The spirited story of Mary Evans, an extraordinary woman from colonial
Charles Town who finds a place for herself in St. Augustine after Spain
relinquishes Florida.
In this captivating tale, Eugenia Price paints a vivid picture of the
tumultuous historic and political events that shaped the life of Mary
Evans, a remarkably independent woman in the colonial south. Born in
Charles Town, South Carolina, Mary, a skilled midwife, accompanied her
first husband, British soldier David Fenwick, when his regiment fought
the Spanish in Cuba. When Spain agreed to give all of Florida in
exchange for the city of Havana, Mary (who became known as Maria) and
her husband were forced to relocate to the new British garrison town of
St. Augustine, Florida.
Maria exposes challenges that would unnerve a less resourceful woman,
but she made a name for herself--developing and enhancing her position
with influential citizens of St. Augustine. Eventually marrying three
times, Maria proved herself to be an extraordinary woman, for any day or
time.