Are you a descendent of one of Florida’s oldest Families?


The marriage of Vicente Solana in 1594 is this nation’s oldest marriage records, and the Solana family is not only one of Florida's oldest families, it is also one of Putnam County’s largest families.
Born in 1829, Mateo Simeon Solana came to the San Mateo East End area about 1853 and builte log cabin near the William Durrance fanuly. Many Solanas have been born and grown up during the nearly 150 years since.

Descendents of Mateo Salana include members of the Anderson, Baker, Barber, Bedenbaugh, Brown, Bryan, Burney, Carter, Castle, Counts, Crosby, Dykes, Farrow, Ferrell, Freeman, Garrett, Greer, Grochmal, Harbin, Hawkins, Herrington, Hester, Jernigan, Kummer, tivingston, MacGibbon, Mauldin, McElroy, McKenzie, Miller, Nelson, Parrish, Prevatt, Ricks, Rogero, Slaughter, Smith, Solana, Tilton, Tucker, Turner, Urry, Williams, Willis and Wright families.

The 11th Annual Solana Family Reunion will be held April 10, 1999, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Elkton.

Although one of our pioneer citizens from whom many of today’s. citizens have descended, Mateo Solana did not live in the ongmal Putnam County, created in 1849 Solana’s home and the area east of the river were at that time part of St. Johns to County and would not become part of the sounty until 1868. Special certificates will be awarded to those whose ancestors were here when the original county was formed in 1849 or who are listed on the 1859 census. Another certificate will be awarded between 1850 and 1885. Putnam County census records will be used unless the family has other verification. These certificates are to be presented during a special ceremony during the Blue Crab Festival.

The Putnam County Sesquicentennial Committee reminds members of pioneer families to submit the names for whom they would like recognition as pioneer descendents. Please call Janice Mahaffey at the Putnam County Archives (329-0330) or write to hee at P.O. Box 1976, Palatka, FL 32178.