What Is This?
Welcome to the 1776 Sampler, a living portrait of West Florida on the edge of Revolution.
During Pensacola’s British period (1763-1781), this Gulf Coast outpost was a crossroads of empires and allegiances—officials and soldiers from various armies and navies, enslaved and free Africans, Native peoples, merchants, laborers, and families navigating uncertain times. Their stories rarely fit into a single narrative, but together they form a vivid mosaic of a community shaped by conflict, cooperation, and survival.
This project invites you to explore that world through the lives of 1,776 individuals known to have been in West Florida during the British period and American Revolution. Each name represents a real person who experienced this moment in history from a distinct perspective.
But the 1776 Sampler is not just about the past. It’s about connection. As part of the America 250 commemoration, you can choose one of these individuals and submit your own selfie to stand in for them—creating a modern, community-driven gallery that reflects the diversity of both 1776 and today. By doing so, you help restore presence to people who might otherwise remain only names on a page.