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(Sanchez)
Francisco Xavier Sanchez

Submitted by Mario Hugas

Francisco Xavier Sanchez de Ortigas, was born in 1746. His parents were Jose Sanchez de Ortigosa and Juana Theodera Perez, who moved to Saint Augustine from Spain, during the first Spanish period. Francisco was a true Floridano, who lived and prospered through three unstable periods (1st Spanish, the British and the 2nd Spanish periods).

When Francisco was 17, Spain ceded Florida to Britain, and young Francisco chose to remain in the British colony of East Florida. He lived in the colony of Saint Augustine until his death, in 1807. During those unstable years he became one of the richest and most influential men in East Florida. He was a merchant, a farmer and an affluent businessman.

Francisco Sanchez always acted in the manner he perceived to be in his best interest; those of his family and the Spanish crown. He endured the winds of change, maintained his loyalty to the Spanish Crown and together with Daniel McGirtt, began to connive against the British.

He openly encouraged the "Banditti" who fought against the British Soldiers and looted unguarded British possessions along the St. Johns River.

In 1783, Francisco Sanchez was accused by the British Governor Patrick Tonyn of committing a long series of trespasses against the British.

Governor Tonyn felt that everything Francisco did was questionable, and was determined to destroy him and his property. Governor Tonyn's major charges were that Francisco supplied the "Banditti" with ammunition, arms and provisions, and gave them shelter at one of his plantations about 18 miles west of Saint Augustine.

On one occasion, the "Banditti" were surprised by a detachment of British light horsemen and fled into a nearby swamp, leaving their horses behind. One of the horses (which had belonged to a British Captain killed earlier on the King's road) had Francisco's silver inlayed pistols and holster in the saddlebags.

About the same time, word of the return of the colony to the Spanish Crown was received.

Francisco immediately traveled to Havana with the "glorious news" that Governor Tonyn had been ordered to return East Florida to the Spanish.

While there, he met the newly appointed Spanish Governor Manuel de Zespedes and promised to provide the required supplies to the new Spanish garrison and provide credit to the returning Spanish families as an act of charity to his fellow countrymen.

During his absence in Havana, one of his farms was completely sacked, and 400 of his cattle were lost. When Francisco returned to St. Augustine and learned of his misfortune, he refused to

sell meat, fruits and vegetables to the British while they remained in the colony. The British Governor continued in search of a means to ruin Francisco in the eyes of the new Spanish Governor, Manuel de Zespedes, who arrived in July of 1784.

However, the new Spanish Governor knew well of Francisco's loyalty to the Spanish Crown and his charity to the Spanish people.

In 1782, a Spanish detachment of soldiers had been captured by pirates in the vicinity of the Bahama's, and later shipwrecked off the coast near Saint Augustine. They were rescued by the British and brought to Saint Augustine and detained. The soldiers were very sick with scurvy and in a wretched state, with barely the clothes to cover their nakedness. The British refused to give them aid and comfort during their imprisonment. In desperation their commander appealed to Francisco for help, and he provided all the assistance that was requested to restore them to health.

A short time later, they appealed to Francisco for further assistance to transport them back to Havana. Francisco bought a brigantine and schooner sailing ship, and fully stocked them with supplies for passage to Havana. The Spanish soldiers departed with the permission of the British Governor.

Therefore, when Francisco arrived in Havana he was warmly received. The Governor of Havana informed him, that he was eligible for payment of any value he might desire, for his assistance to the ship wreaked Spanish soldiers. Francisco replied that he was content only to have received the approval and recognition of his loyalty to the Spanish Crown and his countryman.

Francisco had been granted several large parcels of land, and in the Spanish census of 1786, Francisco was described as a native planter, who at 40 years of age owned 63 slaves, several plantations, and a large number of cattle.

Francisco Xavier Sanchez married Maria Carmon Hill, from South Carolina, on June 28, 1787. Francisco was 41 years old, and Carmon was 16 years old.

At the time of his death in 1807 Francisco had 13 children. Eight children were from his marriage to Maria, between 1788 and 1807, and an additional 5 "natural" children born to Beatruce de Piedra, who was a free native from Charleston born between 1776 and 1784.

Francisco's third son Joseph Simeon Sanchez was also a very important and colorful citizen of Saint Augustine. Joseph's wife was Maria Lopez, whose mother was Maria Doloras Solana. This marriage was the first blending of the Sanchez and Solana families.

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