Description:

Spanish Florida Colonial Doc Boldly Signed by Gov. de Céspedes Re: Slave Owner Don Juan MacQueen

A 1p manuscript letter in Spanish boldly signed by Governor of East Florida Vicente Manuel de Céspedes (also spelled Zéspedes) (ca. 1721-1794), as "Vi.te Manl. DeZespedes" at lower right. The gubernatorial signature features several overhead flourishes and underline paraphs, and is preceded by a few additional words of well-wishes in Céspedes's hand above. December 12, 1784. St. Augustine, East Florida. Docketed in English on the outer page. The letter is secretarially inscribed on watermarked laid bifold paper. The inner pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened folds, and a few scattered breaks along the central vertical crease. Isolated foxing, water stains, and edge darkening do not affect the legibility of the text, which is bold and dark. Else near fine. 8.25" x 12." A full English translation is provided. The letter is accompanied by an unrelated item, also of early Florida interest, that will be further described below.

Vicente Manuel de Céspedes wrote this letter to his American neighbor to the northwest: Georgia Governor John Houstoun (or Houston) (1744-1796). In the letter, Governor de Céspedes thanks Governor Houstoun for recommending a Georgia resident named John MacQueen (also spelled McQueen) (1751-1807). John "Don Juan" or "Lightning" MacQueen was a Revolutionary War veteran who would earn a fortune as a sea captain, ship owner, planter, slave owner, and land speculator. Within the decade, however, MacQueen would flee to East Florida to escape his debts. It is somewhat ironic that Governor Houstoun vouched for MacQueen considering the latter's future financial precarity. At the time, however, MacQueen was a highly regarded citizen with significant social clout and economic resources.

Governor de Céspedes wrote, translated in full:

"Dear Sir: I acknowledge the honor you have given me in such a kind recommendation of the gentleman Don Juan MacQueen in whom I have recognized all the beautiful qualities that made him get such a high recommendation.

Be sure that I will always be particularly delighted to give recognition to anyone recommended by you once I am established in this country the way I like. I will try to be more efficiently graceful than how I have been up until now.
With much respect to you and praying to God to bless you with many years.
San Agustin in Florida. 12 December 1784.

[illegible]
Vi.te Manl. DeZespedes

To Your Excellency the Governor Houstoum.”

Governor de Céspedes had assumed the governorship of East Florida just six months earlier, in late June 1784, and he mentions in the letter that he is still getting settled in his new administration. The colonial territory was in a great state of flux; the British had recently evacuated the colonies of East Florida and West Florida, controlled by them since 1763, in compliance with the peace terms of the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Correspondence exchanged between territorial governors was important during this critical time, when new policies were being implemented. Governor de Céspedes administered East Florida between 1784-1790. Governor Houstoun's second term as Georgia Governor (the first term was in the late 1770s) extended from January 1784 to January 1785.

During the American Revolution, John MacQueen served as a captain in the Navy of South Carolina. He befriended George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette, and cultivated ties with the Americans' allies, the French. MacQueen relocated to Georgia in 1784, the same year he is recommended in this letter. He would seek refuge across the border in East Florida sometime in 1791 or 1793 (accounts differ), after which he was granted possession of Fort George Island near Jacksonville. There he oversaw a plantation of 300 slaves. MacQueen curried favor with the local Spanish officials and was appointed a militia captain in 1798 and elected as a territorial judge in 1802. He resided in what is today called Kingsley Plantation, the oldest surviving plantation house in Florida, built from 1797-1798. Architecturally unique, the house built of tabby and other local materials features four well-ventilated one-story pavilions surrounding a central room at the center. While in East Florida, MacQueen lived apart from his family, who was still in Georgia. He was about to call them to East Florida when he died of typhoid in 1807.

The letter is accompanied by an unrelated item relating to early Florida history: a 1p manuscript address leaf addressed in Spanish to "My Most Excellent Sir – Mr. / Jorge Mathews /Governor and General Commander of the State of Georgia" at Augusta. Docketed in English --among the notations is "Negroes / 1795"-- and dated November 14, 1796. Expected wear including folds, some minor breaks, and scattered discoloration, else good to very good. 11" x 10.375."

George Mathews (1739-1812) served as the Governor of Georgia from 1793-1796. The leaf identifies the sender as "Col. Sebastian Kindélan." Sebastian Kindélan y O'Regan (1757-1826) was a career Spanish military officer of Irish heritage. He later served as a Spanish colonial governor in East Florida, Santo Domingo, and Santiago de Cuba.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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