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Two Volumes on Florida Loyalists” Added at RollinsA question in early American history as to why Florida was not * the fourteenth state, thereby add-‘ | ing another star to the famous ' handiwork of Bet3y Ross, has been s fully answered in two noteworthy t volumes entitled Loyalists in East j Florida,** which have just been add- ed to the Florida history collection of Rollins college, according to an’ announcement made by A. J. Hanna, professor of Florida history, ■ who is conducting a course this term in an early period of the 11 state’s background.; These handsomely bound books, r which carry the British coat of arms, constitute the ninth publication of the Florida State Historical society. The first volume is a connected narrative by Wilbur Henry Siebert, F. R, H. S., research professor in Ohio State university, in which are detailed events of the American Revolution involving the participation of British Loyalists of East Florida, or those loyalists who went to East Florida principally from Georgia and South Carolina either during or at the close of the Revolution. The second volume reproduces the most important documents in the British Record office, pertaining to the period of 1774-1785.Although Florida became an Eng-(lush colony in 1763, Professor Sie-bert's study of the peninsula’s relation to the War of Independence does not begin until a decade later, when Lieut. Col. Patrick Tonyn became governor of East Florida. Also by this time the British Society I for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts had sent Bibles, prayer books and pious tracts to be distributed among the poor colonists in Florida. Subsequent events indicate that the distribution was either limited or unappreciated, although this impression may have arisen out of the fact that the first Florida schoolmaster was paid only $125 a year.As early as 1775 the Ear! of Dartmouth designated Florida as “a secure asylum” for those who remained loyal to the British Crown. Despite every precaution to keep Florida loyal, there were notable deflections, such as Chief Justice William Drayton, from whom Drayton Island on the St. Johns river was named, and Dr. Andrew Turnbull, founder of the famous I Minorcan Colony at New Smyrna.I On the whole, however,, Georgia land South Carolina refugees to Florida far outnumbered the American sympathizers who left Florida. In 1782 the whole population of Florida had more than doubled because of the influx.The East Florida Rangers and other groups organized to protect Lady Egmont’s plantation and other settlements on the St, Mary's developed into raiding parties which, with the help of friendly Indians, did serious damage to the border plantations and settlements in Georgia. In addition, the forces in Florida were of no inconsiderable help to the British in the Savannah and Charleston campaigns.At the close of the war hundreds of refugees came to St. Augustine not knowing that the Spanish flag would soon be waving over Florida. Much distress arose and considerable lawlessness took place. Out of this condition came on effort to help the needy and in 1783 Florida's first play in English, “Bean Stratagem,” was produced for the community chest of that day,Vicante Zespedes arrived in St, Augustine in 1784 to take possession of Florida as the Spanish governor and, simultaneously there vanished the last hope of the Loyalists to remain in Florida under British rule. According to the Commissioner of Evacuation, William Brown, these 9338 Loyalists were accounted for as follows: 860 remained in Florida, mostly in St. Augustine and New Smyrna; 480 went to Nova Scotia; 910 to Jamaica; 3247 to the Bahama Islands; 591 to Dominica; 281 to Europe; 287 to other foreign parts;” and 2782 returned to the United States to become citizens of the new republic and to constitute what might have been the fourteenth star in , Betsy Ross's first American flag. ,The Pioneer StoreG. N. Denning, Prop.GROCERIESI! . aii Telephone and we do jjthe rest.I AH Orders Appreciated [jPhone 5 and 250jj Rheumatism, Stomach p,| Trouble, Kidney Trouble, jj ij and kindred ailments can %| be relieved by consistent | j use of the Magnetic Sol- }j « enoid. Call for free deni- §., gjj onstration.12 Ant rev Arcade ORLANDOIiSMjasaMaaBsaHaBsaisaaiKsniEsatsEatJKUKtaaBiui
Newspaper Details
The Rollins Sandspur
Winter Park, Florida, US
Fri, Feb 21, 1930
Page 5
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FL, USA 03 Apr 2024
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