The DeLand weekly news. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1887-190?, 1903-05-22
NEW SMYRNA.
(BY EUGENE McELROY.)

in Florida by different nations, the
most interesting is the one made near
Mosquito Inlet on the Halifax River,
about one mile inland from the coast,
and about one hundred and twenty
Ave miles south of where Jacksonville
Is now loo ated.
IT is not definitely known when this
place was first settled by white men,
but there are several theories about
lit. 1t is said that the first residence
built and occupied By white man, In
what is now the United States, was
built by a Spaniard who was wrecked
of the coat near where New Smyrna
is now located. This house is supposed
to have been built where the ruins OF
the old rock house now stand. Upon
what authority this story is based we
are not able to say, but the fact that
Spanish vessels we're in those days
frequently wrecked on the shores OF
Florida gives to this theory some de-
gree of probability. But granting
that this story of the shipwrecked
sailor is true, we cannot then say thu t
this was the first settlement of New
Smyrna, for the residence of one ina n
for a period of time can scarcely be
called settlement.
We have more plausible theory in
the first settlement of New Smyrna
in the fact that for about ten or
twenty years after the settlement OF
st. Augustine Menendez established
missions all along the coast, north
and south of ST. Augustine, and that
one of these missions was probably
the origin of New Smyrna. In sup.
port of this theory there Is stone
house in New Smyrna, on the inside
walls of which are crosses and marks
that indicate that it was built by
Catholics. These ruins are today, and
for time out of memory have been
known as the old Spanish Mission.
However this first settlement may
have originated, it is certain that as
early as 1851 there was quite a large
town at this place, occupied by whites
and Christian Indians, who gave It
the name of Tomoka. During that
same year the hostile Indians de-
stroyed the settlement, and what be-
came of the islhabitants Is not known.
In the year 1865 some people from
the Bermudas, attracted by the fine
live oak tim Der from which they could
build good boats, came to this place.
The name which they gave to this
place was Mosquito. The success of
this colony, the fine climate, the pro-
ductiveness of the soil and many
other attrac tions drew the attention
of the English
Consequently during the same year
that Mosq uito was settled by these
people from the ermudas, there was
company formed In London at the
head of which was DR.. Andrew Turn.
bull. This company procured some
fifteen hundred colonists from Smyrna,
Greeks, Italians and Minorcans, and
began a settlement at Mosquito, and
changed the name to New Smyrna in
honor of the country from which they
came. DR.. Turnbull did not come to
Florida with the expectation of find
ing gold and return home, but he
came to plant a colony and to culti-
vate the soil.
Before leaving Smyrna the men
we're put under bondage, that is after
they reached Florida they were to
work certain number of years to pay
for their passage and support, and af-
ter they had worked their time out
they were to receive tracts of land
the size of which was in proportion to
the rank of their families. DR.. Turn.
bull did not delay, but he set about
clearing of the land, after which he
built some large indigo watts, dug SON e
canals for irrigation, and to have
drinking water he dug some wells and
walled them. up from the bottom with
coquino rock. He then began to plant
large plantations of sugarcane ard
indigo, which was a very valuable en-
terprise as was shown by the net value
of the first crop of indigo, which was
worth three thousand dollars.
The population of New Smyrna was
now about two thousand. The colony
seemedtoprosper until DR.. Turnbullun.
fortunately left his business in charge
of agents who treated the colonists
cruely. The result of this was an in
slrrection that caused great deal Of
trouble. This was put down In l769
and the leaders taken to st. Angus
tine for trial. Five we're convicted
and sentenced to death, two of whom
were pardoned and third was re-
leased upon the condition that he
would be the executor of the other two.
In consequence of this mismanage.
ment, In nine years after the settle.
ment its members we're reduced By
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