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St. Augustine Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

Newsletter for April 2013

Francisco Xavier Sanchez

1738-1807

Francisco Xavier Sanchez was one of Florida’s most successful

planters whose life and career spanned three separate colonial regimes.

His landholdings stretched from the Diego Plains, north of St.

Augustine, to the St. Mary’s River and west to the St. Johns River. He

devoted much acreage to pasturage and forests, and maintained a variety

of town properties as well.

In 1763 Spain ceded control of East Florida to the British in the

Treaty of Paris to end the Seven Years War. In the evacuation that

followed, most Spaniards left Florida for Cuba. Sanchez was the only

Spaniard with large property holdings to remain in East Florida under

British rule. He provided fresh meat to the British garrison but was

regarded with suspicion by British Governor Tonyn as soon as Spain

joined the war against England in 1779.

When Sanchez learned that his countrymen were prisoners of the

British, he offered to provide both clothing and food, to include fresh

meat, from his own supplies. Among those held as prisoners at Fort St.

Mark were three signers of the Declaration of Independence: Thomas

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Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge. When the

British freed the prisoners in 1783, Sanchez furnished a ship fully

provisioned to return them to their homeland.

Sanchez missed the profits generated by later political changes and

disturbances, and died intestate on October 3, 1807. He is buried in the

Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine, FL.

Francisco Xavier Sanchez is the only known Patriot to have been

born in Spanish East Florida and do his service in that territory.

As the only native of St. Augustine and Spanish East Florida

know to have supported the Patriot cause during the American

Revolution and to do his service in that territory, Sanchez was honored

with a memorial marker placed in Tolomato Cemetery on April 13,

2013, where he was interred in 1807.

The dedication ceremony was attended by more than 100 people.

The guest speaker for the event was Ron Sanchez, a descendant of

Francisco X. Sanchez and a St. Johns County Commissioner. Also

participating in the dedication ceremony were Jim Partin of the

Gainesville Chapter; Dr. Oscar Patterson III and Rev. David Baker of

the St. Augustine Chapter; Mrs. Elizabeth Gessner, president of the

Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Board; and Fr. Ed Booth of Cathedral

Parish. The color guard for the dedication was provided by the JROTC

unit at St. Augustine High School.

Compatriot Roger Cox, President of the Gainesville Chapter and

other Gainesville Compatriots attended the ceremony along with six

members of the St. Augustine Chapter and one FLSSAR officer.

Also attending the dedication were 24 descendants of Francisco

Xavier Sanchez as well as other members of The Los Floridanos Society

and the DAR.

The marker honoring Sanchez was designed, purchased and placed

by the Gainesville and St. Augustine Chapters. The research proving

that Sanchez was a Patriot was done by Jim Partin of the Gainesville

Chapter. Any male descent of Francisco Xavier Sanchez is therefore

eligible for membership in the SAR.

Tolomato Cemetery is open to the public on the 3rd

Saturday of

each month.

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Sanchez Plaque

Sanchez Descendants

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Ron Sanchez, St. Johns County Commissioner, Guest Speaker

CHAPTER NEWS

New members inducted into SAR: Compatriots Josiah Andrews,

William Hunter Camp, David Simpson and Harrison Cassle were

inducted into the St. Augustine Chapter of The Sons of the American

Revolution during our April

meeting. Cassle was

inducted in abstentia.

Compatriots Andrews,

Camp and Simpson are

Regular Members of the

SAR. Regular Members are

those age 18 years or over.

They meet all requirements

for membership. L to R: Josiah Andrews, David Simpson, Hunter Camp

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They may vote, hold office at the local, state and national level, serve on

committees and participate in SAR governance. They receive The SAR

Magazine.

Compatriot Cassle is a Junior Member of the SAR. They meet all

requirements for membership as defined in the SAR’s Constitution and

in the Bylaws of the National Society but are under the age of 18. A

Junior Member is not permitted to vote, hold office, be a member of a

committee or participate in SAR governance. They do not receive The

SAR Magazine. A Junior Member pays $10 in National dues. There are

no State dues for Junior Members. In addition, a Junior Membership

requires $35 for fees and dues at the national level and $15 in state fees

for processing.

We have also received membership certificates for Compatriots Wilson

McMullan and Jerry Hanchett. We will induct them at a later date.

Veteran recognized: Compatriot Ralph Crews was presented the

NSSAR Korean Service Veterans Corps Certificates during the March

meeting.

To be recognized by the NSSAR

for Korean War service, a

Compatriot must hold one or more

of the following: Korean Service

Medal (KSM); Korean Defense

Service Medal (KDSM); Armed

Forces Expeditionary Medal

(AFEM); United Nations Service

Medal for Korea (UNSM); and/or

the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (RKWS). One or more of

these medals must be listed on a Compatriots DD214 or in orders. A

copy of the Compatriots DD214 and/or the orders authorizing the

wearing of the medal must be submitted to the Chapter president along

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with the completed survey form (next to last page of this newsletter) to

be eligible to receive the recognition and certificate.

At this point, all Korean War veterans of the St. Augustine Chapter have

received the NSSAR certificate recognizing their service.

Good Citizenship

Certificates Presented:

Four 5th

grade students at

Otis A. Mason

Elementary School were

presented Good

Citizenship Certificates

during the school’s

awards ceremony on

April 5. The certificate

recognizes students who exhibit qualities of dependability, leadership,

patriotism and upright character. The recipients were (left to right)

Demajah Garden, Lily Tillo, Jason Duff and Cailee Watkins. The

certificates were presented by Chapter president Dr. Oscar Patterson III.

Flag Certificates: If you are aware of a private citizen, a business, a

school, a government agency or any other organization that displays the

U.S. flag in the proper manner (lighted at night, for example) and for

patriotic purposes, please nominate them to receive the certificate.

Nominations should be sent to the Chapter president.

JROTC Bronze Medals Presented: JROTC Bronze Medals were

presented to Outstanding Cadets at Bartram Trail High School, Palatka

High School and Interlachen High School during April.

Cadet Daniel S. Lookadoo of Palatka High school received the medal

during award ceremonies at the school on April 12. Cadet Lookadoo

also received a check for $50 for placing 2nd

in the Chapter’s essay

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contest. The medal, certificate and check were presented by Chapter

president, Dr. Oscar Patterson III.

Cadet Matthew Drabek of Bartram Trail High School was recognized as

the Chapter’s winner of the Enhanced JROTC Essay Competition. He

received a silver medallion and a check for $100 during award

ceremonies on April 11.

Also recognized at Bartram Trail High School was Cadet Thomas

Moroney who received the SAR’s JROTC Bronze Medal. The

certificates and medals were presented to Cadets Moroney and Drabek

by Chapter president Dr. Oscar Patterson III.

Cadet Sarah Otten of Interlachen High School was presented the JROTC

Bronze Medal as the Outstanding Cadet in her unit during ceremonies on

19 April. The medal and certificate were presented by Chapter president

Dr. Oscar Patterson III. No photograph of Cadet Otten is available at

this time.

L to R: Cadet Lookadoo, Palatka HS; Cadets Moroney and Drabek, Bartram Trail High School

MARCH 2013 CHAPTER MEETING

The Chapter assembled at 11:00 A. M. for the business meeting at Le

Pavillon Restaurant. President Patterson called the meeting to order at

11:00 A. M.

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Members present: Josiah Andrews; L. Edwin Brown; Hunter Camp;

Ralph Crews; Stephen Luckau; George McCabe; Bill McPherson; Oscar

Patterson; William Roberts; David Simpson; Dean Smith; James Smith;

Syd Spink; Bob Tarrant; John Tinny.

Guests; Nancy McPherson;

Speaker: Dr. Joseph Joyner; Superintendent of Schools St. Johns

County

Total: 17

Invocation: Given by Compatriot John Tinny

Pledge of Allegiance: Led by President Patterson.

SAR Pledge: Led by President Patterson.

President Patterson presented to Compatriot Ralph Crews the NSSAR

Certificate for having served in the Korean War (see p. 5 above).

President Patterson performed the Chapter induction ceremony for the

three new members. These were Josiah Andrews, David Simpson, and

Hunter Camp. William Roberts pinned the rosette on the lapel of each

new member. The three new members were welcomed into the Chapter.

Pictures were taken (see p. 4 above).

President Patterson introduced the speaker Dr. Joseph Joyner,

Superintendent of St. Johns County Schools.

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Dr. Joyner has been Superintendent

for 10 years. Dr. Joyner said that

children play a major role in the

future of the country. Education has

become a political football and this is

causing some loss of local control of

the schools. In this country everyone

has the opportunity of getting an

education thru the public system.

Florida schools are 6th in the nation.

The US is the top in the teaching of

the handicap student. St. Johns County is #1 in the State of Florida and

has been for the past several years. There are a number of academies in

the local High Schools. These academies cover many career areas. The

St. Johns School system is the fastest growing school district in the state

of Florida.

President Patterson presented Dr. Joyner an Outstanding Citizenship

certificate and pin.

Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the March 2013

minutes as sent. The motion was approved.

Treasurer: The balance was $2483.69 and was accepted for record.

Vice President: The Florida Patriot had Compatriot McCabe's picture in

the wrong Chapter item. It was an oversight.

President: The presentation of the Plaque for Francisco Sanchez was

done on April 13 in conjunction with the Gainesville Chapter. There

were 100 people in attendance with many descendants of Sanchez

present (see pgs. 1-4 above).

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Registrar/Genealogist:All the membership applications at National have

been approved with the exception of one. He is currently working on

two potential new membership applications.

Public Safety/Heroism: A presentation to EMS at Putnam Co. will be

made April 23, 2013.

On April 24th there is a presentation at Firefighter/EMS at St. Johns Fire

Rescue Headquarters. Later in the day there will be a Law Enforcement

presentation at the Putnam Co. Sheriff's Office Awards Ceremony. Even

later in the day there will be a presentation at the St. Johns Co. Sheriff's

General Staff meeting at the St. Johns Commissioners Office.

Chaplain: No report

Historian: Compatriot Tinny showed a number of Certificates that are

available. He also said that he has the locations of where a compatriot

can purchase a Colonial Uniform. There is a place that is local. If you

are interested, contact John Tinny.

John also said that there are a number of committees that a member

could serve on if interested. Boy Scouts: a total of 10 certificates have

been sent out to the local troops.

JROTC: The state winner was from the Sarasota Chapter.

Old Business: The BOM is coming soon (May 3-5). This is where the

State Officers are elected.

New Business: None

Benediction: Given by President Patterson

Recessional: Led by Compatriot Roberts.

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The next meeting is 11:00 A.M.at the Le Pavillon Restaurant on May18,

2013. The meeting adjourned at 1:30 P.M.

The speaker for the next meeting is Chuck Meide LAMP Director at the

Lighthouse.

Speakers for 2013:

May 18, 2013 Chuck Meide, LAMP Director, St. Augustine

Lighthouse

September 21, 2013 Cheryl Strickland, Clerk of Court, St. Johns

County

October 19, 2013 Rev. David Baker, Religion and the Revolution

President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer:

Dr. Oscar Patterson III Dean Smith Sydney Spink Robert Tarrant

904-280-1067 904-797-4459 904-940-1077 904-797-3865

opatters@comcast.net deano54@bellsouth.net linsyd@bellsouth.net kaynbobtar@bellsouth.net

Registrar/Genealogist: Historian: Chaplain: Sergeant-At-Arms:

William R. Roberts John Tinny David Hoffman Drew Upchurch

904-825-1594 904-285-8145 904-797-5673 904-540-1866

Roberts237@be;llsouth.net overlook3@comcast.net rdavidhoffman@bellsouth.net dsupchurch@gmail.com

Past Presidents 1981-82 Michael H. Charles 1988 George L. Houghtalling 1998 George I. Knowles 2006-07 Syd Spink 1983 John L. Mikel 1989-90 Charles A. Tingley 1999 John D. Tinny 2008-10 William A. Roberts 1984-85 Alan R. Edwards 1991 Harry A. Stowell III 2000 Richard E. Welty 1986 Charles A. Tigley 1992-93 Donald R. Fisher* 2001-2003 George E. McCabe III 1987 James A. Keamey 1994-97 John D. Tinny 2004-05 Norman L. Antle