Matanzas: A St. Augustine Saga

by Sam Milner

In 1565, Pedro Menendez founded the first successful European Colony in the territory now known as the United States. In that same year, at an inlet located fifteen miles south of St. Augustine, Menendez and his soldiers put two hundred French Huguenots, led by Jean Ribaut, to the sword. Henceforth, this inlet has been known as Matanzas...placed of slaughter. The fifteen miles of river which connect Matanzas Inlet to St. Augustine also bares the name, Matanzas. By 1750 the Spanish had built a two-story observation fort at Matanzas Inlet to keep watch for pirates and other intruders who wished to use that avenue in order to create havoc for the inhabitants of St. Augustine. This is the story of a closely-knit Spanish family who live beside the Matanzas River in close proximity of Matanzas Inlet...a family who make their living by fishing and providing food for the soldiers at Fort Matanzas and the Castillo de San Marcos located in St. Augustine.

141 pages, Paperback

Published December 18, 2017