St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Little San Felipe
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 17, 2022
1. Little San Felipe Marker
The small pocket park in the block just south of here is dedicated to the memory of the Menorcan families native to Menorca, an island off the eastern coast of Spain.
The Menorcans who immigrated to Florida were indentured laborers of an indigo plantation located in what is today New Smyrna Beach. Due to the harsh living conditions and broken or ignored contracts, the Menorcans revolted against the British owners and relocated to St. Augustine in 1777. Most of the Menorcan families who lived on Spanish and Cuna Streets originated in an area known as San Felipe near the seaport of Mahon. Thus, this area came to be known as Little San Felipe and was almost entirely Menorcan by 1788. The attached map shows many of the homes where they lived in 1788.
Residents of Little San Felipe Quarter were mostly farmers, with some venturing across the Matanzas River becoming fishermen in North Beach, today's Vilano Beach.
The northern portion of Spanish Street continues to include residential homes among commercial life in downtown St. Augustine. As of 2020, some descendants of the early Menorcan families still reside on Spanish
this page online
Erected by City of St. Augustine.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1777.
Location. 29° 53.778′ N, 81° 18.838′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. Marker is on Spanish Street just north of Cuna Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on a wall along Spanish Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 30 Spanish Street, 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 Minorcan Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); British Colonial Hygiene (within shouting distance of this marker); A Microcosm of Urban Archaeology in Downtown St. Augustine, Florida (within shouting distance of this marker); La Florida's El Camino Real (within shouting distance of this marker); Spanish Colonial Hygiene (within shouting distance of this marker); Rodriguez-Avero-Sanchez House (within shouting distance of this marker); Casa Avero (within shouting distance of this marker); Rodriquez-Avero-Sanchez House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 17, 2022
2. Little San Felipe Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
