Letter written by Ira Wilson Pinholster, Sr. to Lu Amanda Pinholster 21 Feb. 1922

In 1922 Ira Wilson Pinholster, Sr. wrote his niece Lu Amanda Pinholster a letter which is the only documentation found so far that John Pinholster (Spinholster, Shinholster, Spinnosa, Espineta, Espinosa) was originally from Saint Augustine, Florida, and possibly from Minorca. LuAmanda Pinholster wrote a short family history titled "Juan Espinosa Family," in which she stated that Juan (John) came from Minorca with (Alexander) Turnbull to work in the Indigo plantations. This has been used to document many family trees. One problem is that Turnbull's original fleet of immigrants arrived in Florida in 1768 to settle his colony of New Smyrna, south of St. Augustine. John Pinholster was probably not born yet (b.abt. 1773-1775). He was probably the son of immigrants, possibly Joseph Espineta and Maria Triay from Minorca, although this has not been proven. The immigrants were not given land grants and John Pinholster probably died in Liberty County, Georgia, shortly after he received a land grant while living there (between 1824 and 1827).

Transcription:
Brooker Florida, February 21, 1922, [To] Miss Luamanda Pinholster, Winchester, Virginia. To My Dear Niece:
I will try and reply to your request. First Alice and the two small girls are with me, the other two are married and gone one in Ky, the other in Fla.

All the information I can give you in regards to my Grandfather is, that St. Augustine was settled by a man named Turnbull and a colony of men and in that colony my Grandfather was one of them. He laid a Spanish Grant on 120 acres land there. His Home we call it. His name was John E. Spinnosa. This name is on record in St. Augustine. This town was settled in 1565 this you know.

The next time I knew of him he went to South Carolina. There he died and was buried there.

If you want any further information you write the clerk of court at St. Augustine and you may get more information.

All are well as far as I know. I am conplaining all the time from headache. Hope you keep well.

Your uncle as ever,
I. W. Pinholster, Sr.

John Spinholster Land Grant 1824 Georgia

John Spinholster was given a land grant of 250 acres by the Governor of Georgia 5 May 1824 in what was then Early County, Georgia (at that time all of Southwest, GA--see note below). At the time of the grant, it says that he was living in Liberty County, Georgia.

John Pinholster's name is variously spelled Pinholster, Shinholster, Spinholster. It is said to be an Anglicized version of his possibly Minorcan name, which may have been Espineta (Minorcan) or Espinosa (Spanish version).

179 State of Georgia

By His Excellency George M. Troup Governor and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of this State, and of the Militia thereof.

To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:

Know Ye, That in Pursuance of the several acts of the General Assembly of this State, passed the 15th day of December 1818, and the 16th day of December 1819, for making distribution of the land lately acquired of the Creek and Cherokee Nation of Indians, and forming the counties of Early, Irwin, Applin, Walton, Gwinette, Hall, Habersham, and Rabun, in this State, I have Given and Granted,and by these presents in the name and behalf of this State, do give and grant unto

John Spinholster of Liberty County his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract or lot of land containing Two hundred and fifty acres, situate, lying and being in the Eighteenth District Early county in the said State, which said tract or lot of land is known and distinguished in the plan of said district by the Number Two Hundred and Thirty Two having such shape, form and marks as appear by a plat of the same hereunto annexed; to Have and To Hold the said tract or lot of land, together with all and singular the rights, members and appurtenances thereof, whatsoever, unto the said

John Spinholster his heirs and assigns, to his and Theirs own proper use, benefit and behoof forever in fee simple, Given, under my hand and the Great Seal of the said State, this Fifth day of May in the year eighteen hundred and Twenty four and of the Independence of the United States of America the Forty Eighth

Signed by his Excellency the Governor the

5th day of May 1824 G.M.Troup

E.H. Pierce S.E.D.

Registered 5th day of May 1824

 

 

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Originally Early County encompassed all of southwest Georgia, about 3,770 square miles. Ten counties (Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Decatur, Dougherty, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas) were created in whole or in part from the original boundaries of Early County, reducing its size to its current 511.2 square miles. Today, Early County's boundaries are the Chattahoochee River and Alabama to the west, Clay and Calhoun counties to the north, Baker County to the east, and Miller and Seminole counties to the south.