The Minorcan Link: Falana and Austin Families
The People of Clay County History
This story is by the folks at the Clay County Archives Center.
Pioneer families—these are the men, women and children who first lived in Clay County dating back to pre-1858, the year Clay County (a.k.a. the Black Creek District) was initially carved out of Duval County. To this day, the descendants of these pioneers call Clay County home.
There may be no better time than the present, due to population growth and construction, to learn more about these families and their early efforts to make Clay County their own. Through a series of articles and related genealogical studies, a spotlight will focus on them and their accomplishments through the centuries and decades.
Let’s start with the Falana and Austin families. These two families intertwined over two generations.
The Falanas
From what can be gleaned from archival records, the Falana (Falani, Falliani, Finale, Fanally) family first arrived in Florida in 1768. Approximately 1,500 Minorca, Italian, and Corsican workers were recruited by Dr. Andrew Turnbull to work his 20,000-acre indigo plantation located in New Smyrna. Turnbull’s plans were never fully realized and after several years of cruel treatment, starvation, and the like, the Minorca fled New Smyrna. The British governor gave them refuge in St. Augustine.
The immigrant in this Falana line was Ferdinando Theodore Fallani. Ferdinando (1744 San Juliene, Florence, Italy to September 8, 1821, St Augustine, Florida,) was married to a Minorcan woman named Margaret Valori Pellicer (1751 San Felipe, Minorca, December 26, 1805, Saint Augustine, Florida).
Fernando’s son, Jacobus Santiago Falana (lived October 1, 1780, New Smyrna, British Florida to 1849, St. Augustine, Florida), married Maria Magdalena Mestre (1786–1830). Jacobus’ son was Antonio Julian (Falani) Falana (July 19, 1820, Saint Augustine, Spanish East Florida to 18 June 1900, Middleburg, Clay County, Florida).
Antonio was the pioneer of the Black Creek District of Duval County. Antonio married Caroline Tippins (May 2, 1821, Tattnall, Georgia, to May 10, 1910, Middleburg, Clay County, Florida). Together they had 13 children. Antonio served in the Seminole Wars and was on the role call at Fort Heileman. He enlisted in Captain Jackson Bird's Company of the 1st Regiment, Florida Mounted Volunteer Militia, commanded by Colonel John Warren.
This is the point where the Austin family comes into the picture.
The Austins
William Austin (January 5, 1844, Georgia, to July 7, 1921, Middleburg, Clay County, Florida,) married Sarah Caroline Falana (March 12, 1852, Middleburg, Clay County, Florida, April 4, 1939, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida). She was the daughter of Antonio and Caroline Falana. They had five children McFarley “Mac Farley”, Lula, Callie, Pearl and Robert. Callie went on to marry Frosard Budington, son of Ozias Budington, a powerful and wealthy individual.
Mac Farley Austin, as he was called, married Georgie Ruby Falana (lived December 5, 1879, Florida, to November 8, 1970, Volusia County, Florida,). His family has been in what is now Clay County since at least the 1850’s, living in the Black Creek District (now Middleburg) and Clay Hill.
Georgie was the daughter of George Falana (November 22, 1843, Black Creek District, Duval, Florida to December 20, 1913, Middleburg, Clay County, Florida) and Susan Dillaberry July 20, 1842, Whitesville, Duval County, Florida to January 20, 1929, Volusia County, Florida, USA). 1
The Dillaberry (De La Barre) family has been in Clay County since at least the 1840’s. Mac Farley Austin worked in the timber industry with the members of the Budington Family. Coming full circle, George was the son of Antonio and Sarah Falana, making Georgie their granddaughter.
Today, there are approximately 25,000 Minorcan descendants in St. Johns County. They have made significant contributions to cuisine in St. Augustin. Have you ever enjoyed Minorcan clam chowder, pilau (rice and chicken), or fromajardis (cheese pastries) there? Datil peppers are also used heavily in their cuisine.
Farley Austin has the reputation of being the historian of Clay Hill. His “cracker house” is a snap shot of Clay Hill’s past.
Whitesville is what Middleburg was once called.