San Joseph de Escambe facts for kids

San Joseph de Escambe was an old community where Apalachee Native Americans lived. It was started in 1741 near a place called Molino, Florida today. This community was along the Escambia River, which is how the river and later Escambia County, Florida got their names!

The name "Escambe" came from an even older Apalachee mission called San Cosme y San Damián de Escambe. That older mission was much farther east in Leon County, Florida.

San Joseph de Escambe: A Lost Apalachee Village

The San Joseph de Escambe mission was home to Apalachee people who had to leave their original homes. They were like refugees. Their chief was named Juan Marcos Isfani. He had gathered a group of Apalachee people who had been living with the Creek Indians. This happened after English and Creek raids in 1704 destroyed the Apalachee Province.

Why Was Escambe Built?

The Apalachee people and their chief, Juan Marcos Isfani, first settled near the mouth of the Escambia River in 1718. After living on the northern Spanish border for about 20 years, they moved to the new mission site in 1741. This new mission, San Joseph de Escambe, helped the Spanish keep an eye on their northern frontier.

Life at the Mission

Life at San Joseph de Escambe involved different groups of people. The Apalachee Native Americans were the main residents. From 1750 to 1761, Spanish infantry and cavalry soldiers were also stationed there. These soldiers helped protect the mission. Franciscan friars, who were religious leaders, also lived at the mission. They likely taught the Apalachee people about the Christian faith.

The End of Escambe

San Joseph de Escambe did not last forever. On April 9, 1761, the mission was attacked. Creek Indian warriors raided the community and burned it down. This attack forced everyone living there to leave.

Where Did They Go Next?

After the mission was destroyed, the Apalachee people moved. They resettled with the Yamasee Native Americans. The Yamasee lived at a place called San Antonio de Punta Rasa, which was also burned that spring. Both groups moved close to modern-day Pensacola, Florida.

In 1763, the Spanish residents of Pensacola, Florida moved to Veracruz, Mexico. The Apalachee and Yamasee people went with them. They were helped to create a new town north of Veracruz. This town was called San Carlos de Chachalacas. It was built along a river with the same name. This town still exists today! However, we don't know if any descendants of those Florida Native Americans still live there.

Finding Escambe Today

The exact location of San Joseph de Escambe was lost for many years. But in 2009, archaeologists found the site! A field school from the University of West Florida discovered it. Since then, several more field schools have worked there.

These archaeological digs have found many interesting things. They have uncovered items that show how the Apalachee people lived. They also found evidence of the Spanish soldiers and Franciscan friars. These discoveries help us understand what life was like at San Joseph de Escambe.