In 1768, Scottish physician, Dr. Andrew Turnbull, received a large land grant 70 miles south of St. Augustine. Turnbull recruited 1,403 villagers from the Mediterranean and Baltic Islands of Minorca, Greece, Turkey and Corsica as indentured servants to plant indigo and other crops in the harsh Florida heat. This group would become collectively known as "Menorcans."
After nine years of abuse and mistreatment, during which 964 died, 17 Menorcans walked to St. Augustine seeking asylum. British Governor Patrick Tonyn, the Governor of St. Augustine, ordered that they be freed from Turnbull's enterprise. The remaining 600 Menorcans proceeded to walk 70 arduous miles from New Smyrna to St. Augustine, where they were welcomed and offered freedom from injustice.
Today Menorcans still call St. Augustine home.

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