Andrew Turnbull and Smyrna
In 1768, Andrew Turnbull brought more than 1,200 indentured settlers to establish a settlement called Smyrna. It became one of the deepest and most important parts of NSB history.
Quick History Notes
- Founded in 1768
- More than 1,200 indentured settlers
- Named for Smyrna, connected to Turnbull’s wife
The beginning of Smyrna
Andrew Turnbull arrived in 1768 with a large group of indentured European settlers from places that included Menorca, Greece, and Italy. The plan was to build a successful agricultural settlement on the Florida coast.
Why the name matters
The settlement name Smyrna is tied to Smyrna, the birthplace of Turnbull’s wife, Gracia Maria Rubini. That connection is one reason the modern name New Smyrna Beach carries such an old-world history.
A huge colonial experiment
This was not a small family settlement. It was a large colonial project. Turnbull and his partners hoped the land would produce crops and profit. The scale of the plan made Smyrna one of the most ambitious British colonial efforts in Florida.
Why it belongs at the center of About NSB
You cannot understand New Smyrna Beach without understanding Smyrna. The settlement explains the town’s name, its early hardship, its connection to Minorcan history, and its place in Florida’s colonial past.