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SPECIAL
FALL ACTIVITIES
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Los
Floridanos October Picnic/Meeting October 6th, 11:00 am,
we will celebrate the coming of fall with a family picnic
at Fort Matanzas National Monument on A1A, just north of
the Matanzas Inlet Bridge.
We will meet at the picnic area in front of the administration
building (You won't be able to miss us). A beautiful picnic
area is available for our use which provides picnic tables
and benches (Folding chairs optional).
The picnic is open to all ( members and non-members), so
come and enjoy. Bring the whole family and interested friends.
Dick Scanlon will act as our tour guide. He will conduct
tours over to the Fort and provide historical information
on the Fort and surroundings.
We hope everyone will come prepared to relax, enjoy the
beautiful setting and visit.
We ask that everyone bring a salad, vegetable dish, or dessert
to share with everyone and whatever drinks your party requires
(drink machine on-site). We will provide a selection of
meat, ice, utensils, and paper products.
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Nature
Exhibit Day The Friends of Faver Dykes State Park will sponsor
a membership drive and exhibit on Sept. 29, 11:00a to 3:00p at
the State Park. Local organizations will display environmental
exhibits and give demonstrations including mullet net knitting,
archeological slide program, and historical interpretations. Menorcan
Clam Chowder, baked goods and drinks will be sold..
The Menorcan Society will have a picnic for members during the
exhibit.
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Florida
Book Signing and Sale Authors of Florida-related books
will participate with The Daytona Museum Of Arts and Sciences
at a book sale and signing on Sept. 29, 10am to 4pm,.
Free.
Colonial Craft Fair On Oct 6th-7th , The Textile Guild
of St. Augustine is hosting the Colonial Arts and Crafts
Fair, at the Plaza de la Constitucion and the courtyard
of Government House. Storytelling, artisans, living history
performances, singers, and entertainment will be presented
throughout the day.
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Annual
Membership Dues
It's time to renew our annual memberships.
The annual dues are $15. Lifetime memberships are available for
$150. Please send to our P.O. Box 4043, St. Augustine, Fl. or bring
to our next gathering. Thanks!
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Los Floridanos Flags ($30) and Solana/Sanchez Banners ($18) are
still available. Los Floridians Medallions ($12). |
LOS
FLORIDANOS ANCESTORS
FATHER
JUAN JOSEPH SOLANA
FIRST SPANISH PERIOD
Circa 1724 |
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The
St. Augustine settlement was in poor condition and limited
aid was provided by Spain during the later years of the
First Spanish Period.
The
conditions at the fort were not good. The soldiers stationed
at the fort complained about 24 hour guard duty with no
food, poor provisions, inadequate housing, and insufficient
medical supplies. After much discussion a large group of
soldiers deserted to the Church's protection, seeking the
help of Father Juan Solana.
Father
Solana interceded with the Governor for improved conditions.
Needless to say, the Governor was furious and charged Father
Solana with harboring deserters from the Crown.
Much
correspondence was exchanged with the Church Officials in
Cuba and the Crown about the situation in St. Augustine.
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During
this time, the conflict between the Governor and Father
Solana escalated. The Governor charged Father Solana with
harboring deserters to the Crown. He was also charged
with having a wife and family in Cuba, which, according
to the Governor, he visited on a regular basis while carrying
on church business in Cuba. The attack became even more
personal when the Governor accused Father Solana of flirting
with the Governor's wife and other women of St. Augustine.
The
Governor asked the Church in Cuba to send an emissary
to investigate the charges for the Crown.
The
emissary arrived in St. Augustine and held several hearings.
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In
the findings reported to the King, the emissary noted
the poor conditions suffered by the soldiers, which supported
Father Solana's position. As to the other charges, the
emissary couldn't ascertain any truth in the situation
of Father Solana and his family in Cuba or his reported
flirtatious behavior with the women of St. Augustine.
The
emissary stated his investigation was hindered due to
the fact that the Solanas' were an old and very large
family in St. Augustine and every one seemed to be related
to them.
Florida Historical Quarterly; July 1993; Calamities of
Florida;
Robert Kipitzke.
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New
Addition to Florida's Old Families
Frances and Carlton O'Neal are the proud new grandparents
of a grandson, Justin Jens. Congratulation to the delighted
grandparents and parents, Brad and Jane Jens.
What
about a Field Trip?
The University of Florida has an outstanding Natural History
Museum which includes exhibits on the early colonization
of Florida. What about a field trip to Gainesville?
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Palatka
Historical Society Position
Meri-Lin
MacGibbon sent information about a open Docent position
for the Palatka Historical Society. Please check our Website
or contact Meri-lin at (904)659-2321.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Florida Historical Society was formed in 1856, with
Matteo Crespin Solana as one of the founding members.
Francis
Xavier Sanchez acquired large land grants throughout
his lifetime. Examples of well known tracts included: the
St. Nicholas area in Jacksonville, the land contained in
the Nocatee Development, and Quana Preserve.
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St.
Augustine citizens elected Matthew Solana to represent
the area at the Succession Convention . Florida voted to
secede from the Union in 1861.
What
do You Know?
Let us know!
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Calendar
of Events
Sept
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St. Augustine's Birthday & Founding Celebration,
9/08/01
Oct -Meeting/
Picnic
Nov -Meeting.
Business Meeting.
Dec
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Christmas Party
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Latrell
Papy Mickler has written, INDIGO. It is a wonderful
read! This book of historical fiction outlines the
story of the Menorcans and provides a wonderful
picture of St. Augustine and the state during this
time period. You can purchase it at Barnes and Noble
in St. Augustine, the Historical Society Book Store,
and several other stores around town.
FLORIDA FIRSTS, is due to be released in
October. If you remember, this is the book mentioning
the Solana family heritage. It was supposed to be
out last year but the release date was pushed back.
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Memberships will run from January thru December of each
year.
[ More Info ]
Annual
membership fees are due ($15).
· Los Floridanos Flags ($30) and Solana/Sanchez Banners
($18) are still available. Los Floridians Medallions ($12).
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Check
out access to the Solana genealogy on the website. This
is not a certified version but is only a link to a genealogy
already on the Web.
Coleman
Bryant graciously donated his extensive genealogy on the
Solana family for our use. We hope to bring it online
when we bring online the Sanchez genealogy. We will
use it as a base for our own research and want to again,
thank him.
The St. Augustine Historical Society has an early genealogy
of the Sanchez family that we will be adding.
We
could also use any old pictures. We'll scan and return
them. Contact us !!!!!
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Los Floridanos Society