THE OLDEST HOUSE.
Tradition. Hermitage and chapel of the monks who came to St. Augustine with Mcncndcz 1565.
First shown in printed books as Oldest House in St. Augustine. Geography about 1670. Bloomfield Guide Book 1882. City Directory and map 1683 First shown commercially. By Dr. Carver after 1890 for a fee. to protect himself from tourists.
Shown on detailed city plans.—
Before 1763 Spanish plan of the city.
About 1765 English plan of the city, walled garden also marked.
1788	Spanish plan of the city, ground-floorplan given and well in garden. Description of this map describes the house as built of coquina, wood, hostion. and in bad condition.
OWNERS. Tradition. Monks—Mcncndcz or Alvarez- family.
Spanish Archives found to date.—
1764 Deeded to Jesse Fish to hold It from English Crown, in confidence by Spanish owner, no money paid.
English Archives found to date.—
1778 Occupied by Wade Stubbs.
FORT MARION THE ONLY MEDIEVAL CASTLE AND FORT IN THE UNITED STATES. ST. AUGUSTINE. FLORIDA.
EMILY L. WILSON. LIBRARIAN INST. OF SCIENCE AND HIST. SOC. OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
the year of 1756".
1763 Florida with the fort transferred to the English Crown.
1776 Governor lonyn writes "The outworks of the fort hnvc never been finished' , and Captain Campbell of the Engineers was sent to repair
1779 August 27. Col. Feuser is employed in forming a Glace to the fort.
1760 The return of 63 rebel prisoners, from Charleston, included threcSignera of the Declaration of Independence Arthur Middleton. Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward Jr. also David Ramsay noted historian of the Revolution and Lieut Gov. Christopher Gadsden who (because he refused to give a second parole) was kept for nearly a year in a dark dungeon.
1783 Florida and Fort San Marco returned to Spain.
1821 July 10. The flag of Spain lowered and the Stars and Stripes rise In ita place, the fort is named Fort Marion.
1833 The secret dungeon discovered by Lieutenant Tuttle and Colonel Dancy July 21st.
1838 The noted Indian Wild Cat and companion escaped. Osceola refused to leave also, because he had been taken prisoner under a flag of truce.
1842 Water Battery erected by the United Stales Government.
1844 Hot Shot Battery built
1862 March II. Confederate forces having left the city, fort was surrendered to Union Troops.
[1924 ?) Fort Marion made a national monument by proclamation of President Coolidge. Description: Built alter plan ol Vaubnn ol coquina rock, found on Anastasia Island. The four bastions arc called St. Peter, St. Paul. St. Augustine and St. Charles. The walls arc 25 ft. high. 12 ft. thick at the Lose. 9 ft. a; the-tep. The inner court is 100 ft. ua;e with 26 casemates. 5 dungeons. 1 magazine, lerreplcin about 40 ft. wide, outer edge 3 ft. thick. 6 high called parapet pierced forguns. The Chapel is on the north side. Barbccan outside, the entrance formerly had a drawbridge. The Glacis (artificial hill, surrounds the moat on the three side*
fort "Close to the fust where the lort was at first' . letter of Dr Caccrcs. November 1574.
1578 "This fort of San Augustin" inspected, detailed.description sent to Spain by Alvaro Flores, visitor lor his Majesty.
1586 Map ol Drake calls the fort St. John dc Pinos, shows the plan on present site, describes burning the fort.
1593 Plan of the wooden fort rebuilt (called San Marcos) made for the Spanish Archives.
1595 Petition of Hernando dc Mcotas contains a drawing of part of this fort "ns it is new ' and requests lor a stone fort. Marginal notes consent to rebuilding the fori with stone, provide money and slaves for the rebuilding.
1640 Appalachian Indian slaves employed on the fort.
1675 Plans of the stone lort, with report of the work finished sent to Spain.
1650 Governor Don Diego dc Quiroga y Losada writes to the king that the castle is completed and slaves idle.
1696 Jonathan Dickinson shipwrecked on the coast of Florida describes the lort—"At the north end of the town standeth a large fortification—the «o11 °*lhc fortification is about thirty feet high, built of sandstone."
1702 Oldmixon 1708 in his history writes of the attack by "Col. Moor and Col. Rob. Daniel" in 1702. “The inhabitants having notice' of the Approach ol the English had packed up their best Effects, and retired them I0 ihc castle, which was surrounded by a very deep and broad Meat. They had laid up provisions there for 4 months and resolved to defend themselves to the last Extremities." Without bombs and mortars the attack foiled.
1712 A boston newspaper (reprinted in River's Hist, of S. C.) describes the fort about as It is now.
1727 Puuncr attacked St. Augustine with troopers and Indians, the residents were savea by retiring to the fort.
1740 St. Augustine attacked by Governor Oglethorpe of Georgia, residents took reiuge in the fort for 33 days, until the siege ended.
1756 Some minor changes being made. Governor Don Alonzo Fernandez dc
Spanish Archives found to dale.—
1733 Occupied by Joseph Peavett. claims it as residence.
1786 Occupied by John Hudson and wife, widow of Peavett.
1767 Cfaimcd by Hudson and also Don Gcronimo Alvarez (non of Michael Alvarez and Theresa Mcncndcz) who came to St. Augustine 1784. from Asturias. Spain, birth place.
1789	Sold at auction to Alvarez inspitcof protests oflludsons who refuse to give it up.
1790	Deed to Alvarez by Covernor Queseda. Hudsons ejected.
American Records St.John's County.—
1839 Deed of Gift by Gcronimo to his son Antonio.
1666 Antonio Alvarez died, house goes to grand-daughter Ella, married George Acosta.
1832 Sold to Wm. Duke for George Acosta and children St. Elmo and Ella, minor heirs.
1831 Sold by Wm Duke to Mary J. Carver.
Later. By various transfers to Institute of Science and HistoricalSoclcty of St. Augustine, present owners.