Rocque. Runaway Slaves Because the Georgians did not comply with the terms of the 1791 agreement on runaway slaves with the Georgians trying to show legal claims with simply a sworn statement. The agreement was officially terminated. Enrique White and General Jorge Biassou In 1796 Enrique White became the governor. He would remain governor through 1811. In January of 1796 General Jorge Biassou, his wife Romana Jacobo and twenty-three of his followers arrived in St. Augustine from Havana, Cuba. General Biassou was given command of a black militia unit in the summer of 1800 to reconnoiter and provide intelligence south of St. Augustine at the plantation of Josiah Dupont near Matanzas. On July 14, 1801 General Biassou died at his home in St. Augustine. Father Felix Varella Father Felix Varella (picture of St. Augustine sculpture) spent his boyhood in St. Augustine at this time with his grandfather, an officer in the Castillo. He went to Spain and participated in the creation of the 1812 Spanish Constitution. He was buried in the Tolomato Cemetery but later removed to Cuba (perhaps). Geronimo Alvarez and the 1812 Constitution Monument The monument in the plaza was built in 1813 by the Constitutional City Council of St. Augustine with Geronimo Alvarez (owner of the Oldest House) as mayor under the superintendence of Don Fernando de la Maza Arrendondo. In response to the new constitution as were monuments over Latin America. The King was restored to the throne, the constitution was disregarded, Father Varela fled to New York under sentence of death. The monument in the plaza survived the transfer of Spanish Florida to America because of the refusal of Alvarez to allow it to be torn down and it may be the only surviving monument in honor of the March 9, 1812 Constitution. Father Varela returns to St. Augustine and lived in what is today the courtyard of the Cathedral not far from the Constitution monument. Father Miguel O'Reilly Father Miguel O'Reilly held school in St. Augustine. His house on Aviles Street is being restored and has been opened as a museum by the Sisters of St. Joseph. (You should already know that he didn't start the first school and that the house is NOT the oldest in St. Augustine). City Gate The 2nd Spanish period saw the building of the City Gate . The gate was built in 1808. This replaced the wooden opening that had been placed there in 1739 called La Leche Gate. The engineer was Captain Manuel de Hita who recommended a masonry replacement of the wood guard houses. The new gate was called the "Land Gate". . The two four foot square coquina pillars frame an opening 12 feet wide. Each pillar is 14 feet high. The twin towers of white masony were trimmed with red plaster and each roof was capped with a pomegranate the symbol of fertility. Patriot Rebellion Another threat to Spanish control occurred in the Patriot Rebellion that started on March 13, 1812. John Houston McIntosh was the leader of this rebellion that was supported by the U.S. government. Governor Juan de Estrada stopped them at Fort Mose (almost the gates of St. Augustine). In June of 1812 the new governor, Sebastian Kindelan worked with the Seminoles to enlist them in a fight against the invaders. After an ambush of Captain John Williams (U.S.M.C.) by Seminoles and blacks the Americans pulled back to the St. Johns River. By May, 1813 the American troops were gone. Prince Witen the son-in-law of Biassou was the leader of the black militia that defeated Captain Williams. Jose Coppinger A new governor, Jose Coppinger arrived in St. Augustine in 1815. Green Flag Republic In 1817 at Fernandina, Gregor McGregor would proclaim the Green Flag Republic. When this failed Luis Aury raised the flag of Mexico over Fernandina and declared himself the head. Finally the U.S. sent troops and they would remain in Fernandina until the end of the 2nd Spanish period. Catholic Church In 1817 the church had Father Crosby from Wexford, Ireland and a Franciscan priest for the garrison. 1819 Description of St. Augustine from New England Palladium & Commercial Advertiser Boston, MA 7/6/1819 A letter from a gentleman in the South, to his friend in Washington City , gives the following description of the town and fortress of St. Augustine : As I have just returned from St. Augustine , (on a jaunt of curiosity,) I presume a description of the place will not be uninteresting to you St. Augustine is situated on the Main , about two miles within the bar, immediately opposite the inlet ; it is not passable for vessel drawing over fifteen feet of water. The Island of Matanzies runs nearly parallel with the ocean, and forms a point of the south end of St. Augustine inlet. This is principally solid rock, composed of the concretion of shells, and is what is generally made use of for building in the city, and is hewn out in large blocks. It is better calculated for the construction of fortification than any other material I am acquainted with and with proper cement, forms a solid mass of rock. Fort St. Marks is built of this rock, and presents a most formidable appearance upon entering the harbour. It is situated on the northern extremity of the City of St. Augustine , commanding the entrance of the harbor, and is sufficiently elevated to secure the city from attacks from that quarter. In the rear of the city in an impenetrable marsh, nearly encircling it ; on the margin of which are erected six redoubts. The fort is twenty feet high and the walls twelve feet thick; it mounts 36 guns ; it is four square, with a bastion at each corner, each mounting eight 24 pounders with a glacis encircling the work. The city contains about 500 houses, built of the kind of stone before described ; has a population of 5,000 souls, principally Minorcans and natives of the province. There are the remains of a convent and government house the latter occupied by black troops. The Catholic Church resembles an old Gothic building. The city exhibits the remains of ancient splendor, but is now evidently going to decay. The situation of the country contiguous is very low, but exceeding well adapted to the cultivation of vegetables of every description in the southern country. The atmosphere is perhaps less humid than any country I have been in, and is, I conceive, better calculated for northern constitutions than any southern station I have visited. Fish in great abundance is to be caught in the harbor, but, owing to the indolence of the inhabitants, the market is badly supplied. Oranges are indigenous in this section of the country, also many other delicious fruits. The lands on the river St. Johns are considered the most fertile, and most advantageously situated for planters ; after passing twenty miles up, it changes its direction, and runs parallel with the ocean for 150 miles. I am under the impressions that the port of St. Johns will be particularly well calculated for commercial men, and men of enterprize, as the bar is much better, and after passing the bar, vessels may go one hundred and fifty miles without the least impediment. Onis-Adams Treaty The end of the 2nd Spanish period came with the Onis-Adams Treaty on February 22, 1819. The cost would be 5 million dollars which was the same amount that the United States claimed that Spain owed because of the capturing of American ships in the quasi war with France in the 1790s. James Monroe was President of the United States and John Quincy Adams was his Secretary of State. The treaty was ratified and the flags were exchanged on July 10, 1821. Transfer At 5:00 A.M. the Spanish flag was raised over the Castillo de San Marcos for the last time. 3:00 p.m. the Tartar crossed the inlet. After the governor signed the official document transferring East Florida to the US the Spanish flag was lowered and the American warships Tartar and Revenge gave a 21 gun salute. 338 Spanish soldiers with 67 wives and children set sail for Cuba along with 173 government employees with their wives and children. 68 free blacks and 94 slaves, 205 residents and 17 military prisoners also left. Spanish and some Timucuan vocabulary help Go to American Territorial |
| 2nd Spanish Period 1784 - 1821 by Gil Wilson (introduction) ab urbe condita - 219 to 256 "Oblectat me, Roma, twas spectare ruinas; Ex cujus lapsu gloria prisca patet." |
| Constitution Monument |
| Original Cathedral Library of Congress |
| 1869 Picture of Old City Gate Library of Congress |
| Chapel of St. Marks at Castillo Library of Congress HABS |