LOS
FLORIDANOS
ANCESTORS
Solana/Sanchez Cowboys
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Submitted
by : Mario (Matanzas) Hugas Jr., member of the Cowboy Regulators
of Jacksonville, Florida, a chapter of the Single Action Shooting
Society.
Did
you know most cowboys who became famous in the Old West came from
the East Coast? The Cowboy Era as we know it was mostly in the
middle to late 1800's. Many of them traveled west after the Civil
War because of the resulting devastation and poverty.
Long
before that time, Florida had cowboys known as "vaqueros"
(pronounced, ba-ke-ros), a derivation of a Spanish word that meant
a man that herds cows. These vaqueros herded hardy Spanish cattle
brought by ship to Florida from Spain in the 1600's. In fact,
cattle were the most important product of Florida from 1700-1800.
Our ancestors provided much needed beef to the locals as well
as Cuba. At the end of the trail, cowboys were paid one Spanish
doubloon for each full grown steer, valued at about $15.00 in
Gold to the Cuban trade.
A
well equipped Florida cowboy would have had a good Florida horse
called a "marsh tackie", saddle with saddlebags, a rope,
a pistol, a rifle, a large knife, a slicker, and a coffee boiler
to start his day on the trail. He might also have a couple of
good dogs to help with the cattle and for protection from critters.
His rope would have been used to hold steers down to brand them,
but it would be useless out in the scrub pines and palmettos.
Steers were branded as a method of identifying ownership. This
was the customary method used in Spain for identification of livestock,
and was used by Floridian vaqueros as well. For herding, our Florida
vaquero used a whip, probably ten to twelve feet long. "Cracker"
was the term associated with early Florida cowboys and derived
from the use of the whip when working cattle.
During
a cattle drive, the vaquero would carefully pick a good spot each
evening for the cattle to graze, so they wouldn't wander too far.
The vaqueros would carry some staple foods, but his main course
was most likely deer, turkey, or rabbit. Early in the morning,
the fog was usually heavy, and much of Florida was palmetto scrub
or swampland. It was at these locations, the dogs were most useful
and alerted the vaquero when the cattle were in danger. The swamps
were always a problem. Cattle could get stuck in quicksand. When
a herd of cattle went through a swamp, because of the quicksand
that was stirred-up, it was important for the cattle to keep moving
so as to not be drawn down into the quicksand. Because Florida
was home to biting insects, snakes, alligators, bears and the
Florida panthers, many a steer fell prey to these critters. In
addition to natural dangers, vaqueros had to be alert to the theft
of cattle by Indians and bandits.
Large
herds of cattle were sent north during the Civil War to supply
the Confederate troops. An interesting fact about those cattle's
drives were where they crossed the St. John's River. The most
frequent crossing was at the river's most narrow point near the
present site of downtown Jacksonville. This site was called "Cow
Ford" which was the first name given to present day Jacksonville,
Fl. The river at this point is very deep but narrow and a river
crossing was always a very dangerous undertaking.
A
vaquero's life was a hard life. There were many dangers, disappointments
and few triumphs, other than reaching the end of the trail. …..
But our ancestors were up to the task and wouldn't have had it
any other way.
Jose
Simeon Sanchez Request for Land Grant
Mario Hugas thought we might like to see the page on the Jose
Simeon Sanchez's land grant request. Pretty flowery language.
What do you think?
(J.
Powell Translation)
His
Excellency the Governor:
Don Jose Simion Sanchez a native and inhabitant of this
province to your Excellency respectfully showeth, that he
wishes to employ himself and slaves in Agriculture farming a plantation,
and as for this object he needs a grant of Land
of good quality to which he considers himself intitled in
virtue of the merits and services he has performed in the
year 1812 against the disloyal inhabitants of the Province,
and in 1817 against those who took possession of Amelia
Island, the particulars of which he does not state theyeing well
known to the Government __ Therefore he prays
that your Excellency will be pleased to grant him Two
thousand Acres of Land, on Santafe River, bounded on the
West by Lands of Don Francisco Roman Sanchez and on the
other side by said River, which number of Acres are to him
absolutely necessary not only for the establishment of a
good plantation, but for raising of stock, to which he
intends dedicating himself, which gifts he hopes to merit
from the goodness of your Excellency, St. Augustine January 7th
1818, Jose Simeon Sanchez .
St.
Augustine January 12th 1818 - Grant to the Petitioner the Two
thousand Acres of Land , which he selects, without injury to a
third person, as it is well known to the government, the services
which he says he has rendered, and for his security let there
be given him, from the Secretary's Office a certified copy of
this memorial and decree in the usual form
Coppinger
I,
Antonio Alvarez Keeper of the Public Archives of East
Florida do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and
correct translation of the Original in the Spanish Language
on file in my Office
(Seal) Witness my hand and Seal of Office at the City of St. Augustine,
Territory of Florida this nineteenth day of April A.D. One thousand
eight hundred and thirty six.
Antonio Alvarez
Recorded this 4th April 1840 K P A
James McNeill D.C.
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Los Floridanos Society