Turnbull's Slaves: A Minorcan Story

By Donald H Sullivan

Turnbull's Slaves: A Minorcan Story...is a historical adventure/romance of white slavery, based on the ill-fated British colony at New Smyrna Florida, taking place in the 18th century. The colony was made up of 1200 Minorcan slaves to a wealthy British landowner.Over half the Minorcans died from horrible conditions during the ten year existence of the colony.The British landowner kept the Minorcans in bondage, and living under horrific conditions, even worse than many African slaves in the colonies to the north. They signed on as indentured servants before departing from Minorca, but were forced into slavery after arriving in Florida. The story centers around the adventures of a young Minorcan man and his sweetheart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781300862000

Donald H Sullivan

I'm a native Floridian, retired from the US Army, I started writing in the army, mostly training and tech manuals. Boring stuff, but it whetted my interest in writing. I've written sci-fi, thrillers, mysteries, humor, fantasies, horror, and more. I'm now living in NC. While in the army, I served in air defense artillery, military intelligence, and psychological operations. I also worked in Federal Civil Service as a quality assurance specialist, ammunition surveillance. I love writing, reading, most kinds of music, and animals--especially dogs.

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Turnbull's Slaves: A Minorcan Story

Title Page

Turnbull's Slaves

A Minorcan Story

Donald H Sullivan

Copyright Page

Copyright 2011 Donald H Sullivan

978-1-300-86200-0

Foreword

The events in the story are based on the testimonies of colonists during Governor Tonyn's investigation of Dr. Andrew Turnbull's alleged abuses of his indentured servants at the New Smyrna Colony.

The British Take Over

Juan Ponce de Leon, then governor of Cuba, discovered Florida in 1513, and officially claimed it as a territory of Spain.  The Spanish established rule of the territory in 1565 when Pedro Menendez founded the city of St. Augustine.

After two hundred years of Spanish rule, The British acquired Florida from Spain in accordance with the Paris Treaty of 1763, resulting from the Seven Years War (1754-1763.)  This gave England a new colony in North America.

In hopes of increasing the population of its new territory, the British granted large tracts of land to certain influential individuals.  One of those individuals was Dr. Andrew Turnbull, a wealthy Scotsman.

Turnbull was enticed by the possibility of increasing his wealth and power.  He recruited and transported over 1,400 people from the Mediterranean area to colonize the land that he called New Smyrna (named after the homeland of his wife.)  He had originally planned on less than half that number, between three and four hundred, but due to an ongoing famine in Minorca, a large number of people from that island volunteered. Turnbull accepted them all, knowing that provisions and housing was inadequate for such a large number of people.

~~*~~

Eight ships, chartered by Dr.  Turnbull, left the port of Mahon, Minorca in mid-April 1768.  When the ships arrived in Florida, only 1,255 of the 1,403 passengers had survived the trip, an indication of the terrible conditions aboard the ships during the voyage.

Shortly after their arrival in Florida, the colonists became no better than slaves. Large numbers of them died because of brutal treatment, diseases, and harsh living conditions in the colony. Turnbull refused to release them and give them their promised plots of land when their term of indenture expired, .claiming that  the term of  indenture did not start until the servant had worked  to pay off travel expenses.

The Minorcans, however, claimed that Turnbull had promised them free transportation to Florida.

~~*~~

From Minorca to Florida

March 5, 1768.  Manuel Ortagus sat in Dr. Andrew Turnbull's recruiting office waitng to be interviewed.  After a lengthy wait, his name is finally called.  He is seated at a small table facing his interviewer, one of Turnbull's assistants.

I understand that you are a carpenter?

That is so, replied Manuel.. I have heard that tradesmen serve three years of indenture rather than the seven years required for laborers. Is that true?

That is true, said the interviewer, Since you are a carpenter you will be bound for only three years, after which you will be freed from indenture and given your own plot of land.

I would like for my son, who is fifteen, to accompany me, said Manuel, and though he is young, he is a capable carpenter.  I have had him working with me since he was a small boy.  I will sign if my Miguel is also allowed to sign on as a carpenter.

The interviewer thought a moment.  Wait here.  I will speak with Dr. Turnbull.

A few moments later, Turnbull himself came to his table and sat down.

Mr. Ortagus, I would hesitate to sign your son as a carpenter, because of his age.  But I will sign him up as an apprentice for the three year period.  When he reaches seventeen, I will employ him as a carpenter.

Manuel smiled.  I understand your concern, sir.  I will accept your terms.

Is your son with you?

No, but if you would like to see him, I can bring him with me tomorrow.

That won't be necessary.  Since he is a minor, and you are his legal guardian, you can sign for him.

After signing the agreement for himself and Miguel, Turnbull shook his hand and left.  The assistant came back to his table and briefed him on what would be expected during the voyage to St. Augustine.

Manuel returned to his home a happy man.

~~*~~

Miguel was hungry.  But this was nothing new to him; he could not remember what it was like to eat his fill. Neither could he remember what it was like to enjoy good food.  It was always small portions of vegetables like potatoes, turnips, and peas.  Sometimes there was a little fish, and on rare occasions there were eggs, chicken, or beef.  He loved cheese, and that seemed to be the rarest of all foods.

The drought was in its third year and the people of Minorca were suffering.  And so Miguel was happy when his father announced that they were leaving Minorca and going to the New World.

The Englisman, Dr. Andrew Turnbull, has offered us land of our own  in Florida, he said, but we must earn it by agreeing to three years as his indentured servants.

Will we ever come back to Minorca, Papa?

Maybe someday.  But I expect to make our new home in Florida.  We will be there a long time.  His father hugged him and chuckled. But things can only get better for us.  After we get there, we can start having decent food...maybe even cheese for you.

Cakes and puddings, too?

Yes, Miguel, cakes and puddings, too.

~~*~~

April 16, 1768.  Manuel and Miguel were in good spirits when they boarded the ship at Port Mahon, Minorca.  Manuel's head was filled with dreams of owning a large plot of land, giving him a new start in life.  Miguel, too would be given his own plot of land since he would be under a separate contract with Turnbull once he attained the age of seventeen.  At eighteen, when his term of indenture would end, Turnbull would cede the land to him.  In just a few years both Miguel and his father dreamed of a new life, and the end of the hardships they had endured for the past few years in Minorca. 

Manuel placed his hand on Miguel's shoulder.  This will be a great new life for us, he said.  If only my Carmen were here to enjoy this moment with us.

Miguel looked at his father.  This is the first time I have seen Papa happy...really happy...since Mama died.

~~*~~

June 20, 1768.  Miguel Ortagus watched as the body of his father was released into the sea. He scarcely heard the words that Father Casanovas uttered as the body was committed to the deep. He was in a daze; everything around him seemed like a dream. He had cried until he could cry no more. His emotions were drained dry.

He stood on the deck, barely aware when friends of his father expressed their condolences. Of