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Phillip R. Yonge (circa 1779-1852) was born in British East Florida, son of Henry Yonge and Mary Powell Yonge. After his education in Europe he returned to Spanish East Florida and was among the Loyalists in the 'Patriot’s War.” This was a precursor to the Seminole Wars that lead to the annexation of Florida to the United States. The 'Patriot’s War' began after a successful revolt by patriots in Baton Rouge, West Florida declaring they were part of the United States. President James Madison authorized General George Mathews of Georgia to lead a similar revolt in East Florida, though later the United States would deny the attempt. General Mathews, John H. McIntosh, Georgians and local patriots began to move towards St. Augustine claiming the land for the United States. Along the way they occupied Fernandina and Amelia Island, Florida. Don Justo Lopez was in charge of the fort at Fernandina and authorized commissioners George Atkinson and Phillip R. Yonge to confer with General Mathews. Fernandina and Amelia Island surrendered to the patriots. Once the War of 1812 began, the United States denied sending men into East Florida to start the revolts, weakening General Mathews’ control. The locals of Fernandina elected Joseph M. Arredondo chairman, who later added Phillip R. Yonge to a committee of citizens authorized to summon people for defense in times of distress. Phillip R. Yonge later laid a claim against the United States for losses caused by the American troops during this time. Yonge married Mary Atkinson in 1813, daughter of Andrew Atkinson, a Captain General of the Spanish forces in East Florida, with whom he had eight children. Phillip R. Yonge later moved to Darien, Georgia where he was a director of a bank in Darien. He also headed the mercantile business, Ph. R. Yonge and Sons. He owned property in both Doboy Island, Georgia and Lake Jessup, Florida. He died in 1852 in Darien, and his remains, with those of his wife, were relocated to Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia in 1856.
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This collection consists of deeds, indentures, land surveys, letters, a passport, plats, and rosters dating from 1763 to 1884 relating to Phillip R. Yonge. The papers pertain to a claim made by Yonge for losses due to United States troops in East Florida in 1812, military matters in East Florida during the Patriot’s War (1811-1814), business transactions of Phillip R. Yonge and his company, Yonge Richardson & Co., property in Georgia, including a plat for land on Hutchinson’s Island, as well as surveys of Phillip R. Yonge tracts in Lake Jessup, Florida, 1874-1884. Also included in the collection are a passport signed by John H. McIntosh, military rosters in Spanish for a Spanish Militia in Fernandina, Florida, and an invoice for three African Americans sold in 1820.
The documents are arranged in the order imposed by the donor prior to donation.
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27 folders in box, 2 oversize folders
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Collection materials are in English and Spanish.
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Collection is open for research.
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Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
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GHS 2432, Phillip R. Yonge papers, 1763-1884, undated. Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
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