Thursday, October 19, 2006 FEATURE Southern Cross, Page 3 Catholic Minorcans’ ties with the Savannah Diocese go back in time and remain n the parish register of San Pedro de Mosquitos, or Golden Book of the IMinorcans, Father Pedro Camps dutifully recorded vital and sacramental events in the lives of members of the Minorcan colony of British East Florida from 1768-1784. Truly the “good shepherd” of his people, Camps had trav- eled with them from Mahon, Minorca, after their recruitment in 1768 as indentured workers for Dr. Andrew Turnbull’s 200-acre plantation in Florida. The “good life” Dr. Turnbull and minister to the sick and infirm his associates offered recruits for before rejoining the rest of the for- Los Mosquitos Inlet (New Smyrna) mer inhabitants of the colony. colony promised each of those in- An entry in Father Camps’ Golden dentured 50 acres of land plus 5 Book recorded the beginnings of Mi- acres for each child after completion norcan history in Saint Augustine: of a 6-8 year indenture. Accom- “On the 9th day of November panying Father Camps and 1777, the church of San Pedro the new colonists from Mi- was translated from the set- norca was another mission- tlement of Mosquito to the ary, Father Bartolomé Casa- city of Saint Augustine, with novas. Of the 1403 people the same colony of Maho- recruited, some were Cor- nese Minorcans which was

sican and Italian, 400 were established in the said settle- Map Collection, www.davidrumsey.com Rumsey Courtesy of David Greek, but the majority— ment, and the same parish Menorca and inset of Mahon harbor, 1778. Rita H. DeLorme 900—were Minorcan, priest and Missionary Apos- ever-present Father O’Neill on May alogy and History Web site, native to an island off the coast of tolic, Dr. Dn. Pedro Camps, Parish 14, 1837. http://www.aigensoc.org/story_minor Spain then under British control. Priest.” Father O’Neill presided at a more cans.asp, include those of Andreu, A mosquito-filled swamp Descendants in Georgia solemn occasion, the funeral of Cercopely, Hernandez, Manucy, In 1768, after a rough passage to Among descendents of the early Brigita Hernandez, in June of 1838. Oliveros, Pacetti, Pomar, and their new surroundings, survivors of Minorcan Catholics of Saint Au- Entered as Mrs. Hernandez’s place Ponce—names often encountered in the trip were inducted into a way of gustine who eventually migrated to of origin was “St. Augustine, W. Flo- records of the Catholic Diocese of life even more miserable than their Georgia were several prominent rida.” She was noted as being a “res- Savannah. Since the majority of the voyage to Florida. The land of their members of Saint John’s parish in ident of Savannah for many years.” Minorcan Catholics who emigrated dreams turned out to be a swamp Savannah. In his book, Aristocracy Names of members of the Hernan- to Georgia were of Catalan descent filled with mosquitoes and back- of the Heart, Catholic Lay Leader- dez family have continued to appear and from the northeast part of Spain, breaking work exacted by cruel ship of Savannah, 1820 - 1870, in diocesan records for more than a they may qualify as the first Hispa- overseers. Father Casanovas, Father Thomas Paul Thigpen lists two of century. In the 1859 Savannah City nics to settle in the Savannah Dio- Camps’ assistant, was soon off the these parishioners, John Elisha Her- Directory Frank Hernandez can be cese. Most have persevered in the scene—deported to Europe because nandez and Francis J. Cercopely, found running a “confectionary” and religion Father Pedro Camps strove of alleged “insubordination.” It then both of Minorcan origin. Thigpen living at the corner of Liberty and to preserve well over 200 years ago. became Father Camps’ sole respon- observes that “throughout the British Habersham Streets, not far from the Bishops of Saint Augustine sibility to keep Catholicism alive in period in Florida, les minorquins had church he attended. and Savannah New Smyrna. Despite clashes with remained devotedly Catholic, but Particulars of the life of Francis J. The history of the Diocese of British authorities and plantation their Mediterranean style of Catholi- Cercopely, the other member of Savannah intersects tangentially with owners, Camps miraculously man- cism often diverged from the Irish Saint John Parish cited in Aristo- that of the Minorcans’ home diocese, aged to do so. The register he kept and French styles.” Thigpen adds cracy of the Heart, exist in the hold- Saint Augustine. Bishop Jean-Pierre from 1768 until 1784 of his Mi- that the Minorcan Catholics of Saint ings of Armstrong Atlantic State Augustin Marcellin Verot headed the norcan ministry still exists today, Augustine were known for lively University’s Lane Library. In the Vicariate Apostolic of Florida from bearing in it names of these early, celebrations such as their Fiesta de library’s Savannah Biographies, 1858, even after his appointment as suffering Catholic workers. San Juan (Feast of Saint John). vol.12, student researcher Cindy Bishop of Savannah in 1861. When By 1777, these workers had had Perhaps presaging behavior of Hardegree states that Francis Cer- the vicariate became the Diocese of enough. Two members of the co- future immigrants, the Minorcans copely was born on March 15, 1806, Saint Augustine, Bishop Verot was lony, Ramon Rogero and Francisco often kept to their own communities. in Saint Augustine, Florida. The son given the choice as to which diocese Pellicer, Sr., made their way to Assimilation into the community at of Greek and Spanish immigrants of he would head; he chose Saint Saint Augustine to state their case large took time, but it did come. the Minorcan group, Frank Cer- Augustine as the poorer and resigned to British Governor Patrick Tonyn. Recorded in the pages of the parish copely did what many of his ances- the See of Savannah in 1870. Father The governor showed pity toward register of Saint John’s Catholic tors did for a living in Saint Augus- Thomas J. McDonough was chan- the people of the New Smyrna Church, 1816-1838 are numerous tine: he worked on the river. Cerco- cellor, administrator and, from 1947, plantation, sending troops to inves- sacramental highlights in the lives of pely had his brush with fame by Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Augustine. tigate conditions in the colony. the Hernandez family. Marriages being successively captain of the He became Auxiliary Bishop of Sa- After becoming acquainted with noted include those of Nicholas steamer “Ida” and of the “Beau- vannah in 1957, Bishop of Savannah abuses perpetrated there, Tonyn Hernandez and Lucy Luna per- regard,” both maritime players in Sa- in 1960, and Archbishop of Louis- released the workers from their formed by Father Jeremiah O’Neill vannah’s Civil War history. Francis ville in 1967. bondage. Led by Pellicer, the men, in 1835 and of John Elisha Her- J. Cercopely (d. July 26, 1869) was women and children of the colony nandez and Josephine Roberra in buried at the Cathedral Cemetery as Columnist RITA H. DELORME walked the entire route to Saint 1837. Louisa Daniela Hernandez, were other members of his family. is a volunteer in the Diocesan Augustine. Father Camps stayed child of Elias Hernandez and Pa- Minorcan family names listed on Archives. She can be reached behind for a time at New Smyrna to trona Andrews was baptized by the the Nassau County, Florida Gene- at [email protected].