The Commyns family resided in Pensacola as early as the late 18th century. Thomas Commyns, the patriarch of the family, worked baking bread for the Spanish militia at Mobile.

Thomas married Maria Lafond in 1816, and they had eight children. Two of these children, Francisco and Florencio, left a large family legacy in Pensacola history.

Francisco Commyns was born around 1800 and, as an adult, went into the timber business and owned a water powered saw mill. During his life, he married three times and had numerous children. Francisco died on June 13, 1853 and was buried in St. Michael's.

That same year two of his children also died of yellow fever. Francisco's wife, Angelina, expressed her sorrow through the poetic inscriptions on the tombs of Francisco and the two children.

Florencio Commyns, a slave owner, was also prosperous. In 1828, he shot one Raphael Gonzalez for molesting one of his slaves. Gonzalez died a day later. A jury found that Florencio had acted in self-defense.

The family grouping of markers includes both box tombs and above ground false tombs, both popular architectural styles of the period.

Podcast written by University of West Florida Public History Student, Ricky Gomez.