Misplaced Pages

#766233

51-465: The park contains the largest known undeveloped portion of the site of Spanish municipal and military activity on Amelia Island dating from the late 1780s. Archaeological investigations, starting in the early 1950s, revealed intermittent occupation and use of the area for as long as 4,000 years, beginning in the Orange period (2000–500 BC) and continuing to this day. A Spanish sentinel house was built in 1696 at

102-794: A charter for "a town on the St. Marys" on November 20, 1787. There were twenty charter members, who each received four town lots and one marsh lot (outside the boundary of the town on the east side in the marshes); each lot was 4 acres (1.6 ha) square, with the total town area being 2,041 acres (826 ha). These twenty city founders are named on an historical marker in downtown St. Marys: Isaac Wheeler, William Norris, Nathaniel Ashley, William Ashley, Lodowick Ashley, James Seagrove, James Finley, John Fleming, Robert Seagrove, Henry Osborne, Thomas Norris, Jacob Weed, John Alexander, Langley Bryant, Jonathan Bartlett, Stephen Conyers, William Ready, Prentis Gallup, Simeon Dillingham and Richard Cole. The original boundaries of

153-442: A crew of 300 American recruits and Haitian ex-slaves, free blacks, and mulattoes known as "Aury's blacks". Aury marched to Hubbard’s quarters with a body of armed men and demanded concessions from Hubbard and Irwin, who were short of troops and funds. They appealed for financial aid, but Aury refused, unless he have supreme command of both civil and military government. When Hubbard and Irwin protested his terms, Aury threatened to leave

204-637: A raid against the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, MacGregor intended to subdue all of Spanish East Florida. His plan was doomed to fail, however, as President James Monroe was in sensitive negotiations with Spain to acquire all of Florida. Soon MacGregor's reserves were depleted, and the Republic needed revenue. He commissioned privateers to seize Spanish ships, and they began selling captured prizes and their cargoes, which often included slaves. When about August 28 fellow conspirator Ruggles Hubbard sailed into

255-557: A sizable Spanish force, sailed up Sisters Creek and the Nassau River, and attacked them. The rebels fled across the St. Marys River to Georgia. The town lot or plaza was an essential element of the Spanish colonial town plan. Government offices were designed to face the plaza, and in the case of this coastal village, the plaza could be fortified as a defensive work. An army encampment was recorded in

306-627: A small detachment of men at Fort San Carlos to defend the island. After his withdrawal, these and a force of American irregulars organized by Hubbard and Irwin repelled the Spanish attempt to reassert authority. On September 13 the Battle of Amelia Island commenced when the Spaniards erected a battery of four brass cannons on McLure’s Hill east of Fort San Carlos. With about 300 men, supported by two gunboats, they shelled Fernandina being held by Jared Irwin. His "Republic of Florida" forces included ninety-four men,

357-520: A temporal sequence. Kenneth Sassaman suggests that St. Johns pottery may have appeared along the middle St. Johns River near the beginning of the Orange period, 3,500 C years Before Present , well before the previously accepted date of 1000 to 500 BCE. St. Marys, Georgia St. Marys is a city in Camden County , Georgia , United States, located on the southern border of Camden County on

408-519: A threat to trade of the United States, Fernandina was invaded and seized by forces under the command of General George Mathews in 1812 with the approval of President James Madison . A group of Americans calling themselves the "Patriots of Amelia Island" had banded together to drive out the Spanish and reported to General Mathews, who moved into a house at St. Marys, Georgia , nine miles across Cumberland Sound. On March 16, nine American gunboats under

459-494: A town site which included the lot was shown in charts drawn by Capt. John Fuller and then mapped by cartographer Thomas Jefferys in 1770. As late as 1777, however, there were no indications of any town development. The place had stood uninhabited, except for occasional encampments of English colonial invaders, since the raids in 1702 by Colonel James Moore , governor of Carolina . Prior to the British evacuation of East Florida when it

510-472: Is 110 miles north. The city is home to the National Seashore's visitor center and boat access; the St. Marys Submarine Museum, and Crooked River State Park . It is bordered by Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base , home port for several Ohio -class submarines . The city hosts the annual St. Marys Rock Shrimp Festival. The area was first explored in the mid-16th century by Spanish expeditions as part of

561-503: Is defined by the presence of Orange-series ceramics . Ripley P. Bullen classified Orange-series pottery into five chronological periods, based on shape, decoration, method of construction (hand-shaped or coiled), and the presence of other tempers besides fiber. Discoveries such as additional radiocarbon dating and analysis of Orange-series that were made since the early 1990s support an alternative interpretation, in which variations between vessels represent regional variations rather than

SECTION 10

#1733085198767

612-409: Is largely defined by the presence of Orange-series fiber- tempered pottery . During the middle to late Archaic period, sea level rise slowed and approached contemporary levels. Barrier islands and lagoons formed along much of the coast of Florida , and the gradient of the St. Johns River decreased, creating a string of wetlands in its valley. Relatively large sedentary populations exploited

663-560: Is named after the St. Marys River, while others say it comes from a seventeenth-century Spanish mission, Santa Maria, on nearby Amelia Island, Florida. St. Marys was recognized by an act of the Georgia legislature on December 5, 1792, with the result of incorporation in November 1802. Oak Grove Cemetery is included in the St. Marys Historic District and was laid outside the western border of St. Marys during its founding in 1787. On June 29, 1796,

714-535: The Adams-Onis Treaty on February 22, 1821, two years after its signing, officially transferred East Florida and what remained of West Florida to the United States. The US Army made little use of the fort and soon abandoned it. Fernandina, the one-time smugglers' den and freebooter haven, subsequently faded into quiet obscurity, although the local militia of the Confederate Army occupied Fort San Carlos during

765-544: The Battle of Fort Peter occurred near the town, at the fort on Point Peter along the St. Marys River . The British captured the fort and the town and occupied it for about a month. The United States Navy bombarded the town's shoreside buildings during the American Civil War . St. Marys served as Camden County's seat of government from 1869 until 1923. St. Marys is located along the southern border of Camden County on

816-458: The St. Johns culture . The sequence of Mount Taylor-Orange-St. Johns cultures in northeastern Florida developed in place. The division into cultures is based on the lack of ceramics in the Mount Taylor period , the presence of fiber- tempered ceramics in the Orange period, and the presence of sand- and/or sponge spicule -tempered ceramics in the St. Johns period. The Orange period or culture

867-489: The St. Marys River in the state's Low Country. It had a population of 18,256 at the 2020 census , up from 17,121 at the 2010 census . It is part of the Kingsland, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area . The Florida border is just to the south across the river, Cumberland Island National Seashore is to the northeast, and Kingsland, Georgia , is to the west. Jacksonville, Florida , is 38 miles south, and Savannah, Georgia ,

918-513: The Stallings culture area of Georgia and South Carolina around 2500 BCE, appeared in Florida around 2000 BCE, marking the beginning of the Orange period. The Orange culture area extended throughout the St.Johns River watershed, and along the Florida coast from north of the mouth of the St. Johns River to the vicinity of Sebastian, Florida . After 1,000 to 1,500 years, the Orange culture developed into

969-592: The Timuqua village located there. Nearly all of Old Town was built on this Indian village and its shell heaps. In later colonial times the site gained military importance because of its deep harbor and its strategic location near the northern boundary of Spanish Florida . The history of Fort San Carlos is intimately connected with the development of the Fernandina Plaza, also called the Town Lot, first defined in 1769 when

1020-560: The Treaty of Colerain was signed just up the river from St Marys between the United States and the Creek Nation , the indigenous inhabitants of this territory. St. Marys town founder Langley Bryant served as the official interpreter between the Creek Indians and the United States. St. Marys was made a United States port of entry by act of the U.S. Congress March 2, 1799. The first Collector

1071-500: The "Green Cross of Florida", a green cross on a white ground, over the fort and proclaimed the "Republic of the Floridas". Now in possession of the town, and seeing the need to make the appearance of a legitimate government, he appointed Ruggles Hubbard , the former high sheriff of New York City, as unofficial civil governor, and Jared Irwin , an adventurer and former Pennsylvania Congressman, as his treasurer. Expecting reinforcements for

SECTION 20

#1733085198767

1122-814: The Civil War (1861–1865), and the US military is known to have used it briefly during the Spanish–American War (1898). Archaeologists estimate that two-thirds of the area formerly occupied by the fort has disappeared through erosion by the Amelia River. Today, most of the Town Lot is contained within Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park, an unfenced grassy area, marked by a State of Florida Historic Marker. Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park sits at an elevation of approximately three meters above sea level;

1173-451: The Plaza Lot in 1801, and a small wooden fort, including a battery of three cannon, was established from then until 1814. The more substantial Fort San Carlos was built about 1816 to protect the strategic harbor of the Amelia River and Spanish interests in northern Florida. The former Indian campsite became the fort’s parade grounds fronting Estrada Street, which still exists. On May 10, 1811,

1224-601: The Republic of Mexico. Aury created an administrative body called the "Supreme Council of the Floridas", directed his secretaries Pedro Gual Escandón and Vicente Pazos Kanki to draw up a constitution, and invited all Florida people to unite in throwing off the Spanish yoke. The new government of Fernandina was short-lived. According to Lloyd's of London , Aury's commissioned privateers captured more than $ 500,000 worth of Spanish goods in two months. They preyed on Spanish vessels carrying slaves, most of whom were smuggled into Georgia after being captured. These activities threatened

1275-445: The Spanish colonial armies for thirty years. The town had less than two hundred residents, no more than fifty of them able to bear arms in the militia. Amelia Island's economy was primarily based on smuggling, and Fernandina was booming with the importation of enslaved Africans to circumvent the United States' ban on importing slaves. A Scottish military adventurer and mercenary, MacGregor claimed to be commissioned by representatives of

1326-449: The Town Lot and surroundings from 1784 until 1788, when the Spanish colonial government assumed possession after a land exchange. In June 1795, American rebel marauders led by Richard Lang attacked the Spanish garrison on Amelia Island. Colonel Charles Howard, an officer in the Spanish military, discovered that the rebels had built a battery and were flying the French flag. On August 2, he raised

1377-597: The US army lowered the flag at Fernandina and crossed the St. Marys River to Georgia with the remaining troops. Spain took possession of the redoubt and regained control of the island. The Spanish completed construction of the new Fort San Carlos to guard the port side of Fernandina in 1816. As the Spanish Empire disintegrated, Fernandina became increasingly vulnerable to foreign depredations. The small garrison at Fernandina had only fifty-four men on duty including officers, most of them old veterans, some of whom had served in

1428-412: The US flag raised immediately. General Mathews and President Madison had conceived a plan to annex East Florida to the United States, but Congress became alarmed at the possibility of being drawn into war with Spain, and the effort fell apart when Secretary of State James Monroe was forced to relieve Matthews of his commission. Negotiations for the withdrawal of US troops began early in 1813. On May 6,

1479-492: The acting Spanish governor at the time, Juan José Estrada, instructed the newly appointed public surveyor, George J. F. Clarke, to plat the township in accordance with the 1542 Spanish Laws of the Indies (Leyes de Indias) . These laws regulated how the site for a Spanish settlement should be selected, and how the town should be laid out in classical grid form. Places were designated for the fort and its parade ground. The town stood on

1530-516: The archaeologists for the Florida Board of Parks and Historical Memorials, led extensive archaeological excavations in the Fort San Carlos area. The Florida State University Department of Anthropology, under the direction of Hale G. Smith, conducted a field archaeology techniques course at the fort during the spring of 1963. A report compiled by Smith and Bullen, "Fort San Carlos", synthesizing

1581-449: The command of Commodore Hugh Campbell formed a line in the harbor and aimed their guns at the town. General Mathews, who was ensconced at Point Peter on the St. Marys River in Georgia, ordered Colonel Lodowick Ashley to send a flag to Don Justo Lopez, commandant of the fort and Amelia Island, and demand his surrender. Lopez acknowledged the superior force and surrendered the Port of Fernandina and

Fort San Carlos - Misplaced Pages Continue

1632-458: The harbor aboard his own brig Morgiana , flying the flag of Buenos Aires, but without the needed men, guns, and money, MacGregor announced his departure for New Providence in the Bahamas . On September 4, faced with the threat of a Spanish reprisal, and still lacking money and adequate reinforcements, he abandoned his plans to conquer Florida and departed Fernandina with most of his officers, leaving

1683-408: The high ground behind the imposing bluff facing the Amelia River. This location was on a wide peninsula with a relatively narrow isthmus at the southeast, the road to the rest of Amelia Island entering the town through the gates at that point. Egan's Creek and saltmarsh bounded the north and east sides, while another marsh stretched south of the town. From marsh to marsh across the neck of dry land there

1734-524: The island, then withdrew his forces. On September 17, the French privateer Luis Aury , a previous acquaintance of MacGregor's who had served with him in Simon Bolívar 's army in Venezuela and New Granada , sailed into the Port of Fernandina aboard his flagship, Mexican Congress , accompanied by two other privateering ships and holding prizes valued at $ 60,000. His ship mounted 12 long 18-pounders and had

1785-479: The island. Realizing they had nothing to gain by opposing him, a compromise was reached and they made an alliance with the Frenchman: Aury would be commander-in-chief of military and naval forces, Irwin his adjutant general, and Hubbard the civil governor of Amelia. The flag of the revolutionary Republic of Mexico was raised over Fort San Carlos on September 21, 1817, and thus Amelia Island was dubiously annexed to

1836-590: The negotiations concerning the cession of Florida and in response President Monroe sent forces to retake Amelia on October 31. After a contentious exchange of communications with representatives of the president, Aury realized his position was untenable and surrendered the island and the fort to Commodore J.D. Henley and Major James Bankhead on December 23, 1817. Aury remained over two months as an unwelcome guest; Bankhead occupied Fernandina and held it "in trust" for Spain. Although angered by US interference at Fort San Carlos, Spain did cede Florida in 1821. The proclamation of

1887-556: The north bank of the St. Marys River . The state of Florida is to the south, across the river. The city of Kingsland borders St. Marys to the west. According to the United States Census Bureau , St. Marys has a total area of 24.9 square miles (64.5 km ), of which 22.5 square miles (58.3 km ) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km ), or 9.57%, is water. St. Marys has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) with long, hot summers and short, mild winters. As of

1938-459: The privateer ships Morgiana and St. Joseph , and the armed schooner Jupiter . Spanish gunboats began firing at 3:30 pm and the battery on the hill joined the cannonade. The guns of Fort San Carlos, on the river bluff northwest of the hill, and those of the St. Joseph defended Amelia Island. Cannonballs killed two and wounded other Spanish troops clustered below. Firing continued until dark. The Spanish commander, convinced he could not capture

1989-451: The resources of these new coastal and riverine wetlands in Florida , while drier regions were only lightly exploited. Distinguishable regional culture varieties began developing in the wetland areas. The pre-ceramic Mount Taylor period emerged along the east coast of Florida and in the drainage of the St. Johns River around 5000 to 4000 BCE . Fiber-tempered pottery, which had developed in

2040-576: The results of both excavations, was published by the Department of Anthropology at Florida State University in 1971. The field notes and profile drawings of the 1951 excavations were lost; however, the work in 1963 re-excavated most of the areas covered in 1951 by Griffin and Bullen. The 1963 field session was held at Fort San Carlos at the request of the Duncan Lamont Clinch Historical Society of Amelia Island. The Historical Society

2091-434: The revolting Venezuela and New Granada to liberate Florida from Spanish rule. Financed by American backers, he led an army of only 150 men including recruits from Charleston and Savannah , some War of 1812 veterans, and 55 musketeers in an assault on Fort San Carlos. Through spies within the Spanish garrison, MacGregor had learned that the force there consisted of only 54 regulars and 50 militia men. He spread rumors in

Fort San Carlos - Misplaced Pages Continue

2142-435: The settlement of Spanish Florida . Through the decades, it also came under the colonial influence of Great Britain and finally the United States. By the 2020 census , the city had a population of 18,256. The St. Marys river area was first explored by Spanish expeditions in the mid 16th century as part of the settlement of Spanish Florida , with nearby St. Augustine as the established capital. The original Spanish settlement

2193-406: The terrain is essentially flat. The original topography has undoubtedly changed as a result of human occupation and the construction of Fort San Carlos, but the original Spanish town plan and regular street grid, with many of the Spanish street names, remain. Traces of the earthworks and the former parade grounds can be found along Estrada Street. In 1950–51, John W. Griffin and Ripley P. Bullen ,

2244-466: The town correspond to the modern waterfront, Bartlett Street, North Street, and a block east of Norris Street. There were two public town squares. However, in the original deed the town was unnamed, and for several years afterwards in public documents it was referred to as either St. Marys or St. Patrick's, and colloquially as simply "the New Town". Accounts differ regarding the origin of the name—some say it

2295-435: The town which eventually reached the garrison commander that an army of more than 1,000 men was about to attack. MacGregor and his men assaulted Fort San Carlos on June 29, 1817, advancing on the fort from the north, and deployed in small groups coming from various directions across Egans Creek to give the impression of a larger force. The commander, Francisco Morales , struck the Spanish flag and fled. MacGregor raised his flag,

2346-467: The town. John H. McIntosh, George J. F. Clarke, Justo Lopez, and others signed the articles of capitulation; the Patriots then raised their own standard at the flagstaff of the fort. The next day, March 17, a detachment of 250 regular United States troops were brought over from Point Peter, and the newly constituted Patriot government surrendered the town to General Matthews, who ordered the stars and stripes of

2397-528: Was James Seagrove . During the antebellum period , Archibald Clark served as the U.S. Customs Collector from 1807 until his death in 1848. After the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves took effect in 1808, St. Marys became, along with Spanish Amelia Island , a center for smuggling, especially during the period between 1812-1819 when various rebel groups held Amelia Island. During the War of 1812 ,

2448-425: Was a strong picket with a small blockhouse mounting two 4-pounder cannons that guarded the entrance. Another blockhouse flanking the town mounted one 4-pounder. Fort San Carlos commanded the anchorage of the Amelia River to the west as far as the channel of the St. Marys River; it mounted four long Spanish 16-pounders, five 4-pounders, and one 6-pound carronade . Because it was a center for smuggling and represented

2499-594: Was founded in 1566, making this the second-oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in what became the contiguous United States. Settlement for colonial Georgians became legal after the Treaty of Paris in 1763, when Britain exchanged some territory with Spain after defeating France in the Seven Years War. Following independence in the American Revolutionary War, local inhabitants of Camden County gathered on Cumberland Island and signed

2550-474: Was interested in having archaeological work done on the fort site so that it might be reconstructed in the future. 30°41′19″N 81°27′25″W  /  30.68868°N 81.45687°W  / 30.68868; -81.45687 Orange period The Orange period or Orange culture was a late- Archaic archaeological culture along the eastern side of the Florida peninsula , from about 4,000 years ago to about 2,500 or 3,000 years ago. The Orange period

2601-432: Was returned to Spanish rule, Maria Mattair, née Green (1755–1820), the widow of Lewis Mattair (1751–1783), had received a grant from Governor Tonyn for 200 acres along this bluff overlooking the Amelia River. Amelia Island was virtually depopulated after raids by American patriots in the mid-1770s. Mary Mattair and her family were the only occupants known to remain on the island following the evacuation. Maria Mattair owned

SECTION 50

#1733085198767
#766233