The Royal Proclamation_"Finally, on November 7, 1693, King Charles II issued a royal
proclamation (Landers, 25) 'giving liberty to all...the men as well as the
women...so that by their example and by my liberality others will do
the same'"(Royal decree). "In harboring the runaways and eventually
settling them in their own town, Florida's governors were following
the Spanish policy of repoblacion, populating and holding territory threatened by foreign encroachment" (Archivo General de Simancas).
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Fort Mose_Instead of north, the "original" Underground Railroad led south, to Fort
Mose, the first free community of African fugitives in St.
Augustine."The first recorded group of fugitives arrived in St.
Augustine in 1687, and included eight men, two women, and a nursing
child" (Deagan and MacMahon, 1). Occurrences like this compelled Governor
Montiano to establish Fort Mose in 1738. Slaves seeking liberation had
to pledge allegiance to the Spanish King, convert to Catholicism, and
serve in the Army. Gradually, this site became a harbor for South
Carolinian escapees.
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"Fort Moosa ... being about twenty Miles from Fort Diego within two Miles' Distance and in full Sight of St. Augustine (lying near the Creek which runs up between that and Point Cartell up to Fort Diego) was made in the Middle of a Plantation for Safety of the Negroes against Indians. It was four Square with a Flanker at each Corner, banked round with Earth, having a Ditch without on all Sides lined round with prickly Palmeto Royal and had a Well and House within, and a Look Out."
-A Report to the South Carolina Assembly 1740
-A Report to the South Carolina Assembly 1740
The Journey
The next morning I was on deck as soon as the day dawned.... We watched
the reddening sky, and saw the great orb come up out of the water, as it
seemed. Soon the waves began to sparkle, and every thing caught the
beautiful glow. Before us lay the city of strangers. We had escaped from
slavery.... But we were alone in the world.
-Harriet Jacobs, Runaway Narrative
-Harriet Jacobs, Runaway Narrative
The Fort_The Fort served as the northernmost defense for St. Augustine. "The
original fort was a small, twenty-meter-square enclosure, containing a
watchtower, a well, and a guardhouse" (Deagan and MacMahon, 20). The
adult, male African escapees fought in the army along the Spanish
inhabitants. These African escapees "in 1738 formed a free black
company" (Deagan and MacMahon, 20). Their contribution to the army was
essential since it was fragile. "Having escaped from Carolina, these
African Americans knew the region well, and would fight to the death if
their former English masters invaded from the north" (Deagan and
MacMahon, 20).
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Clip from FPAN Northeast Region "Fort Mose Virtual Field Trip"