JOHN H. HANN COLLECTION AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA / COPYRIGHT 2003 JOHN H. HANN

ARMS FROM MOVILA FOR THE 1723

INDEX TO THE DOCUMENTATION 1723-24 on arms from Movila for Yamasee

First piece: St. Marks of and the Chattahoochee in August 1723 Diego Peña to Gov. Antonio de Benavides, San Marcos de Apalache, August 6, 1723. 6 pages.

Second piece: THE BRITISH OF CAROLINA’S CAMPAIGN TO EXTERMINATE THE YAMASEE AND OTHER INDIANS ALLIED TO THE SPANIARDS 1723-1724. 20 pages.

1. Antonio de Benavides to the Marquis of Casafuerte, Viceroy of , August 18, 1723. pp. 2-4

2. Another letter between the same persons, April 20, 1724. pp. 4-6

3. Enclosure by Benavides on the dispatch of a mission to la Movila to purchase arms and munitions for distribution to the Indians, October 5, 1723. pp. 6-7

4. The King, Royal Decree. From San Lorenzo the Royal, August 23, 1721. pp. 7-8

5. Junta, St. Augustine, October 6, 1723 by Gov. Benavides, the pastor, and many others on the auto of October 5th convoking them for this Junta about the plague. pp. 8-11

6. Gov. and Royal Officials to Gov. of Movila, Oct. 8, 1723. p. 11

7 Gov. Benavides, Autto, St. Augustine, April 15, 1724, convoking a Junta to discuss the appropriateness of appealing to the French for arms. pp. 17-19

8. Gov. Benavides and Royal officials, order to Adjutant Sevastian Sánchez, despatched to New to collect Situado to leave in Vera Cruz the pesos necessary to pay the French for the rifles, and etc. solicited above, St. Augustine, October 8, 1723. pp. 16-17

9. Gov. Benavides, Autto, St. Augustine, April 15, 1724, convoking a Junta to discuss the appropriateness of appealing to the French for arms. pp. 12-13

10. Juan Fernándes to Gov. Benavides, San Marcos de Apalache, April 24, 1724 forwarding a letter from Pansacola. p. 13

11. Pedro Primo de Rivera to Lieutenant of the Fort of San Marcos, Point of Ziguenza (Pansacola), March 20, 1724, warning that within a month Ayabama and others are coming to kill the Yamasee. pp. 13-14

12. Gov. Benavides and many others, Junta, St. Augustine, April 15, 1724 on the content of the above two letters. pp. 14-15

13. Gov. Benavides and Royal Officials, to Gov. of Movila, April 21, 1724, asking him to sell the rifles, etc. requested. pp. 15-16

14. Gov. Benavides, Instruction and order to Diego Peña for mission to Movila, St. Augustine, April 27, 1724. pp. 16-17

15. Gov. Benavides, Auto, St. Augustine, April 27, 1724, instructing Peña to investigate in Pansacola about rumors of plague in Movila and to abandon his mission, if they are well founded rumors. pp. 17- 18

16. Antonio Pérez, Interpreter for the Yamasee tongue, statement in the name of the Yamasee chiefs, St. Augustine, May 20, 1724. pp. 18-19

17. Gov. Benavides, May 20, 1724. Instructions that Yamasee vengeance for deaths they suffered to be done without ostentation so as not to compromise the suspension of arms treaty with England. pp. 18-19

Governor Antonio de Benavides to the Marquis of Casafuerte, Viceroy of Mexico, August 18, 1723. JTCC, reel 5.

It follows Diego Peña’s letter to the governor from San Marcos of August 6, 1723.

Most Excellent Sire. In fulfillment of my obligation, I am bringing to your Excellency’s notice how today, the

seventeenth of this month, by way of a courier whom the Letter of the governor of Florida to the commandant of the fort and garrison of San Marcos viceroy sending the preceding letter and despatched, he had [next line missing] Don Diego Peña, a that he may give it proua so that the person whom he dispatched from this to visit the Gov. of la may give help to provinces of Apalachecolo and to bring some goods in the San Marcos and avoid these vexations. way of clothing for its caciques and leading men with which Aug. 18 of 723 he may gratify them. And both give me account how the

Talipuzes and others of the faction of the English of Carolina intend with great effort to ruin the nation of the

Amases (sic-) and that for that purpose they had prepared various apparatus of war. That it would be possible to await for them to prove it shortly with the execution of their evil designs. And all the more with the malcontented ones being of a greater number than those who appear to be on our side. We must also be mistrustful of these both because of the fickleness of these people and because, perchance, the fear of their opponents may conquer them or the astuteness or sagacity with which the said Englishmen seek to attach them to themselves and to spread a complete disaffection toward the Spaniards, from which there results the surprise (novedad) and inconstancy that the said lieutenant Don Diego Peña advises me he recognized in some of them, which they must trust (confiarze) they are experiencing among themselves various movements, like their having detained his person and the companions that he brought in the place of Colache from whence he wrote the said letter to me. The latter with the other one from the commander of San Marcos he ordered to be attached to the autos that he has ordered to be formed concerning the matter. That he will omit sending a copy of them in order not to molest your excellency.

2 I must only bring to your sovereign knowledge that, with this motive, in the Junta of war that he held, it was resolved that one of the launches that there are in this Presidio should go to the city of la Havana with letters to the governor and Royal officials of that plaza so that on the account of these coffers he may assist the said garrison of

San Marcos with provisions, munitions, and other things, remaining understanding at the same time in introducing them by way of land that he is able to, even though with great difficulty not only because of the lack of horses but also because of the risks of having the enemies cut the passage (pasos) in the case of their having blocked that fort, which is something we must rationally fear in accord with the inconstant verifications they have recognized in the

Talipuse and Uchise nations, who are the most haughty and untamed ones that there are in these lands, about the extermination of whom he wrote to his Majesty on this occasion so that, with its being his Royal pleasure, he might order it done. In the latter, if he should deign to attempt it (cometerla), I would very happily sacrifice up to the last promissory note (? vale) so that the vexations (inquietudes) might cease that these two nations cause and so that the rest that have rendered obedience to his Majesty may live without incitement (estimulo) nor subjection to the ones who intend to disturb them. And the propagation of the Holy Gospel will be better assured. For every day they will continue their audacities more. And after causing all the destruction in them necessary in order to teach them a lesson and to instill in them the due respect for the arms of his Majesty and for his Royal jurisdiction, it will serve as a great example for the rest of the Indian nations and for the English. This is, Excellent Sire, the state in which this

Presidio and provinces find themselves. And as the experience we have teaches us about the ease with which the

English and the Indians who are their partisans move to take up arms, it persuades us of the little or nothing that there is for trusting in the good correspondence that they have offered whenever the evils (malicias) with which they dirty themselves and that they precipitate are not punished [and until then], the Holy Ministry of the conversions will not be possible. And it must be feared that the insolence will be rekindled (? recintere) in any case whatever of the just decisions of the King and of your excellency until he has made the settlement be established in the province of

Apalache that I have informed [you of]. Especially in not having, as I do not have, forces for subjecting them, because it is not just nor decorous to continue the tolerance, drawing, most excellent Sire, such harmful consequences as they have experienced repeatedly in this Presidio and provinces since the year of seventeen hundred and two. In informing your excellency, I am truly fulfilling [my duty] to the Royal service and I am explaining the scant forces with which I find myself for removing any chastisement at all from this plaza because of this plasa’s being reduced solely to the short number of the garrison and the majority invalids. I remain at the feet of

3 Your Excellency with sincere will, desirous of sacrificing my obedience in his service and that our Lord may protect your excellency for many and happy years as I, this Presidio and provinces need. St. Augustine of Florida, August eighteenth of seventeen hundred and twenty-three. Excellent Sire, his least servant kisses the hand of Your

Excellency, Don Antonio de Benavides.

To the Excellent Sire Marquis of Casafuerte.

[In the margin] Another letter from the same person. This is the letter that the viceroy cites in his letter [of] April

20 of 724.

Most Excellent Sire. His Majesty (May God preserve him) having sent two copies to me of letters from the prime minister of England so that he may direct them to the governor of Carolina and in the knowledge of them so that he may maintain complete good correspondence with this government and maintain peace among the Indians and the rest of the points of immunity, which the suspension of arms indicates, [that was] stipulated between the two crowns. With this motive, I find myself in need of dispatching a pirogue with an officer of the plaza and twenty-five soldiers so that the said two copies of letters may be delivered in his own hand to the abovementioned governor of

Carolina, including in it the one that I wrote, for my part, to him concerning this subject. And while pursuing his voyage, [passing] within the bars, he arrived at a fort (Castillo) that they have on the Tamaja [the Altamaha] and mouths of Talapa at thirty-three leagues from this Presidio, where, as soon as the said officer and soldiers arrived

[there], with contempt (vilipendio) they stripped them of the arms that they were carrying and detained them in it for three days. And from there the Englishmen passed them on to another pirogue of their own and they tied ours to its poop. And they transported them to Carolina in this manner and without permitting them any indication of freedom, the said officer delivered the letters to the aforementioned governor and they placed him and his companions in a stable (caballeriza) that they have in the public jail of the city, in which they kept them for a day and a half. And afterward they transferred them to a high room of the said jail without allowing them to go out to any place at all until the day before their departure for this Presidio, when they allowed the officer alone to be able to do so so that he might supply himself with provisions for his return. And among other activities that the abovementioned officer observed among the said Englishmen, more inclined to the cunning with which they intend to achieve their evilly considered intentions than [they are] adjusted to good correspondence, is the one among them that one hundred

Indians allied with them promoted so that they might come down to these regions to wage hostilities against those belonging to ours, which eighty [of them] carried out, whom the governor himself dispatched on the seventeenth day

4 of January of this year, who were defeated entirely. From this there resulted their having cautiously surprised a village of Yamasee Indians in the province of Apalache on the occasion of not being able to detach (desmembrar)

[any] from the garrison of this plaza, nor from that of the fort of San Marcos any people at all because of its garrison being reduced to a short number, nor to provide the Indians with the arms that they need for their defense because those from the said Englishmen that they brought [with them] when they were reduced to the obedience of his

Majesty are now of no use at all, stating that while the Yamasee Indians remained under the obedience to his

Majesty, they would not have peace with this government like that which they desire that war should break out [I believe the last line is missing from my printout of this page] / in order to assure their well being, without

[mentioning] other propositions that they made to the said officer in which they may discern their premeditated designs. And even without the noticing of the suspension of arms, they do not cease to hatch schemes (maquinar) and to take steps de facto in order to make themselves lords of the land, something that is not very difficult to achieve in view of the facileness of the Indians who inhabit it. And notwithstanding [this], most excellent sire, that from such beginnings (semejantes principios) the very clear consequence is that from not countering (de no contrarestar) the idea of these bad neighbors, there will result with time the ultimate ruin of these Dominions as I, on this matter have repeatedly given your excellency account, desiring that the ultimate measures should be taken in proportion to that which this nation [does] in striving to extend its Dominions and to possess these provinces as its own. For even without the possession, they are already claiming for themselves the unjust title and they are extending their right to them all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and the coast of the north to the south that comes to an end (remata) in the extremeties (? callos) and separates the channel from the Island of la Havana. And in the knowledge of all the aforementioned, I must likewise bring to the high understanding of your excellency that on the account of the expenditure (gasto) of Indians some more measures (providencias) may be taken than what has been offered at present in the despatch of a sloop to bring foodstuffs and munitions to the province of Apalache for the

Indians whom those of Carolina have exterminated [This passage could be rendered also as: “for those Indians who have exterminated those of Carolina.” I am not certain which the writer had in mind.] and who have gathered together in the vicinity of that fort. May Our Lord protect your excellency for many and happy years, as I desire and as this Presidio and provinces require. St. Augustine of Florida, April twentieth of seventeen hundred and twenty- four. Most excellent sire, by way of the attached extract your excellency will be pleased to see the immense labor in which this soldiery of watches and military posts (infanteria de guardias y destacamentos) is involved without the

5 expedients (advitrios) that I have provided for their relief sufficing because of this population’s being reduced to only a short number from the garrison (dotacion) of the Presidio. He recounts... (summary omitted) (sic by

Jeannette Thurber Connor)

Enclosure [In English]:

+

In the city of St. Augustine of Florida on the fifth day of the month of October of this year of seventeen hundred and twenty-three his Lordship the Señor Don Antonio de Benavides Basan y Molina, colonel of cavalry of the armies of his Majesty and exempt from his Royal Guards of Corps, governor and captain general of this said city and the provinces of its jurisdiction - stated that, inasmuch as the English of la Carolina are striving each time with greater determination and astuteness to reduce and subjugate to their devotion and obedience the Indians who have given it to his Majesty (whom may God preserve) lately, with the bait of the good arms, munitions, and clothing that they introduce into their provinces or threats of destroying them by the force of them or with promises that they make to them and influences by which those of ours seem empty to them, giving them various examples in order to better persuade them and to charm them in their evil intent such as are saying to them that the Spaniards are lacking in good arms, munitions, and clothing and that, because of their not having forces, they demolished the Presidio of

San Joseph. And they have reduced the one of Panzacola to a short garrison and directing other propositions at them to put the spirits of the said Indians in consternation in accord as the Lieutenant Diego Peña has given your lordship an account of all this alluded to in more detail, a person who visited and surveyed the state of the provinces of

Caueta and the rest that have rendered obedience to his Majesty. And with its being certain that with these efforts being continued by the said Englishmen, the said Indians could possibly yield to them and increase the number of our enemies in any whatever breakout of war that there may be and not / only this but also that at the sight of the vanquished ones, the ones of the provinces of up above alluded to may come to an understanding (? Claudiquen) with those that are established in these vicinities or perchance they may resolve on that which their fickleness is not very remote from the discourse. Accordingly, with his lordship putting himself in charge concerning the evil consequences that can possibly come about (subuenir) that the said Englishmen would attempt such an idea even among the lesser part of the Indians who are allied to us. At the same time there is found needed that the most efficacious means be put in place on his part so that the said idea may evaporate or be countered. And with his being solely the one who, in this case, is able to take advantage of the soliciting of good arms and munitions in order

6 to distribute them among the said Indians, in not being able to obtain these from the kingdom of because of its not having ones that are suitable or to their liking, with this in mind and for [the eventuality] that in another manner it becomes impracticable to avoid so evident a harm, his lordship has resolved to dispatch an officer from the plaza to the settlement of la Movila to request of that governor that he send him six hundred light muskets, six barrels of fine powder, and six thousand flintstones and that the ones and the other be paid for from the account of the Expenditure for Indians because of its having to redound to their very own benefit. For, from it there is going to result the greater security of their friendship and that the said Englishmen do not succeed in their ceaseless and evil designs and because, for the execution of the matter referred to, it appears that there is a royal decree of His Majesty opposed to it, a circular that his lordship has in his possession, dated on the twenty-third of August of the past year of seventeen hundred and twenty-one because of their being prohibited in it the trade by Frenchmen to the ports of

Spaniards of this America so that they do not become contaminated with the plague that they were experiencing in

France. With his lordship having in mind so sovereign and Royal a precept as (if discretionary judgment is permitted), the urgency of the need to intercept the steps of the said Englishmen, desiring (? Descando) to resolve in the particular [matter] with better / success, I am ordering and I order my notary that he call for and convoke to a

Junta the beneficed Señor Don Pedro Lorenzo de Azevedo, pastor and vicar of this holy parochial church and the reverend father fray Domingo Garcia, guardian of this convent and chapter house of the lord St. Francis, the officials of the Royal treasury, captains of infantry, cavalry, and artillery and the one of militia and the rest of the retired captains and officers of the companies so that, concerning the subject of this Autto and in the knowledge of the

Royal Decree cited, the original of which is to be attached to it, it may hold a conference on and determine whether it is appropriate or not to have recourse (Ocurrir) to the said settlement of Movila to ask for the arms and munitions mentioned for the purpose of distributing them among the said Indians. That his lordship is ready to conform himself with the accord and judgment (Ditamen) that would be composed of more individuals and that was for the greater service of both majesties. And by this I so provide, order, and sign. - Don Antonio de Benauides - before me

Juan Solana, notary for the public and for the government

Notifications/ follow sic in English.

The King. Inasmuch as with the report that he had that in France they were arranging for many of its

natives to cross over to the Indies with their merchandise for the purpose of saving these and their R1 Decree

7 persons from the plague that was being suffered in that kingdom and to trade on the coasts of them while the contagion did not stop. And considering that although this idea had not been put into practice, it would be without any doubt at all because of the notoriety with which the abovementioned Frenchmen were fraudulently crossing over to America in order to introduce their clothing, even without the new motive that they have of the trade with Spain and Italy having been prohibited for them without further means remaining for them for the consumption of their provisions and merchandise (para el Consumo) from their maneuvers than that of bringing them to the Indies where there are so many poorly defended ports through which to introduce them. And keeping in mind what / I have provided for (preuenido) and ordered by way of the two dispatches cited of the fifth of December of seventeen hundred and twenty and the thirtieth of July just past and concerning this my latest decision that they be applied with the greatest vigilance, activity, and watchfulness for the most punctual, exact, and due fulfillment of their content, without, under any pretext nor motive among those that have been mentioned. And even though it may be with the one of bringing dispatches of mine issued prior to the date of these ones (? detse), are they to permit or consent to the entry into the ports of that kingdom and provinces of any ship, clothing, or any goods at all from

France, avoiding by all means possible the trade with those of this nation because of the great importance of preserving my dominions and vassals from the contagion of the plague that is being suffered and which has extended to such a degree in many of their provinces with the warning (aduertencia) that any whatever governor, corregidor, military chief, or political minister who allows them to enter will be punished unfailingly with the penalty of his life because of this being my will. Done in San Lorenzo the Royal on the twenty-third of August of seventeen hundred and twenty-one.

I the King. By order of the king our Lord. Dn Andres de la Corrobarrutia y Cupide. At the foot there are three

signatures (rubricas). So that the Viceroy of New Spain, Audiencias, Subscription at the Foot Governors, and Royal officials and secular cabildos of that kingdom may observe the orders that are given to them to the end that they may not permit the entry into their ports of ships or goods from France in the form that is expressed.

In the city of St. Augustine of Florida on the sixth day of the month of October of this year of seventeen

hundred and twenty-three, with the Señor Don Antonio de Benavides Basan y Molina, colonel of Juntta cavalry of the armies of His Majesty and exempt from his Royal Corps / Governor and Captain

General of this said city and its provinces, the Beneficed Señor (Bendo) Don Pedro Lorenzo de Azevedo, Pastor and

8 Vicar of this holy parochial church, the Reverend Father fray Domingo Garcia, Guardian of this Convent and

Chapter House of the Lord St. Francis, the Señores royal officials, Captain of Horse, Don Francisco Menéndez

Márques, proprietary Accountant, and the Ensign don Thomás Fernández de Mora, interim Treasurer, the Captains of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery, Don Juan Ruiz Mexia, Don Joseph Benedit Horruytiner and don Sevastian Lópes de Tholedo, the Lieutenants Don Juan de Paniagua and Don Antonio Diaz Mexia, the retired Captains, Don Luis

Rodrigo de Ortega, Don Juan de Hita Salazar, Don Salvador Garcia de Villegas and don Gerónimo de León, the

Captain of Militia Don Pedro Lamberto Horruytiner, the Adjutants, Active and retired, Don Pedro de Hita Salazar,

Don Juan Lorenzo de Pueyo, Gabriel Alvares de Sotomayor, Don Manuel Horruytiner, Don Pedro Ramón Barrera and Diego Pablo de San Juan and the Active Ensigns, don Francisco de Fuentas and Pedro de Escovedo, for the purpose of conferring about the subject of the Autto of yesterday, the fifth of the current [month], in virtue of which they have been convoked for this Junta. And after its having been read by me the notary and the royal Decree

Circular that is cited in it of the twenty-third of August of seventeen hundred and twenty-one. And after having understood the context of the one and the other, the said Señores, after having carefully considered (haviendo prehameditado--sic) and conferred over with full inspection and care concerning the circumstance of the plague that the said Royal Decree mentions and that this cause alone would be able to be opposed to that which his Lordship has determined in the case of its existing (subsistir) or of their being strong fears of some one or some among the ports of this America being contaminated with it. Anyhow (Como quiera que) with respect to such a report, there is none, nor less (ni menos) that the said plague has been experienced in the settlement of la Mobila. For if they were to have it, it is certain that it would be had in this Presidio / because of the closeness [of it] that there is by land and the trade that it has with the Indians who travel to there (la Trafican); they were of common accord and feeling that his

Lordship should carry out that which it has decided on and occurs to it through the means of an officer from the

Plaza [going] to the governor of the said settlement of Movila for the arms and munitions that the said Auto alludes to. For it is impossible that they are to be obtained by any other means than by it, as it is impossible that without them they will keep the Indians in our friendship, who have given obedience to His Majesty. And it will be a great sorrow that, because of this lack, so easy to remedy, that risk should be taken and [as a consequence] the chance is lost for the propagation of the Holy gospel and the zeal with which His Lordship is seeking its greater extention. As

(Como) it is no less [a consideration] that it is very worthy of being foreseen that if the Englishmen have knowledge that the said Indians find themselves without arms, they will apply their efforts with more strength in order to

9 remove them from our friendship and attach them to their own [orbi]t. The latter would not be at all difficult for them to achieve because of the arms and munitions being the instrument most suited and adequate to the nature and inclination of every Indian word (? Todo Berbo Yndio) and that by way of it they may be conquered more easily.

And accordingly, it is seen that, because of the lack of them the Cacique Aquilache withdrew to this Presidio with all his people and the one of Tamasle, who has his village established at present on where the one of the Chacatos was formerly in order to go with the English because of the same lack. These examples and many others that experience has demonstrated convinces them undoubtedly that the motive of not having arms to give to the Indians will always mean (Sera siempre) that they will not be assured of their friendship and for that he is subjected to the fickleness of their intentions and that the sagacity and astuteness of the Englishmen will succeed in those that they aspire to with such eagerness (? Tanto añelo) for the ultimate ruin of this presidio and with respect to which His

Majesty, as one so pious, in view of a memorial (representación) that the residents made during the past year of seventeen hundred and twenty complaining of the hostilities that they receive from the Indians, incited by the said

Englishmen, was pleased to issue the Royal Decree, which likewise was read by me the aforesid notary to the said

Señores with the date of the twenty-fifth of March of seventeen hundred and twenty-one [in which] he commands

His Lordship that if, by way of the means of good correspondence in accord with that which must be practiced under the suspension of arms, he does not achieve that the said Englishmen refrain from waging hostilities against his

Royal Dominions, that His Lordship may take satisfaction in the best form that he is able to because of there being no reason to allow it to be tolerated and consented to. As a result, in not having any other way of taking it than the one of putting up opposition to the very thing that the said Englishmen have chosen and they follow for this purpose

(en esta atenzion), they find as unavoidable the recourse that His Lordship intends (Yntenta) of asking the said governor of Mobila for the abovementioned arms because of being certain that there is no such contagion of the plague in it, as the reports certify (Califican) which the Lieutenant Diego Peña gives about three Frenchmen being in the provinces of up above, dealing with the Indians who are allied with us. And also the arrival of some fifteen who, a year ago now, came to this Presidio overland, where they were for many days until there was an occasion for transporting them to la Havana. Similarly, he is striving (haze fuerza) with the intention of maintaining the garrison of Pansacola unharmed and free of such contagion, with its being so close to the said Movila, all reasons that are bound to facilitate the carrying out of that which His Lordship has decided on because of its being so useful for the service of both Majesties as well as important for the greater security and conservation of this Plaza. And this is the

10 opinion and feeling of the said Señores. With the latter, His Lordship said that he was in agreement and he was naming and named the Adjutant Don Manuel Horruytiner for that purpose, to whom they gave the necessary letters and orders and ones conducive to the subject matter. And authentic copies of them will be placed in these Autos and they will make the copy or copies that are appropriate / in order to send to His Majesty and to the Señor Viceroy of the New Spain, in conformity with which this Junta was concluded. And His Lordship and the said Señores signed it.... (signatures follow--sic in English).

Señor Gover and Captn Genl of la Movila: After having had reports by way of a letter from an officer of this

plaza who went to the province of Apalachecolo that troops of Uchize Indians aided by the Letter English of Carolina had gone down to destroy and finish off those who are allied to us grouped together thus in those vicinities as well as in the province of Apalache. And as we in this plaza are short of light arms, which are the ones that they esteem in order to distribute them among them and so that they may be able to defend themselves, we have resolved how with its being of our obligation to have recourse to your Lordship, beseeching him that he deign to send us six hundred light rifles (fuciles) of good calibre, twelve barrels of fine powder and six thousand flintstones. That for the amount of all of it, we will give satisfaction to Your Lordship in

Vera Cruz or where it might please you with his order. For this purpose the Adjutant Don Manuel Horruytiner is going to that country, to whom they are to be handed over, who is going dispatched by this government with the bundles of letters that he carries. With this being as much as we have to ask of Your Lordship and to beg of God that he may preserve him for many and happy years. Florida, October eighth of seventeen hundred and twenty- three. Your servants kiss Your Lordship’s hand. Dn Antonio de Benauides Dn franco menendez Marques

Thomas fernandes de Mora

Don Antonio de Benauides Basan y Molina.. (usual titles omitted--thus in English by Connor).. the Capt.

of Horse Don Franco Menendez Marques, Accountant by his majesty and the Ensign Don Thomás order Fernández de Mora, Treasurer and keeper of provisions on an interim basis, Judicial Officers of the Royal treasury and Coffer of these said provinces - inasmuch as in a General Junta that was held on the sixth day of the current month and year it was decided... (Views of the council repeated, with somewhat extra stress upon the detriment to Catholicism of any success attending English policies--thus in English by Connor).. With its being of our obligation in providing the appropriate measures concerning the payment for the said arms, powder, and stones

11 with His Majesty having increased the expenditures for the Indians in order to better preserve them under his Royal obedience and to keep these Dominions in peace, accordingly, we are ordering and we command the Adjutant Don

Sevastian Sánchez, a person named to cross over to the kingdom of New Spain to collect the Situado for this soldiery corresponding to the year of seventeen hundred and twenty-two and the rest of the consignments attached to it. That from the money that he may receive and that may be delivered to him belonging to the Expenditure for

Indians pertaining to the year alluded to, he is to give and pay in the port of Vera Cruz the quantity of pesos that the said Adjutant Don Manuel Benedit Horruytiner may free up against it, proceeding from the purchase of the said six hundred muskets (escopetas), six barrels of powder and six thousand stones, which, with our orders and letters, he is going to solicit from the Governor of the said settlement of Movila.../... (sic by Connor). Done in St. Augustine of

Florida on eight of October of seventeen hundred and twenty-three-.

Dn Antonio de Benauides Dn franco Menendez Marques Dn Thomas fernandes de Mora[../ by

Connor].

In the city of St. Augustine of Florida on the fifteenth day of the month of April of this year of seventeen

hundred and twenty-four, with there being assembled in the Royal Houses of the dwelling of his Junta Lordship, the Señor Don Antonio de Benavides Basan y Molina.. (sic) Governor.. (sic) stated that, inasmuch as yesterday, a matter of five-thirty in the afternoon a mail courier arrived in the presence of His Lordship from the Garrison of San Marcos of Apalache with a letter from that lieutenant and, enclosed in it, the one that the commandant of the Presidio of Pansacola, Don Pedro de Rivera wrote to him. Its date, twentieth of March of this said year in which he signed it (le Ynsignua). He had another from the Gov. of Movila, of the thirteenth of the same month / in which he advised him how the Alabama (ayabamus) Indians and other nations are resolved to cross over at the end of a month to kill the Yamasees who are under the jurisdiction of this government, advising him

(preuiniendole), he gave notice of the said report to His Lordship as the abovementioned lieutenant of that garrison has done, remitting the original of the cited letter. And with its being fitting that by the means that are possible some provision be made so that the nations that are under the obedience and support of his Majesty, should be furnished with arms and munitions which they are lacking at present so that the enemies do not succeed in their so manifest intention as much as [it is] insurmountable (quanto Yncontrastable) by way of (por) the said Governor of

Movila because of giving notice, who, at the end of it has placed for his part the means that he has been able to, with

His Lordship desiring that which they should practice from his part the most prompt and easy ones that the case calls

12 for, he was ordering and ordered me the notary that for ten o'clock today in the daytime he should cite for and convoke to a Junta the Beneficed Señor (Bendo) Don Pedro Lorenzo de Azevedo, pastor and vicar of this holy parish church, the Reverend Father fray Domingo Garcia, Guardian of the Convent of the Señor St. Francis, the officers of the Royal Treasury, the Captains of Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery, that of the Militia, and the rest of the retired captains so that they may confer about the subject of the letters alluded to, the originals of which are to be attached to this Auto, whether it is appropriate or not to have recourse to the said governor of Movila to ask for the arms and munitions that they decided to request of him by way of a Junta that was held on the sixth of October of the past year of seventeen hundred and twenty-three and the execution of which he omitted back then for the motive of the plague and prohibitions that His Majesty had placed [so that] they should not trade with French ports nor vessels notwithstanding its being certain that the aforementioned contagion of the plague had arrived at the said settlement of la Movila as everything was considered in the Junta mentioned and in the one which we are now going to hold for carrying out the ratifying of it and to carefully consider (prehemeditar) anew so that it may be resolved what is for the greater service of both Majesties and for the preservation of these provinces and their natives, which Junta is to be held and [along with it] this Auto and the rest of the business (diligencias) that occurs to them. They will be added to the ones held about the subject matter so that they may all pass through the proper channel (Corran) under a cord. And by this his Lordship so provided, ordered, and signed. Dn Antonio de Benauides... (sic certificate and two notifications omitted--in English)

Señor Governor and Capt. Genl. On the third day of the present month there arrived at this fort a canoe

from the Presidio of Pansacola in which he had a letter from the Letter from the Lt. of Apalache Captain Commandant Don Pedro Primo de Rivera so that I might assist him with some bullets. On the occasion I was not able to say to your Lordship the decision that these Yamasees took, who are assembled under the shelter of this fort by reason of the fact that the leading men have not assembled, although I shall do everything that is possible on my part so that they may withdraw to that Presidio. Three [letters] accompany this one which the captain commandant charged me to pass on [to you] with the fullness of care, because he says they are of importance for the service of the King. This is all that I have to say to Your Lordship. And I remain begging God our Lord that he may preserve your Lordship for many happy years. San Marcos, fourth of

April seventeen hundred and twenty-four years. His least subject and servant kisses Your Lordship’s hand. Juan fernandes to Señor Gov. Don Antonio de Benavides.

13 Señor Lieutenant of the fort of San Marcos. My Very Lord Will Your Lordship pass on a report to his

Gov. how the Gov. of la Mobila in a letter of the third of the Letter of the Commandant of Pansacola current [month] about how the Ayabama Indians and other nations with them have decided and are resolved within the limit of a month to go to kill the Yamasee, advising the said Gov. likewise he has done as much as has been possible in order to contain them and that he has not been able

[to do so]. With this motive, he is advising him of this so that the said Gov. may be prepared for this. And I have arranged to send a soldier from this Presidio named Pedro de Aguilar with four Costa [Ais] Indians in order to pass this report on to your Lordship so that at once, without delay, he may pass it on to his said governor. I will appreciate it that, on the first occasion that there may be, that he should send me the letters that the said Pedro de

Aguilar brought, because they are of importance for the service of the king. The said Pedro de Aguilar carries an order not to remain in that fort more than twenty-four hours. Your honor should not allow him more, but rather that he should carry out his order, with the weather permitting it. I would appreciate it also that, if you should have around there some seeds of tomatoes, parsely, and others like them, that you would send me a few and a little bit of mint (yerba buena). That it should come well stowed (enterrada) so that it will be able to be produced here. May

God preserve your lordship for many years. Point of Ziguenza, March twentieth of the year seventeen hundred and twenty-four. His servant kisses the hand of his Lordship. Pedro Primo de Riuera.

In the city of St. Augustine of Florida on the fifteenth day of the month of April of this year of seventeen

Junta hundred and twenty-four, with there being assembled in the Royal Houses of the dwelling of his

Lordship, the Señor Don Antonio de Benavides Bazan y Molina.. Governor.., the Beneficed Señor Don Pedro

Lorenzo de Azevedo, Pastor and Vicar of this holy parish church, the Señores Royal officials, Capt. of Horse, Don

Franco Menéndez Márques, proprietary Accountant and the Ensign Don Thomás Fernándes de Mora, Interim

Treasurer, The Captains of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery, Don Juan Mexia, Don Joseph Benedit Horruytiner and

Don Seuastian Lópes de Toledo, the Lieutenants, Don Juan de Paniagua, Don Diego Peña and Don Antonio Díaz

Mexia, the retired Captains, Don Luis Rodrigo de Ortega, Don Juan de Hita Salasar, and Don Gerónimo de León, the Captain of Militia Don Pedro Lamberto Benedit Horruytiner, the Adjutants active and retired, Don Pedro de Hita

Salasar, Don Juan Lorenzo de Pueyo, Gabriel Alvares de Sotomayor, Don Manuel Horruytiner, Don Pedro Ramón

Barrera, and Diego Pablo de San Juan, and the active Ensigns Don Franco de Fuentes and Pedro de Escovedo, for the purpose of conferring about the subject of the Auto and Letters that have been read entire by me the notary. And

14 [having been] understood by the said Señores, they are uniformly of a feeling that what occurred to the Governor of the settlement of la Movila because of the portion of arms and munitions that it was decided to request in another

Junta that was held for this purpose on the sixth of October of the year just past of seventeen hundred and twenty- three with respect to the motives subsisting that were examined (se pulsaron) in it and those which the Commandant of Pansacola or point of Siguenza, Don Pedro de Rivera expounded anew and attested to in his letter, making the blow from the nation of Ayabamus unquestionable and others about the Yamasees and the rest of the Indians whom there are in the vicinities of this city until they diminish them and kill them, which is the goal to which the designs of the enemies are inclined and makes the recourse spoken of necessary in order to oppose them. From this deliberation the said Señores became persuaded that His Majesty should consider himself as well served, notwithstanding the prohibitions that he has placed that they should not trade with vessels or ports of the Frenchmen because of the plague that is being suffered in one of those that they have in Europe and that out of two principles that they are proposing, that with one of them being doubtful and denied, as it is, the one about that the said contagion of plague has arrived at Movila and the other certain about that the nations of Indians opposed intend to finish off the ones that are allied with us, it appears that he should assent to as practical and necessary the procedure

(dilixencia) of having recourse (de Ocurrir) for the remedy to where it is evident it exists without danger and on an occasion when it is so important to intercept (? atajar) that which is perceived as so greatly imminent according to the letter cited. With the said Senores being of the opinion that for this petition (Solicitud) the Lieutenant Don

Diego Pena should pass over in person. And they said this. And with its having been understood by his Lordship, he was agreeing with everything and he agreed with their opinion and that, for his part, he is ready to dispatch to the

Subject that they propose with the letters and orders that are appropriate for the matter, with these remaining authentic copies in these Autos of all the ones that are issued. The latter are to be attached to the ones made antecedently. And they will make all the copies that are appropriate. In conformity with this, this Junta was concluded. And His Lordship and the said Senores signed it...(signatures follow, and an order from the governor and royal officials providing for payment of the 600 light shotguns, 6 bbls. powder, 6000 flints, from Florida funds in Mexico, etc., dated April 20, 1724--all by Connor thus in English)... (sic)

Señor Gov. and Capt. General. With, the motive of the Indians finding themselves, who are under the

support and of his Majesty, lacking in some arms and munitions, we are Letter to the Gov. of Movila

15 having recourse to Your Lordship by means of the person of the

Lieutenant Don Diego Peña, the bearer of this, in order that, with the approbation and favor with which we hope that

Your Excellency will attend to it so that it may be possible to solicit and that he may solicit the purchase of six hundred light rifles of good quality, six or twelve barrels of fine powder, and six thousand stones, for the satisfaction of what is alluded to, the order, in case our request should be carried out, it will demonstrate to Your Excellency in the (la) that we remain very confident that the good zeal manifests and the obligation on which is constituted the strong bond between both Majesties that for the same price (? al Tanto) we ourselves are ready to contribute at each and whenever that your Lordship may impose his commands on us, with his meriting also the attention of our envoy.

And that in the meantime that, in all of it that we may gain it. We remain begging God so that he may preserve

Your Lordship for many and happy years. Florida, April twenty-one of seventeen hundred and twenty-four. Your greatest servants we kiss Your Lordship’s hand. Don Antonio de Benavides Don franco Menendez Marques

Thomas fernandez de Mora It is a copy... (certificate/ omitted--thus in English by Connor).

Instruction about what the Lieutenant Diego Peña is to observe in case that the Gov. of la Mobila sells the

six hundred muskets that they are asking him for [and] six barrels of Instruction and order that powder and six thousand stones [having] adjusted the arms and the rest Dn Diego Peña carries. that is mentioned [which] they have to register with complete care and that the obligation for the transportation of them until they are placed in the fort of San Marcos of Apalache remain that of the Governor, in where they are to be handed over to the Commandant of that Royal fort who, with an order from me will distribute them among the Indians whom I order him to, without going on to carry it out until my ultimate decision, which will be in view of the operations and movements that are recognized among the enemy

Indians. And if the aforementioned Don Diego Peña at the time or later than he arrives at the said fort of San

Marcos with the arms and munitions, he will find the brigantine of the king in that port and he will embark on it four hundred and fifty muskets and four barrels of powder. And the rest of the arms and munitions for the fulfillment of the ones that are mentioned above will remain in that fort at the disposition of the ensign Don Juan Fernández, who, like the aforesaid [who] goes, will distribute them with my order. And in not having this occasion, he will hand over the aforementioned number of six hundred muskets and munitions to the aforementioned Commandant from whom he will take a receipt. But if, as it is possible could happen, the case occurs in which there is not time, nor does the occasion permit him to notify me, nor to await my ultimate decision, the said Don Diego Peña will be able to decide

16 on (aduitrar) on the distribution of the arms with the accord of the Ensign Don Juan Fernández, operation in anywhatever resolution that will be taken with practical knowledge of the nations of Indians and in the remaining war operations that I am not able to foresee here. I am leaving it to the good judgment and correct conduct of the one and the other officer who, in accord, will carry out that which is most appropriate for the service of His Majesty, giving me an account of everything that occurs with respect to this particular so that in his understanding [of it], he may provide the measures that are most appropriate. Given in St. Augustine of Florida on the twenty-seventh of

April of this year of seventeen hundred and twenty-four. Dn Antonio de Benauides By order of his Lordship Juan

Solana, notary for the public and for the government. It is a copy...

(Certificate omitted--thus in English by Connor).

In the city of St. Augustine of Florida on the twenty-seventh day of the month of April of this year of

Auto seventeen hundred and twenty-four his Lordship the Señor Don Antonio de Benavides Basan y

Molina, Governor, stated that, inasmuch as by way of a Junta celebrated on the fifteenth of April of this present year it was considered as appropriate for the Royal Service that the Lieutenant Don Diego Peña, who is such of the Calvalry, should cross over to la Movila, a settlement of Frenchmen, to confer with the governor of that colony about some things important for the service of His Majesty (Whom May God Preserve) and to purchase six hundred light rifles to the liking of the Indians, six barrels of powder, and six thousand stones. And, with its being appropriate as it is appropriate, for the greater security of what was agreed on in the said Junta, that which

[that] the said Lieutenant Don Diego Peña should acquire reports, informing himself well before arriving at

Pansacola. And [in that] Presidio, whether any contagion of the plague has been suffered or is being suffered in la

Movila and places belonging to its jurisdiction. In which case he will not pass over to carry out the orders that he carries for the said governor of la Mobila. Instead, he will return and he will return to the fort of San Marcos from the place or spot where they give him a / certain report about the plague’s having been introduced into the said

Movila. And in the case of their not having it, he will pass on in accord as he is ordered to. And it was resolved in the Junta mentioned. And he is notified that under no pretext nor in any manner is he to permit by he himself nor by a go between person that, on the vessel on which the said arms and munitions are to be transported that there should be introduced nor embarked goods in the way of clothing nor other ones that are not among the ones spelled out under the penalty that, should he do so on the contrary, he will be severely punished. And let the abovementioned

17 Lieutenant be notified of this Auto so that he may become acquainted with its content. And he is to place together the Autos concerning this matter so that it may be evident for all time. And by this His Auto His Lordship so provided, ordered, and signed.

Don Antonio de Benauides Before me Juan Solana, notary for the public and for the government... (sic).

(notification follows--sic in English by Connor).

Statement from the Caciques

Señor Governor and Captain General Don Antonio de Benavides. Don Francisco Bentura, Don Dionicio

Aquilacje, Don Phelipe de la Tama, and Don Antonio de PocoTalaque, all caciques of Statement of different places among those that are formed in the vicinity of this Presidio and all the Caciques belonging to the Tamasa [Yamasee] nation, in behalf of themselves and in the name of our people, we appear before Your Lordship and we say that, for more than nine years that, contemning (? menospresiando) the advantages (Combeniencias) with which we found ourselves in the friendship and Dominion of the Englishmen of Carolina, we passed over to this said Presidio on the mere impulse of our own will for the sole purpose of following the evangelical Law and to submit (Subuigar) our obedience to so Catholic a monarch and sovereign king and lord of the (whom May God preserve) for many years with the increase of greater kingdoms, under the which we have been and we are, always persevering up to the point of sacrificing our lives.

And with the hatred’s being so notorious that the said Englishmen and the Indians who are their partisans have for us, for such a demonstration, like the fact that they are threatening us every day, at times with apparatus of ruin, at other times, carrying out killings of some of the Indians belonging to our nation whom they encounter casually and scattered along the trails and on their hunting trips. And finally, conspiring among themselves against us in such a manner that they only desire anxiously and intend the extinction of us over time. That even though, they have given us, on the part of your Lordship and they are giving us all the measures that they are able to for our defense up to encouraging (fomentar) the forts that we have in our places. With the principal thing that we are lacking in being the muskets, as your Lordship is aware since more than a year ago when, on various occasions we have explained it to him. There is no doubt that because of this sole shortage, we are always exposed to perishing along with our women and children at the hands of the greatest tyranny, something the enemies would not achieve if we were to have the arms that we brought to this Presidio when we separated ourselves from the said Englishmen. But the few

18 that have remained for us are now so incapable for making either an attack or a defense with them. That we bring them along for ceremony (de cumplimiento) with this improvidence (Despreuencion) serving as a great disconsolation for us and, from seeing at the same time that even in the immediate vicinity of this said presidio the enemy have killed two men without [counting] those who, in the garrison of San Marcos, they killed belonging to our nation some nine months ago more or less, without our being able to take vengeance not only on account of the orders by which Your Lordship prohibits our doing it, to which we are always obedient, but also because of the disparity between our arms and munitions [and theirs]. And although it is so that Your Lordship does pay attention at one point, as a great soldier, not to hazard the reputation of our valor and on the other one, keeping in mind the respect for the suspension of arms, notwithstanding that (Como quiera) the said Englishmen are impairing [it], with the supposed excuse for these hostilities that they are giving of not disturbing the Indians allied to them. At the same time the opposite is being experienced in their encouraging it and the tolerance they are giving them and permitting to them. And thus it appears that it would be just that, with the same / caution, some revenge should be taken on our part for the purpose of containing their audacity and damages and so that our valor and reputation, after having been extended through all these provinces, may return to what it first was. Because of this, we beseech Your

Lordship submissively that he should deign to come to a decision on both points as to what may be for the greater service of his majesty [and] our relief and defense, and especially in the [matter] of the lack of arms and munitions that we are experiencing and that is manifest. That it be done with all possible brevity because of our security being involved in them and the favorable consequences that we are leaving to the zeal and the practical understanding of

Your Lordship. From his just decisions, we hope there will be guaranteed the greater relief for ourselves and all the rest of the nations who recognize themselves and constitute themselves vassals of so Sovereign a Monarch and Lord as he to whom we have loyally rendered our obedience. And because of no one among us knowing how to sign, our interpreter for the Yamasee language signs it for all of us. Antonio Perez In St. Augustine of Florida on the twentieth of May of this year of seventeen hundred and twenty-four.

Antonio Perez

Accepted [as having been] presented and seen by His Lordship. He said that with respect to the Lieutenant

Don Diego Peña’s having crossed over to the settlement of Mobila to solicit a quantity of arms and munitions for the same purpose that these parties are requesting them for and others that were presented in two General Juntas that

19 were held concerning this same subject and in separate Autos that were held: the one on the sixth of October of the past year of seventeen hundred and twenty-three and the other on the fifteenth of April of this year, which the present notary public runs (Corre) through the medium of the Interpreter Antonio Pérez he made this decision known to the said caciques. As [he did with respect to] the one on the point of taking vengeance for the deaths that the Indians belonging to the partiality toward the English have inflicted on those belonging to his nation, His

Lordship is not able to permit them that they may do it with ostentation (aparato) that might cause trouble

(novedad), nor that touches on the limits of transgression against the treaty for the suspension of arms celebrated between the two Crowns [and] only if it is granted to them that they were able to, while following the ones who had just finished causing the two deaths in the crossing of Salamototo up to the places and jurisdiction of the said

Englishmen and to apprehend some one or some ones among the Indians partial to them [i.e. the English] and to bring them to this presidio. Because of the which, it is important to inquire and learn, going to the root of it

(radicalmente) who is the prime mover behind these operations and the motives that they have for it. And they are to make the said caciques understand that they are to carry out this effort without making any extortion or molestation to Englishmen nor to a Black whom they encounter in places (parajes), villages or fields. Rather, tight orders are to be given to the squad leader whom they send, as also His Lordship will do about their maintaining what is alluded to. And they are not to bring nor to apprehend either Englishman nor Negro. And this statement

(representacion) and Decree and the notification of it that is to be made to the abovementioned Caciques is to be attached in the original to the Autos cited [that have been] made in relation to the request for Arms and munitions from the said settlement of Mouila so that the superior motives may always be evident that obliged him to it. The señor Don Antonio de Benavides Basan y Molina issued it...(sic) That he signed off on it on twentieth of May of seventeen hundred and twenty-four... (sic)

The notification follows, and the usual notarial certificates end the document (written in English by Connor or her copyist).

(End of this collection of documents)

John H. Hann

October 3, 2003

Bureau of Archaeological Research

20