Mateo Siemon Solana ( Mathew Solana)

Mateo Siemon Solana ( Mathew Solana)

Parents: Bartolome Solana & Maria del Carmen Crespo

b. September 28, 1828 St Augustine, FL St Johns County

d.May 26, 1914 Putnam County, FL Hillcrest Cemetery , San Mateo Florida

m. Mary Ketus Masters April 8^th , 1850 St Augustine, FL

b. 1836 St. Augustine

d. Mar 1864 San Mateo Fl

Children: Matilda 13 MAR 1855, Mary Louise 17 DEC 1857 , Dennis 02 FEB 1862

(info from LDS Church)

m. Sarah Petty or Bourn ? October 25, 1865 St Johns County (tombstone says bourn)

b. about 1844 in Georgia (info taken from 1880 Putnam Census)

Children: Bartolo, Francis, Mathew, William, Elizabeth, Richard, & Maude

(info taken from 1880 Putnam County Census)

Following information was all taken from Pension Records

Mateo was 5’7” Dark complexion ,black eyes and hair

Resident of San Mateo, FL .Received pension due to Old age and loss of eyesight

Granddaughter Mrs. W.K. Bryan Sr. (Hazel S. Bryan) wrote a letter so she could join the UDC. Stated that her Grandmothers maiden name was Bourn Pension records show it as Petty.

Enlisted March 3, 1862 or May 13, 1862 New Symrna, St Johns County,

Capt Winston Stephens Co B 2^nd Florida Cavalry C.S.A. , “ The St Johns Rangers”

Discharged November 25, 1862 on certificate of disability approved my General Beauregard given at Camp Finegan.

From family Stories he was close to the Durrance Family and enlisted in the war at the same time as William Durrance.

The marriage of Vicente Solana in 1594 is this nation’s oldest marriage records, and the Solana family is not only one of Florida's oldest families, it is also one of Putnam County’s largest families.
Born in 1829, Mateo Simeon Solana came to the San Mateo East End area about 1853 and built a log cabin near the William Durrance family. Many Solanas have been born and grown up during the nearly 150 years since.

Descendents of Mateo Salana include members of the Anderson, Baker, Barber, Bedenbaugh, Brown, Bryan, Burney, Carter, Castle, Counts, Crosby, Dykes, Farrow, Ferrell, Freeman, Garrett, Greer, Grochmal, Harbin, Hawkins, Herrington, Hester, Jernigan, Kummer, Livingston, MacGibbon, Mauldin, McElroy, McKenzie, Miller, Nelson, Parrish, Prevatt, Ricks, Rogero, Slaughter, Smith, Solana, Tilton, Tucker, Turner, Urry, Williams, Willis and Wright families.

The 11th Annual Solana Family Reunion will be held April 10, 1999, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Elkton.

Although one of our pioneer citizens from whom many of today’s citizens have descended, Mateo Solana did not live in the normal Putnam County, created in 1849 Solana’s home and the area east of the river were at that time part of St. Johns to County and would not become part of the county until 1868. Special certificates will be awarded to those whose ancestors were here when the original county was formed in 1849 or who are listed on the 1859 census. Another certificate will be awarded between 1850 and 1885. Putnam County census records will be used unless the family has other verification. These certificates are to be presented during a special ceremony during the Blue Crab Festival.

The Putnam County Sesquicentennial Committee reminds members of pioneer families to submit the names for whom they would like recognition as pioneer descendents. Please call Janice Mahaffey at the Putnam County Archives (329-0330) or write to hee at P.O. Box 1976, Palatka, FL 32178.