Maps of the Southeast: 1544, 1562, 1566, 1570, 1578, 1584 & 1590 From Robert Thornton

 Here is a batch of sixteenth century maps of the USA southeast.  all; are effectively navigation maps locating bays and river mouths..  Actual inland information was likely acqired by interviewing locals at the river mouth with perhaps some effort at confirmation.

At the same time we are getting ample indication that free lancers, often in substantial groups were breaking into the country and setting themselves up in some manner.  That after all usually meant having access to trade goods and a settlement agreement with a local tribe for shared protection.

Little of this had any semblance of Royal approval or consent  and thus scant record..

Maps of the Southeast: 1544, 1562, 1566, 1570, 1578, 1584 & 1590

November 15, 2015 Richard Thornton

 http://peopleofonefire.com/maps-of-the-southeast-1544-1562-1566-1570-1578-1584-1590.html

 

We thought that readers would enjoy seeing the evolution of maps during the period when France, Spain and England were first exploring Southeastern North America.   These are the type of educational tools that we will be using when POOF University (or whatever it will be called) gets going in 2016.

Note that on all Spanish, French, English and Dutch Maps,  Fort Caroline is located on the south side of the mouth of the Altamaha River in Georgia.   France NEVER claimed any land south of the St. Marys River, which divides Florida and Georgia today.    Both the myth of Fort Caroline being located in Jacksonville and the myth of the Fountain Youth being located in St. Augustine, were created by a New York transplant, who had speculated in land near both of those towns in the 1840s.

Click maps to enlarge them to full size.

 

1562 – Diego Gutierrez

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1566 – Geronimo Chaves

 

 

1566 – John? Longhurst

 

 

1570 -74  – Pieter Vander – Engraver in Leyden, Holland – probably based on input from  a survivor of Fort Caroline or a member of the 1568 Dominique de Gourgues Punitive Expedition.

 

 

1578 – Geronimo Chaves

 

 

1584 – Chaves Brothers – By a royally appointed cartographer of Spain. The identity of which Chaves is not certain.

 

 

1590 – Teodor de Bry (Dutch) for Queen Elizabeth