Book Description

Just south of America's oldest permanent city, St. Augustine, Florida, lie the ruins of the largest colony the English attempted to establish in the New World. New Smyrna was established in 1768 by 1,400 indentured servants; immigrating from the Mediterranean countries of Italy, Greece and the Balearic island of Minorca. Their nine turbulent year odyssey under English domination and servitude was a struggle to survive against tremendous odds. Upon receiving a land grant in the newly acquired Florida territory, Scottish Doctor Andrew Turnbull sets out to recruit indentured servants from hardy Mediterranean stock. The doctor finds few takers and much resistance filling his quota of 500 immigrants. With Minorca set as the disembark point, Dr. Turnbull arrives disappointed in his efforts knowing he is far short of his desired number of bondsmen and expenses are mounting. Fortunately the doctor finds many of the local population willing to join his adventure and the Minorcans quickly swell the ranks. Upon arriving in New Smyrna, Florida, the immigrants find life not as it was promised. They endure nine years of brutality, starvation, domination, love, marriage, rivalry, pirates, rebellion, hangings, murder, deadly weather, diseases and death. Through the hardships, more than half of the colonists perish. The 600 remaining souls would find their savior in carpenter Don Francisco Pellicer when he risks his life by escaping to seek help from the governor in St. Augustine. He then returns to the colony to lead his people to freedom.