THE HISTORY
OF
Saint Augustine, Florida

WITH
AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SPANISH
AND FRENCH ATTEMPTS AT EXPLORATION
AND SETTLEMENT IN THE TERRITORY
OF FLORIDA

TOGETHER WITH
SKETCHES OF EVENTS AND OBJECTS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE
OLDEST TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES

TO WHICH IS ADDED
A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CLIMATE ANDADVANTAGES OF SAINT AUGUSTINEAS A HEALTH RESORT


BY
WILLIAM W. DEWHURST


NEW YORK
G.   P.   P U T N A M ’ S   S O N S
182 Fifth Avenue
1 8 8 1


Copyright
1881
By WILLIAM W. DEWHURST

PREFACE.

This brief outline of the history of one of the most interestingportions of our country, together with the sketches of the celebratedcharacters and memorable events which have rendered the town of St.Augustine famous throughout the world, is offered to the public in thehope and expectation that the information herein contained may supplythe desire, felt by an ever-increasing number of its citizens andvisitors, to be better informed as to the early history of a place sojustly celebrated.

The desire of the author has been to condense and render accessible tothe general reader the very interesting but elaborate accounts of theearly writers concerning some of the more notable events connected withthe early settlement and defense of St. Augustine.

Copious quotations have been borrowed, and the quaint language of theearly historians has been retained as peculiarly appropriate to thesubject and locality described.

The traditions and chronicles in possession of the descendants of theearly settlers have been sought with a desire to preserve thesefragments of history before it shall be too late. Already thoseconversant with the events of the early years of the century have passedfrom the stage of life.

The reader who desires to become better informed as to the eventsnoticed in this volume should consult the narrative of De Soto, by aKnight of Elvas, the works of Cabeça de Vaca, Garcilasa de la Vega,Laudonnère, Bartram, Romans, Vignoles, Roberts, De Brahm, Stork, Forbes,Darby, Williams, and Fairbanks, to all of whom the author is underobligation.

St. Augustine, Florida, November, 1880.

CONTENTS.