The subtitle of this book is “The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South During America’s Revolutionary Era”. We have all heard about the original thirteen colonies of the northeast and eastern coast, but we forget that West Florida was occupied by the British at this point in time, as well. While residents of this colony did not join in the rebellion, their mere presence in this area had an impact. Great Britain came into possession the colonies of West Florida and East Florida in 1763 at the end of the Seven Years’ War, when France and Spain ceded these lands to them. The British allowed any current residents of these areas to remain, as long as they swore allegiance to Great Britain.
Bunn gives a lot of detail about the people who lived in this area, both Native and non-native. The British inherited a relationship with the local tribes that the French had initiated, and it was not always a comfortable fit for them. The governance of this area proved challenging, both because of the individuals selected for the task, as well as the diversity of those being governed. Native tribes presented a particular challenge. Due to the difficulty in getting to this part of their empire, as well as the relative primitiveness of the area, compelled the British to treat this colony slightly differently than their other possessions. There was one incursion of rebels into the area at one point, but that didn’t amount to much long term. The biggest challenge for the British in maintaining their possession of West Florida came from their west, from Spanish occupied Louisiana.
People came into West Florida from a variety of places. Some came directly from England, some from other British colonies in the area, a few from other countries. It was a difficult place for farmers to settle, so trappers and traders were common among the residents early on. There was some good soil for farming, but getting to and from settlements could be challenging. So was getting any crops to market, or getting supplies to where they were needed. Bunn gives several stories about specific groups and individuals who tried to settle in the area, with varying degrees of success.
If this was your family, how would you research them? Local resources are probably your best bet here, due to the changes in governance. The Crown did give land grants at the beginning of their possession of this area. Church records might be helpful as well, although the British did not enforce attendance in the Anglican Church, and many residents maintained their Catholic faith. The list of sources that the author used might be useful as well.