St. Augustine, Fla.
March 25th 1847
Dear Sister,

I have been at this place
for a week past, partly on business but
mostly for my health and for recreation.
I was not sick, but owing to my return
to Florida so early last season I had
become debilitated somewhat, and besides
felt dull from my long stay at Newmansville.
The society at this place too is attractive.
I expected to meet Mr. Yulee but he has
not returned from Washington.
St. Augustine is the oldest town in the
United States - it was settled by the Spaniards
nearly three hundred years ago. From this
place three monks went into the country and
converted the Indians, established schools
and introduced many of the arts of peace
and civilization among them. There are
remains of their roads, towns &c in several
places about the country. This race of
Indians was destroyed by the tribes which
were driven south by the settlement of
the United States by the English people
These tribes came in upon the peaceful
Indians, destroyed their towns and killed

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nearly all of them - some few escaping by
concealing themselves far south on the
Islands in the everglades.
It is supposed that there are the Indians
yet remaining in the everglades.
The other tribes united under the name
of Seminoles (that is runaways, because they
ran away from their own tribes in the States
rather than be removed to the west of the Miss).
It is these Indians that caused so much
bloodshed in Florida - But most of them
have been taken and sent off -
About 1765 the English took possession of
Florida and held it till the close of the
Revolution when Spain got it again by
treaty - The English had plantations for
rice & indigo, made turpentine & tar - &c
There were but three settlements or towns
in Florida in those days, at least of any
importance - these were St. Augustine
Pensacola & St. Marks. The Indians
had entire control in the interim.
During the last war the English used the
posts of Florida for Depots - especially the
post of St. Marys River -
You have heard of Genl Jackson's hanging
Ambrister & Arbuthnot at St. Marks - they

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were Englishmen - stirring up the Indians to
fight against the Americans.
Florida never was settled much by the whites
until the United States bought it in 1821 -
Since then the Indians have until recently been
in possession of most of East Florida.
St. Augustine has a very strong fort which
commands the harbor and town - about 60 guns -
it could mount upwards of a hundred -
the fort is about 100 years old - the town itself
presents an ancient appearance - all the old
Spanish houses are of Shell stone - each
with its balcony and very few windows -
The entrance is wide enough to admit carriages
into the court in rear of the houses - From this
way (through the basement story) there is a flight
of steps to the apartments above where the
family resides - But most of the houses of the
Grandees are in ruins - those that are inhabited
are altered to suit the less circumancious(?) & less
wealthy people of the present time - and most
of the Americans (as we call ourselves in control
=distinction) have buildings in our own style
which have been created since the change of
flags - There is a public square or plaza, at
the foot of which is the market, on one side the
Cathedral (or Catholic Church) on another
the Episcopal church & on the other the
Court House & public offices -

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The streets are narrow like all Spanish towns -
The population has been 4,000 but I think
it would not number over three now -
The city is declining - the settlement of the
interior has brought other places and other
outlets into notice - the St. Johns River
runs but 18 miles back of the city and
all the trade goes out of it to Savannah
& Charleston by Steamboat - The orange
trees have been killed by the insect and
this cut off the support of the citizens -
It is alone supported by the residences of public office, planters & invalids - those
that come here on account of consumption &c
But many of these now go to interior towns in
preference - It is a pleasant place - very healthy -
plenty of fish & oysters - grapes & figs but it
must nevertheless be almost deserted unless the orange
Groves can be revived again -
There is better society in St. Augustine than any
other place in East Florida -
The population is however a mixture of French
Spanish - minorcam - Greek - Jew - Irish -
Yankee &c &c - more than ½ the talking
is done in Spanish - one thing I was near forgetting
to mention - that is the nunnery - It was rather a
gloomy looking building - Iron bars across the
windows - a very extensive garden & orangery with
high walls surrounding it -

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I don't know when the nunnery was broken
up but since I have known it - it has been
used for the Barracks for the troops -
The United States has made extensive
improvement & additions so that it now
has a very pleasant appearance -
In one end of the Garden now rest the bones
of 200 men massacred by the Indians at
the commencement of the war - Maj Davis(?) Massacre.
Three monuments in shape of pyramids cover them.
The remains of many a soldier and several
officers rest in the grave yard - amongst the
others I see the name of Lt. McNeill on a
marble slab - I was in the action in which
he was killed - You have probably heard all
the circumstances & know that he was son
of Genl. McNeill & nephew of Mr. Pearce
of N.H.-
I shall leave here for Newmansville
next week unless Mr. Yulee arrive.
It is very uncertain what will be my next
move - If I can so arrange as to make some
improvements at the keys this summer I shall
do so; But I may not be able to get the
hands to do it before the fall - if I put it
off I shall go north during the summer,
and if I stay south at all, it will be at
the keys. Tell Father that I expect to be
under the necessity of calling upon him for

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some funds. I will however write him
in two or three weeks more positively about
it, as I do not wish to withdraw any
more of my funds from the north than
I absolutely require - I have money enough
due me but I fear I cannot get hold
of it so soon as I shall require it.
Write to me at Newmansville as usual
until you get different directions -
Yr Affectionate Brother
John Parsons

Abby S. Parsons
Rye
N.H.

P.S. Newmansville Apl 4th 1847
I arrived here last Wednesday and have
been engaged in making out my accounts for the
quarter - Thomas is at the Keys yet -
My love to all -
J.P.