Early History of St. Simons Island
The Spanish established several
missions along Georgia's coastal sea
islands. Two missions were located on
St. Simons Island, called " Isla De
Guadalquini" by the Spanish: Santo
Domingo de Asajo (Guale) and San
Buenaventura de Guadalquini (Mocama).
San Simon and Ocotonico were Yamasee
villages that did not convert to Christianity.
The demise of these missions and villages
can be attributed to susequent raids by the
Chichimeco Indians ( from the interior of
Georgia ) and later, pirates in 1684.
In later years after th Spanish abandoned
their missions, the English established the
town and fort of Frederica to the north and
Fort St. Simons near the lighthouse. Ft. St.
Simons was built too close to the water and
was eventually destroyed by erosion.
San Buenaventura De Guadalquini (through 1684)
was located on the southern tip of St. Simons
Island on or near the present lighthouse site.
The mission was occupied by Mocama Indians
(87), not the Gaule as previously
thought by historians.
Santa Domingo De Asajo (1661 - 1684)
located between Cannon's and Hampton Points,
replaced the destroyed and abandoned mission
Santo Domingo De Talaje at the mouth of the
Altamaha River in 1681. The mission had an adult
population of 39 and was the southern most
penetration of the Guale Indians.
San Simon (through 1684) This was a
Yamassee Indian Village of 40 adults in 1675 and 17 adults in 1681. The inhabitants were also known as Clones. Located near present-day Fort Frederica, many of San Simons Yamasee sided with the English in their battle with Spain over the "Disputed Land" of Coastal Georgia. This village was likely the source for the English renaming of the island.
Ocotonio (through 1684) The exact location is unknown, but was probably south of San Simon and north of San Buenaventura De Guadalquini.
It had 120 residents in 1675, the largest group of
unconverted Indians at the time on the Georgia
Coast.
Marker is on 12th Street, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
