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
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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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Los Floridanos Society
