Fort Mose History – Beginning of the Underground Railroad

Fort Mose, originally known as Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, holds a unique place in American history as the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what would become the United States almost a hundred years later.

Its story is deeply intertwined with the struggles between Spain and England in the 18th century.

Here’s a historical timeline of Fort Mose in the 1700s:

Rebellion Against Slavery  (Late 1600s – Early 1700s):

• Spanish Sanctuary: In the late 1600s, enslaved Africans in the British colonies of South Carolina and Georgia began hearing rumors of a promise of freedom in Spanish Florida.
• Spain, seeking to destabilize its British rivals and bolster its own defenses in Florida, had issued a royal decree in 1693 by King Charles II. This decree offered asylum and freedom to enslaved people who escaped to Florida, provided they converted to Catholicism and were willing to serve in the Spanish militia.
• The “Southern Underground Railroad”: This decree initiated a unique “Underground Railroad” that ran south, not north. Brave individuals, often with the help of Native American allies, fled through dangerous swamps and dense forests to reach St. Augustine. Many did not survive this quest for freedom.
• Early Arrivals: The first documented group of asylum seekers arrived in St. Augustine in 1687, consisting of eight men, two women, and a child. More followed in the subsequent decades.

The Establishment of Fort Mose (1738):

• Growing Population: By 1738, over 100 freedom seekers had successfully reached St. Augustine and were living within the town. The Spanish governor, Manuel de Montiano, recognized the growing need for a dedicated settlement and a way to have an early warning of threats from the British in the north..
• Chartering the Settlement:  Spanish Governor Montiano chartered the establishment of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, later shortened to  Fort Mose, about two miles north of St. Augustine.
• This was the first legally sanctioned free Black town in what is now the United States.

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  A Fortified Community: Fort Mose was more than just a settlement; it was a fortified village designed to serve as the first line of defense against British incursions from the north.
• It featured an earthen-walled fort, a moat, a lookout tower, and palm-thatched huts for its inhabitants.
• Captain Francisco Menéndez: The community was led by Captain Francisco Menéndez, a formerly enslaved African from the Mandinga people of West Africa. He was a veteran soldier with a decorated military record and spoke four languages. He was the de facto leader and commander of the free Black militia at Fort Mose.
• New Culture: The residents of Fort Mose, hailing from various West African cultures (predominantly Kongos, Carabalis, and Mandinka) and some from other Spanish colonies, forged a new and unique cultural community, blending African, Spanish, and Native American traditions. They adopted Spanish names and became Catholic.

Fort Mose in Conflict: The War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739-1748):

• Stono Rebellion (1739): The Spanish promise of freedom to British slaves was seen by as a direct provocation, and it is believed to have contributed to slave revolts in the British colonies, most notably the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina in September 1739.
• Oglethorpe’s Invasion (1740): The ongoing tensions escalated into the War of Jenkins’ Ear.
• In 1740, Governor James Oglethorpe of the newly formed British colony of Georgia launched a major attack on Spanish Florida, aiming directly for St. Augustine and, consequently, Fort Mose.
• First Fort Mose Destroyed: As Oglethorpe’s forces approached, Governor Montiano ordered the residents of Fort Mose to abandon their settlement and retreat to the safety of Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine.

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  The British subsequently occupied Fort Mose, using it as a base.
• “Bloody Mose”: In June 1740, the free Black militia of Fort Mose, fighting alongside Spanish regular soldiers and Native American allies, launched a surprise counterattack on the British forces occupying the fort. This brutal battle, known as “Bloody Mose,” resulted in a decisive victory for the Spanish and the destruction of the first Fort Mose.
• The residents, however, remained in St. Augustine for the next 12 years.

The Rebuilding and Final Years (1752-1763):

• Return to Mose: In 1752, Florida Governor Fulgencio García de Solís ordered the free Black militia to return and rebuild Fort Mose.
• This relocation was initially met with some resistance, as the militiamen had established roots in St. Augustine and were wary of once again serving as the primary defense against the British in the North.
• Second Fort Mose: A second Fort Mose was constructed, similar in design to the first, with earthen walls and a moat. It continued to serve as a crucial defensive outpost.

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  Life at the Fort: The inhabitants of Fort Mose grew their own crops, and the men continued to serve as soldiers, patrolling the frontier and defending St. Augustine.
• End of an Era (1763): The fate of Fort Mose was sealed by larger European politics. After Spain’s defeat in the Seven Years’ War (known as the French and Indian War in North America), Spain ceded all of La Florida to Great Britain in the 1763 Treaty of Paris.
• Exodus to Cuba: Facing the prospect of re-enslavement under British rule, the entire community of Fort Mose, along with many other free and enslaved Africans and Spanish loyalists from St. Augustine, chose to evacuate to Spanish Cuba, abandoning their hard-won freedom and their settlement. The fort was subsequently swallowed by the marsh.

Legacy and Recognition:

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  Forgotten History: For many years, the significant legacy of Fort Mose was largely forgotten, obscured by the marsh and the shifting tides of history.
• Rediscovery and National Recognition: In the late 20th century, dedicated archaeologists and historians began to uncover the remains of Fort Mose. In 1994, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its profound importance in American history.
• It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as a precursor site of the Underground Railroad.
• Fort Mose Historic State Park: Today, Fort Mose Historic State Park stands as a testament to the courage and resilience of its inhabitants.
• While the original structures no longer stand, a reconstruction of the 1738 fort was completed in May 2025, allowing visitors to better visualize and understand this pivotal site in the story of freedom in America.

Fort Mose stands as a powerful reminder of the complex colonial history of Florida, the diverse origins of its early inhabitants, and the enduring human spirit in the pursuit of freedom.