St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Walk to Freedom

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 26, 2019

1. Walk to Freedom Marker

Inscription.
In 1768, Scottish physician, Dr. Andrew Turnbull, received a large land grant 70 miles south of St. Augustine. Turnbull recruited 1,403 villagers from the Mediterranean and Baltic Islands of Minorca, Greece, Turkey and Corsica as indentured servants to plant indigo and other crops in the harsh Florida heat. This group would become collectively known as "Menorcans."

After nine years of abuse and mistreatment, during which 964 died, 17 Menorcans walked to St. Augustine seeking asylum. British Governor Patrick Tonyn, the Governor of St. Augustine, ordered that they be freed from Turnbull's enterprise. The remaining 600 Menorcans proceeded to walk 70 arduous miles from New Smyrna to St. Augustine, where they were welcomed and offered freedom from injustice.

Today Menorcans still call St. Augustine home.

Erected by Historic Tours of America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Civil Rights • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1768.

Location. 29° 54.502′ N, 81° 19.152′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. Marker can be reached from San Marco Avenue (Florida Highway A1A) (Business U.S. 1) south of Dufferin

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Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located along the "History Walk" at the north end of the St. Augustine History Museum parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 167 San Marco Avenue, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The 1870 Hildreth House (here, next to this marker); Arriving in Style (a few steps from this marker); Up in Smoke (within shouting distance of this marker); Viva Cuba! (within shouting distance of this marker); On With The Show (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Flagler's "Winter Newport" (within shouting distance of this marker); Slaves No More (within shouting distance of this marker); Chain Gangs (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

Also see . . .
1. The Menorcans. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on August 27, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. History of St. Augustine, Florida. Wikipedia entry:
The settlers rebelled en masse in 1777; they walked 70 miles to St. Augustine, where Governor Tonyn gave them refuge. The Minorcans and their descendants stayed on in St. Augustine through the subsequent changes of flags, and marked the community with their language, culture, cuisine and customs. (Submitted on May 28, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Dr Andrew Turnbull image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Dr Andrew Turnbull

Marker detail: Indigo processing image. Click for full size.

3. Marker detail: Indigo processing

Marker detail: Governor Patrick Tonyn image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Governor Patrick Tonyn

Walk to Freedom Marker<br>(<i>wide view • marker located a east end of "History Walk"</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 26, 2019

5. Walk to Freedom Marker
(wide view • marker located a east end of "History Walk")

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 336 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 28, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.