Minorcan Family Heritage: A St. Augustine Culture

A Minorcan Family Heritage highlights a beautiful culture that appeared in 1768 and continues to this day primarily in St. Augustine, Florida. These exceptional immigrants left their homes on the Isle of Menorca and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. They had signed contracts to become indentured servants of Dr. Andrew Turnbull. After serving from seven to nine years at his indigo plantation in New Smyrna, Florida, they would be free and given a tract of land. Over 1400 Minorcans began the trip from Menorca. When they fled from the plantation in 1777, they had to walk 70 miles on King's Highway, to a bustling St. Augustine. They arrived when the American Revolution was being fought. The British flag flew in St. Augustine from 1763 to 1783 and during the war over 15,000 Loyalists escaped from the Colonies seeking refuge and passage out. The Minorcans were present for this mass exodus as well as the Indian Wars, the War of 1812, the Civil War and both World Wars. A Minorcan Family Heritage tells the exciting story of Antonio and Catalina Usina and one line of descendants in the Usina family.