Deposition of Pietro Musquetto, May 1777

Deposition of Pietro Musquetto concerning Matthew Trei 's (Mateu Triay) death.

 Deposition # 20 of 21 given between May 7 and May 20, 1777  20. CO5/557:465 East Florida

     Pietro Musquettro, being duly sworn saith:   That he was present when Matthew Trei (Mateu Triay - PDR), a servant of Dr. Turnbull's, was in the field at work when Nichola Moveritte, the Corporal, was quarreling with Joseph Spinata (Joseph Espineta - PDR) who was standing close by the said Matthew Trei; and saw the said Nichola Moveritte lift up an axe and throw at the said Joseph Spinata, but missed him and hit the said Matthew Trei in the head and killed him.

Pietro Musquetto  his mark Sworn the 10 day of May, 1777, before Spencer Man J.P.

Deposition faithfully reproduced from microfilm of the original document given in Catalan, Italian and other languages, recorded in English with assistance from interpreters. Names are recorded as translated with Catalan spelling in parentheses, transcribed by Wayne Pearce.

 On the ships list after Maria is Triay, Mateu, Minorca 

All Rights Reserved Teresa McVeigh 15 Aug 2021

Is John Pinholster the same person as Juan Francisco Espineta?

 Andrew Turnbull and others acquired a grant of 101,400 acres to establish an Indigo plantation when the 1763 Treaty of Paris gave the British all Spanish lands East of the Mississippi. Turnbull's eight ships and 1403 colonists left Gibraltar for the Florida Colony on April 17, 1768 and arrived in Florida in June , July and August of 1768. 148 died on the voyage and a total of 300 adults and 150 children died during 1768. Elisabet Hernandez and Maria Treal's husband most likely died leading to a marriage between Joseph and Maria.

They came as indentured servants for a periods of six to eight years, at the end of which each family would be given 50 acres plus five acres for each child. By 1777 Turnbull had failed to make the land transfers and over 600 fled to St. Augustine.

The 1783 Treaty of Paris gave Florida back to the Spanish. The Florida citizens had to swear an oath of loyalty to the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church. Joseph swore loyalty and his sons were living with him. Francisco was living with Joseph on the 1793 Census.  

11-24-1820 Will of Joseph, son of Francisco & Juana Sintas. Wife Maria long dead. Son Juan Francisco left St Augustine more than 25 years ago and believed dead. [Josefa Espineta was the son of Juan Francisco and Juanta (Cintas) Espineta].

Originally written by Teresa McVeigh 21 Dec 2014