Los Floridanos Make Connections:

Cousins & Connections: What Happened

Family Information Exchange for Descendants of First Florida Spanish Families

(Solana, Solano, Sanchez, etc)

St. John’s County South East Branch Library

6670 US #1 South

St. Augustine, FL

Saturday April 13, 2013

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

    Despite ongoing controversy about the topic, the Sanchezes were definitely the first to arrive to the library gathering of Los Floridanos at the informal meeting at the Saint John's east library where cousins and shirttail relatives gathered to meet and reunion with one another. While 15 people signed in, other spouses, children and friends accompanied the cousins to make this a successful event.

    Those who signed the book include Asaph and Marlaine Graham of Seminole, Fred and Diana Williams of Welaka, Earl and Debi Sanchez of Plant City, Tom Santa Cruz of Zephyrhills, Henry (Bo) Haven of Dade City, all from the Sanchez side, and Solanas Linda Brown of Jacksonville, Kathy and Christopher Garrett of San Mateo, and Crystal Solana Bryan of Saint Petersburg.

    Thanks goes especially to Crystal for setting up the meetings space and spreading the word.

Connecting the News

Photo at Tomolato Cemetery of FX Sanchez descendants includes cousins connected to Manatee County  Asaph Graham (face slightly hidden behind Ann Browning) on back row, then next, Travis Sheffield and Rick Sheffield. Kneeling in front are Dee Graham, holding grandson, Anthony Quandt Judd. (Photo by Alena Scandura.)

Earl Sanchez of Plant City is one person to the right from Rick Sanchez. Where is Tom Santa Cruz, because  you were there? More photos to come, but if the rest of you send in IDs we can add them to the photo. Please excuse any lapses of visual-naming memories.

Manatee folks mentioned in Bradenton Herald blog 

      After our trip to Saint Augustine for the memorial honoring Francisco X Sanchez's new status with the Sons of the American Revolution, Bradenton Herald columnist Vinn Mannix ran this photo and a feature in his blog about these attending descendants with Manatee County connections.

      Even though I'm in the photo, my name isn't mentioned since I'm now working as a reporter for the newspaper. Thanks to Vinn, who also wrote about my dad a few times and does a great job keeping up with local history.

bradenton-folks-share-lineage-of-noble

from Rev. Dee Graham

8th great granddaughter of FX Sanchez

More Information on the Tolomato Cemetery

There is a blog for the cemetery called, Tolomato Cemetery Times (the link should work).  There are several with Sanchez information:

• Family Reunion at Tolomato Cemetery (September 27, 2011), cousin Earl Sanchez mention this at the memorial service.
• Sneak Preview of Latest Marker
• Cleaning - against all odds - and Discoveries! (April 13, 2013) a picture of the memorial dedication is included.

It is proper etique to show links to other blog, but not to just copy them and include them without permission.

Even more Activity for Saturday, April 13th in St. Augustine

In a recent email from Dick Rousseau:

Crystal Solana Bryan will host a meeting on Saturday, April 13, 2013 in St. Augustine as follows:

Family Information Exchange for Descendants of First Florida Spanish Families

(Solana, Solano, Sanchez, etc)

St. John’s County South East Branch Library

6670 US #1 South

St. Augustine, FL

Saturday April 13, 2013

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Please plan to attend and exchange family information.

Any questions contact her at solanacrystal@Hotmail.com

This is about 10 miles due South of the Tolomato Cemetery Monument dedication that starts at 2 pm.  The library is on US-1 just North of the highway to Crescent Beach. There is plenty of free parking at this library.

Gosh! I better pack a lunch!

Memorial Marker for Francisco Xavier Sanchez