Year
1812 1816 1836 1839 1839 1840 1850 1850 1851 1858 1859 1860 1861 1861 1864 1865 1880s |
Age
NA 4 24 27 27 28 38 38 39 46 47 NA NA NA NA NA NA |
Event
Anton Bengt Osmundsen born 05-Sep in Norway. He is the son of Salve Osmundsen and Gabrila Chaloine. He has a brother Obert Christian and two sisters, Oscine Carolina and Bethy. After his immigration, Anton is estranged from his Norwegian family—these names only surface in a letter from a relative in Minneapolis, Minnesota more than 25 years after Anton's death. Laureanna Leonardy born 04-Jul in Saint Sugustine to Bartolo Leonardy and Antonia Paula Bonnelly. Anton Bengt Osmundsen arrives in New York aboard the Norden from Stavangar, Norway, 20-Jul. William Monson marries Laureanna Leonardy in Saint Augustine, 15-Jan. Daughter Amelia Monson born 24-Oct. The Monsons have seven more children between 1839-1854, one of whom dies as a child, another at 16. Amelia lives until 1936, at which time she has the record as the oldest woman (96) ever to live in Saint Augustine. Monson serves with Bartolo Leonardy (probably his brother-in-law) on a Saint Augustine slave patrol, June 1. According to the 1850 Federal Census, William Monson is a cabinet maker living in Saint Augustine with his wife Laureanna Leonardy and five children. They share the house as Antonia Paula Bonelly (Laureanna's mother, 65), and Laurenna's sister, Jane, who is married to Stephen Lacy, a mariner. "Munson & Nelligan", cabinet makers, appears in the Saint Augustine business directory dated July 13. The shop is at the corner of Market Square adjoining the Council Room. Monson is Captain of a seven-man slave patrol, February 18. William Monson purchases 56 Marine Street in Saint Augustine from Mary D Clarke. William Monson dies. Being "weak in body, but of sound mind," William Monson decalres his last will and testament 24-May-1859. The executors are his wife Laureanna and his friend Christopher Bravo. Cathedral Parish Records has his death recorded as 10-May. The 1860 Federal Census indicates Laureanna Leonardy as owning real estate worth $3000 and a personal estate of $3500. She lives with her seven children, including William F (18), whose is a cabinet maker like his father. There are no house numbers in the 1860 census. 73-yeard old Antonia Paula Bonelly lives with the family of Mary Rose, who is presumably her daughter Maria Leonardy (45). There is no man in the house over the age of 25, but nine children named Rose, ages 5 months to 24 years. Florida militia claim Fort Marion in Saint Augustine 07-Jan and Florida secedes from the Union, 10-Jan. Union troops reoccupy the city on 11-Mar-1862, and Saint Augustine is under federal control for the duration of the Civil War. Son William F Monson enlists in the 1st Florida Battalion of the Confederate States Army at Fernandina in Sep-1861 The 1st Florida is engaged at the Battles of Shiloh, Tennessee (Apr-1862), Olustee, Florida (Feb-1864), and Cold Harbor, Virginia (Jun-1864). William F Monson is shot in the arm at the Battle of Olustee, the largest Civil War battle fought in Florida. William F Monson fights at the Battle of Hatcher's Run near Petersburg, Virginia, 5-Feb, and is paroled at Appomattox Court House on 10-Apr. He begins his journey home through Fort Monroe (Hampton, Virgina) and Hilton Head, South Carolina. He arrives in Saint Augustine about 10-May. On his pension application in 1909, Monson states that he lived continuously in the State of Florida for 44 years. He eventually settles in Mandarin. Son Anthony Vincent Monson establishes the Monson House on 26 Bay Street. The structure was replaced twice in the 20th century and eventually renamed the Monson Motor Lodge. The Monson is remembered as a landmark of the American Civil Rights Movement. Dr Martin Luther King Jr was arrested on the steps of the Monson motel restaurant, 11-Jun-1964. It was demolished in 2003. |
Notes
Birth date based on age stated in last will and testament, 1859. 1. Amelia Louisa, 1839 2 William F, 1841 3. Gertrude, 1844 4. Carolina Telisfara, 1845 5. Juana (Jane), 1846 6. Fritzard, 1849 7. Catherine Helena, 1851 8. Anthony Vincent, 1854 |