Fort Tonyn <body>  <center> <table border=0 cellpadding=5 width=95%> <tr><td> Database: <a href="t.htm#tonyn">Fort Tonyn</a> <p> <center><b>Fort Tonyn</b>.</center><p> <b>What:</b> Evacuation?, *Gen. Robert Howe? vs. Col. Brown(?), 2 Jul 1778?<p> <b>Other names:</b> <p> <b>Where:</b> <br>  30.78545 -81.81924 Fort Tonyn <p> <b>Maps:</b> <a href="mapnotes.htm">[map notes]</a> <ul> <li> 30.78545,-81.81924 Fort Tonyn (per Michael Higgins's estimate, below) <li><a href="http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=30.78545,-81.81924&z=15&t=T">ACME Mapper</a>. <li><a href="http://nmviewogc.cr.usgs.gov/viewer.htm?CenterPoint=30.78545,-81.81924&Scale=LOCAL&Classes=OTHER%20IMAGERY|ROADS|COUNTY|NAMES" TARGET="_blank">National Map, simple</a>. Click X to exit. <a href="national-maps.htm">National Map how-to</a> <li><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=30.78545,+-81.81924&spn=0.023498,0.051207&iwloc=A&hl=en">Google</a> <li>Confidence: 1 <p> <li> 30.7866225 -81.8389984 Kings Ferry, provided as point of reference <li>GNIS record for <a href="http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1671370">Kings Ferry</a>. Note mapping options <li>Confidence: (for ferry)5, (for battle) 0l <p> <li> 30.7866225 -81.8389984 Point Peter (location as given on GA historical marker, below <li>GNIS record for <a href="http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:356478">Point Peter</a>. Note mapping options <li>Confidence: (for cape)5, (for battle) 0 <p> </ul><p> <b>Sources:</b> <ul> <li><a href="biblio.htm#okelley">NBBAS:One</a>. Not included.<p> <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Tonyn">"Fort Tonyn"</a>. Wikipedia: <blockquote><i> Fort Tonyn, named for General Patrick Tonyn (East Florida's Royal Governor at the time of the American Revolution), was located in present-day Nassau County, Florida, <b>near the hamlet of Mills's Ferry</b>. The fort was unremarkable in its day, seeing little action. Its name is remembered primarily because it figured in the only substantial campaign Florida saw during the Revolution. General Robert Howe camped there with some 400 men on June 28, 1778, at the same time that Colonel Elijah Clark led his troops militia to defeat at the Battle of Alligator Bridge.<p> The fort is believed to have been in existence as late as the War of 1812. </i></blockquote><p> <li><a href="http://www.geocities.com/naforts/fljack.html">"Florida Forts"</a>: <blockquote><i> Fort Tonyn<br> (1776 - 1778), near King's Ferry<br> A British fort located on the St. Mary's River <b>about one mile east of Mills Ferry (Kings Ferry)</b>. Captured by Patriot forces in 1778. (thanks to Michael Higgins for providing correct location) </i></blockquote><p> <li>NPS, <a href="http://tps.cr.nps.gov/gis/revwar/battles/Detail.CFM?fKey=798&security.email='genealogy.guide@about.com'">"Fort Tonyn"</a>: <blockquote><i> Common Name Fort Tonyn<br> Historic Name Fort Tonyn and Alligator Creek Bridge<br> County Nassau<br> State FL<br> War Revolutionary War<br> Engagement Land Action<br> Engagement Type Occupation<br> Campaign American Invasion of Florida: June 28-July 14, 1778<br> Dates 06/29/1778 - 06/29/1778<br> Current Rank C<br> Notes on event Howe's troops, invading Florida, occupied the fort abandoned a day earlier by Browne and his Rangers. The occupation lasted until July 11, 1778. Includes Alligator Bridge<br> </i></blockquote><p> Additional info on Fort Tonyn (click on "Fort Tonyn" at "Property Name"): <blockquote><i> Property Name: Fort Tonyn (Archeological)<br> State: FL<br> County: Nassau<br> War: Both Wars<br> Date(s) of Significance: 06/28/1778 - 07/14/1778 Period of Significance: 1775-1783<br> Theme: Military<br> SubTheme: Installations<br> PropertyType: fort<br> Current Rank: C<br> Significance : "was erected by the English on the south side of the St. Mary's River. It is not certain how early it was constructed, possibly late 1777, though it could have been constructed on the site of a pre-existing military post. "The destruction of Fort Tonyn was one of the principal goals of the American forces invading East Florida in May of 1778. The fort had become a nuissance to Georgia because it was a base for raids into that state by Browne's Rangers as well as a haven for fleeing Loyalists. On June 28, 1778 Browne evacuated and burned the fort and fled into Cabbage Swamp. The American force of over 2000 men under the command of Howe and others occupied the fort on June 29." [Carr]<br> ___________________________________________________________________________________<br> "General Patick Tonyn having been governor of East Florida from 1774 until the end of the American Revolution, it would be logical to assume that more than one fort bore his name during this period. A Georgia historical marker on the west edge of St. Mary's says 'East of here, at the junction of Peter Creek and St. Mary's River, the British built Fort Tonyn in 1776_ _It appears that in the War of 1812, Fort Pickering was built on the Fort Tonyn site.' "Gen. Robert Howe found the fort unoccupied when he arrived on 28 June 1778 in the course of the third unsuccessful attempt by the Patriots to win control of East Florida. While Howe camped here with some 400 Continental troops, Col. Elijah Clark led his mounted Georgia militia to defeat at Alligator Bridge" [Boatner, p. 69]<br> ________________________________________________________________________________<br> *Please note that according to documentation from the State of Florida, it has been determined that Fort Tonyn was <b>not located on Amelia Island</b>. The best estimate of the fort's location is <b>several miles east of Mill's Ferry, presently King's Ferry</b>. Amelia Island and the communities at its northern end have played a significant role throughout the history of Florida. The old town of Fernandina experienced a varied and turbulent existence during the colonial period, while the newer town of Fernandina Beach has developed since the American acquisition. During the American Revolution the loyalist forces in Florida built Fort Tonyn at the northern end of Amelia Island. They were forced to abandon and destroy the work in 1778, when a force of Georgians occupied the island during the second American campaign in Florida. After the retrocession of Florida to Spain, the settlement of Egmont became a major embarkation point for English settlers and soldiers evacuating East Florida. In 1812, the old town of Fernandina became the "capitol" of George Mathew's abortive "patriot" rebellion designed to detach East Florida from Spanish rule in preparation for annexation by the United States, as had previously occurred in West Florida. U.S. troops occupied Fernandina in support of the Florida rebels and their Georgia and Tennessee volunteer allies. Combined from Fernandina Beach Historic District record. --D.C.M. (01/2001) </i></blockquote><p> <li> Carl Vinson Institute of Government, <a href="http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/gahistmarkers/pointpeterhistmarker.htm">"Point Peter State Historical Marker"</a>:<br> Located on Point Peter Rd. near intersection with Osborne St. Marys, Ga. <blockquote><i> POINT PETER<br> East of here, at the junction of Peter Creek and St. Mary's river, the British built Fort Tonyn in 1776; controlling the southern part of the colony of Georgia for two years.<br> In 1778, American Revolutionary forces, both land and water, forced evacuation of the exposed position. The English retreated N.W. along North river into Pagan Creek Plantation, home of the Tories, Charles and Jermyn Wright, brothers of Royal Governor James Wright.<p> On high land along Alligator (now Borell) creek, they built log and sand breastworks and repulsed the American Cavalry under Col. Elijah Clark.<p> It appears that in the War of 1812, Fort Pickering was built on the Fort Tonyn site.<p> 020-8 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1953 </i></blockquote><p>  <li> <a href="biblio.htm#rw75">RevWar75</a> <br> <a href="http://revwar75.com/battles/177607.htm">listing</a>: 7/2/1776 Fort Tonyn, St. Mary's River. Shown as American victory.<br> <p> </ul><p> <b>Related sites:</b> <a href="cabbageswamp.htm">Cabbage Swamp</a>, <a href="alligator.htm">Alligator Bridge</a><p> <b>Submitted by:</b> Patrick O'Kelley<p> <b>Confidence level:</b> 2<p>  </td></tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>