My grandfather's name was Iznard
Maldonard, a Minorcan, who in the year 1767 (some four years after
Florida was by the king of Spain ceded to Great Britain) emigrated
with one Dr. Turnbull-whose name has since shone on the pages of
history-to that land of sunshine and promise; for, indeed, Florida
is the Italy of America. In that year did numerous of the English
aristocracy conceive plans as various as inconsistent for the
population and improvement of the colony. With a worthy motive did
Lord Rolle draw from the purlieus of London [Footnote: See Williams'
History of Florida, page 188.] State Papers, three hundred wretched
females, whose condition he would better by reforming and making aid
in founding settlements. This his lordship found no easy task; but
the climate relieved him of the perplexity he had brought upon
himself, for to it did they all fall victims in a very short time.
But Turnbull, with motive less commendable, obtained a grant of his
government, and, for the sum of four hundred pounds, (being then in
the Peleponnesus) was the governor of Modon bribed into a permission
to convey sundry Greek families to Florida, for colonization.
Returning from Modon with a number of families, he touched at the
islands of Corsica and Minorca, added another vessel to his fleet,
and increased the number of his settlers to fifteen hundred. With
exciting promises did he decoy them to his land of Egypt, which
proved a bondage to his shame. He would give them lands, free
passages, good provisions and clothing; but none of these promises
did he keep.
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