Where is this Island? Char ----- Original Message ----- From: J.Coates Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 5:14 AM To: Charlotte Coats Siercks Subject: Interesting Bit & Piece of Coats info Char- found this while rummaging through one of the rootswebsites: The british occupied St.Eustatius(Statia) island from 3/3/1781 until 11/25/1781 by Admiral Rodney; known as 1781 Rodney Roll. The british confiscated personal property, forced everyone to pay a poll tax, sent north americans to prison; english and danish merchants were extradicted. The French captured the island from the english in 1781 and held it until it was formally restored to the dutch in 1784. William Coats was forced to pay a poll tax of 64.26( pounds-?) on 2/24/1781 and was listed as a burger of the island of St.Eustatius. Is it assumed he was a merchant, therefore he would have been extradited afterwards- to where? I'll take odds he came to U.S. St.Eustatius is now called "Statia" or St. Eustatius. It is in the Caribbean. Here's a bit of info on it. Statia Tourist Office Oranjestad St. Eustatius Telephone: 599-3-182433 599-3-182213 599-3-182209 Ext. 117 Fax: 599-3-182433 E-mail: euxtour@goldenrock.net History of Statia Statia was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. Throughout a swaggering colonial era that followed, the island had changed hands at least 22 times. In 1636, near the close of the 80 year war between Holland and Spain, the Dutch took possession. During the 17th and 18th century, Statia was a major trading center with some 20,000 inhabitants and thousands of ships calling at her shores. For a while, Statia was the only link between Europe and fledgling American colonies. Warehouses along Oranje Bay in Lower Town, Oranjestad overflowed with food supplies and arms and ammunition marked for shipment to George Washington's army fighting the War of Independence. Even Benjamin Franklin had his mail routed through Statia to ensure its safe arrival. Statia remembered as the emporium of the Caribbean, was nicknamed "The Golden Rock", reflecting its former prosperous trading days and wealthy residents. On November 16, 1776 the American Brig-of-War, the "Andrew Doria", sailed into the harbor of Statia firing its 13-gun salute indicating America's long sought independence. The 11-gun salute reply, roaring from the canons at Fort Oranje under the command of Governor Johannes de Graaff, established Statia as the first foreign nation to officially recognize the newly formed United States of America.