The Minorcan Quarter, The Colonial Tale of St. Augustine
Minorcan, no. 2
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $2.99
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- $2.99
Publisher Description
In 1777, as war raged in the thirteen colonies of America, a destitute band of Mediterranean immigrants escaped slavery from one Florida colony to begin anew in another, St. Augustine. Desperate, six hundred survivors of the ill fated New Smyrna Colony took up arms and fled, escaping nine years of brutality, starvation, disease and death. They were met at the gates of an unwelcoming city by new challenges, sacrifices and disasters.
The fourteenth colony of Florida is greatly overlooked in our nation's history. Yet from our nation's oldest city comes this tale of how the longest surviving inhabitants earned the right to call St. Augustine home. Their frontier existence was a day-to-day struggle to survive oppression, epidemics and wars. Follow this band of refugees as they scratch a new life from the hostile streets and set down deep roots.
They started out fourteen hundred strong and after nine years held against their wills, over one thousand died. The governor intervened promising to end their plight and suffering. Governor Patrick Tonyn tells the band of refugees they can have land in the city of St. Augustine to start anew. The Minorcans risk their lives to escape indentureship in the brutal colony only to find things were not as promised by the governor. Many more would die on the streets as they waited for the promised land.
The Minorcan Quarter is a story about life and raising a family in a wretched and unfriendly environment where little was gained without plenty of sacrifice. Often humorous, the author spins an engaging tale built around strong characters, both men and women, facing major events in our nation's history. Against all odds their spirit prevailed in the ghetto despite the ever changing English, Spanish, and American governments.
Following in the path of the first novel, The Minorcan Yoke, the sequel, The Minorcan Quarter is an inspirational tale of struggling immigrants. They not only survive but thrive through extremely difficult times, as they are ravaged by catastrophes to build a proud community that has lasted for centuries.
Customer Reviews
The Minorcan's Are A Little Known Band of Immigrant
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping historical novel about a band of immigrants rounded up at various ports in the Mediterranean and their hardships while trying to eek out a living in a new and barren land where lies and cruelty by their masters were the daily norm. I especially enjoyed the various battles on land and at sea as the Minorcan’s survived many a political master as well as ruthless overseers.
With stirring literary emotion, the author describes their sadness as this rag tag lot of nearly naked and starving indentured slaves arrives at the gates of St. Augustine. Expecting the governor to make good on a promise of food, clothing, and a place to call home, she goes on to describe how promises were broken but yet overcome by this determined group.
This novel is action filled. From the American Revolution, Indian Wars, government turnovers, and the building of a viable economy in St. Augustine, this book dramatically portrays with a solid historic foundation how life in Florida might have been for her Minorcan ancestors.
A story unfolded in colonial times, she tells of the life, loves, friendships, customs, and deaths of the first generation of Minorcan’s in the Americas. It was difficult to put down as she developed story. The author brought her main characters; Don Francisco Pellicer; his first and second wives, Margarita and Juana; and their many children, friends, and scoundrels to life as she unveiled the engaging tale of the first Minorcan in St Augustine.
The Minorcan Quarter is a sequel to The Minorcan Yoke and after reading both novels, for me, she has shinned a bright light on the important but often overlooked role played by the Minorcan people in the founding of the oldest city in the United States.