Amelia Island

Archive for the ‘Amelia area history’ Category

The first inhabitants of this area were the Timucuan Indians and there is evidence that they were here as long ago as 2000 B.C. One of their customs was tattooing themselves with red, black, yellow and blue on different areas of their body. There was probably, therefore, astonishment on the faces of the French settlers under Huguenot leader Jean Ribault when they first saw the indians as they landed on Amelia in 1562. It is said that the Timucuans greeted the landing French party with baskets of berries. Jean Ribault named the island “Isle de Mai” (Island of May) Knowing that the Spanish had claimed the area in 1513 did not prevent these French colonists from landing as not only were they seeking land for France but also refuge from the religious and political persecution that went along with being Huguenots. Though Ribault and his company didn’t remain, the Huguenots returned again in 1564 under the leadership of René de Laudonniere who was also a commander on the first voyage. Read the rest of this entry »

The first Spanish reign was from 1565 to 1763 and they set up the mission of Santa Maria on the northern end of Amelia Island in what is now known as Old Town in order to convert the Indians to Christianity. In fact the island became known as “Isla de Santa Maria.” From this point on the Timucuan numbers started to decline because of the influx of European disease and the stresses due to the disruption of their lifestyle. Though their numbers were once about 30,000 they were almost completely extinct within about 100 years of their first contact with the Europeans.

Continue this article for the Spanish-British period Here

The British settlements in the North soon took a keen interest in the area because of the naturally deep ports and the strategic trade route location. The island was named Amelia by Georgia’s governor James Oglethorpe in 1735 in honor of Princess Amelia, daughter of King George II. Though the Island was named Amelia by the British, it did not fall into British hands until Spanish Florida was traded for British Cuba in 1763 as a result of the Treaty of Paris. During the time of British rule which lasted until 1783, the island was known as Egmont. Read the rest of this entry »

A Scottishman named Sir Gregor MacGregor with the support of some key Americans ran the Spanish off Amelia island in 1817 and later raised the “Green Cross of Florida” flag. However, because of lack of reinforcements and funds he left and his lieutenants became in charge. They made a deal with Frenchman Luis Aury (a soldier in the Mexican Revolution) in order to get support to maintain their control. However, Aury, in return for giving them support wanted to command the island and so raised the Mexican flag. The town came into such a state of bedlam that the U.S. government sent gunboats and took control and held Amelia Island in trust for Spain until Florida became a U.S. territory on July 10, 1821. Read the rest of this entry »

Who would have Believed right here in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, there would be a movie made. I mean a Real one that would go coast to coast.

I remember it well. All of Fernandina showed up to watch it being done. You know what I mean.

Before they started filming I walked into one of our breakfast places and walked by this guy that looked just like Dick Van Patten.

I thought what a coincidence that this guy looks so much like him. I didn’t know It was really him and he was going to be in the movie.

I Decided to see if I had a chance to be an extra in the movie.

I was lucky and got in the movie. It was real exciting to do it.

The moral of the story is you never know who you are going to see on Amelia Island. You might be shocked to know who has stayed here.

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1988 Movie Site for “New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking” Old Town Fernandina Beach, FL