Fort Mose: First Free Black Colonial Town

From the February 1997 National Georgraphic Magazine "Geographica: Colonial Florida Fort recalls a Shining Moment in Black History."

The remains are hidden in the salt marshes just to the north of St. Augustine, Florida, but, Fort Mose was the first free black town in what became the United States.  Its residents were African slaves from British plantations to the north in the English colonies who found refuge by escaping to Spanish-held Florida, where they converted to Catholicism.

The site was declared a national historic landmark in 1994.  Two years of excavation have been led by archaeologist Kathleen Deagan.  So far, they have uncovered everyday items for cooking, clothing, shelter and defense.  Also found was a hand-crafted silver medal with an image of St. Christopher on one side and a sailor's compass rose on the other.  Many escaped slaves served as crewmen on Spanish ships.

Both England and Spain claimed northern Florida and slaves knew they would be free in Spanish-Florida.  In 1739, the Spanish formed a freedman's militia and moved one hundred black men, women and children from St. Augustine to build the 65-square-foot Fort Mose.  Two years later, the English attacked, forcing the residents back to St. Augustine.  In 1752, blacks built a new and larger Fort Mose nearby.  In 1763, Florida was ceded to England and the Spanish blacks moved to Cuba.

Stuff I Didn't Know.  --Cooter