Felix Florez (1844 - 1884)
our 4th great grand father
born around July 1844 on Panay island Philippines - died March 1884 Kalk Bay Cape Town
born of a Spanish father and a Filipino mother
We think Felix Florez is from Iloilo, would like to hear from other Florez Families in Panay who would like to connect with our family.
Felix Florez Arrived in Cape Town on board the ship CONRAD after it was captured by The ALABAMA Captained by R Semmes, The ship was renamed the CSS Tuscaloosa and was fitted out with new canons and was immediately deployed to continue with the current mission of the ALABAMA as a commercial RAIDER Ship in the war between the Northern States and the Southern States of America in 1863.
This document comes from the LINDSAYS of Kalk Bay who are historical researchers, a big thank you to the Lindsays for providing this detail, thanks again. I have just compared this photograph with another published by the Americal navy Archive. It looks like this is actually a photo of the captured vessel TONOWANDA captured by the ALABAMA on the 8 or 9th Oct 1862. If anyone has more details on this please email me (Walter) at veldsmw@icloud.com, Thanks.
Data below from the CSS Tuscaloosa - Encyclopaedia of Alabama
The CSS Tuscaloosa began its maritime career as the American merchant ship Conrad out of Philadelphia. On June 20, 1863, during a mission known as the "South Atlantic Expeditionary Raid," Capt. Raphael Semmes and his Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama captured the Conrad carrying a cargo of wool and goat skins off the Brazilian coast as it sailed from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to New York. Because of the vessel's speed, Semmes commissioned it the next day as the CSS Tuscaloosa and employed it as a both a cruiser and support tender for the Alabama. He may have done so as a way to avoid violating contemporary maritime law, which prevented warships from bringing captured prizes into neutral waters. Semmes armed the ship with three brass 12-pounder cannons along with rifles, pistols, and ammunition and provisions for a three-month cruise. He appointed Lt. John Low as captain and assigned 15 men from the Alabama's crew to the newly commissioned CSS Tuscaloosa.
Semmes then instructed Low to sail down the west coast of Africa toward the Cape of Good Hope. On July 31, Low and his men captured the Union merchant ship Santee carrying a shipment of rice. On August 8, Low entered Simon's Bay near Cape Town, South Africa, where British officials allowed him to refit and provision the Tuscaloosa, despite Britain's strict neutrality policy. Seven days later, Low left for a 90-day cruise during which he stopped at Angra Pequena, Southwest Africa (present-day Namibia), to unload the ship's cargo of wool and goat skins. After crossing the South Atlantic, Low sailed into Santa Catarina in southern Brazil on November 19 to purchase supplies, but Brazilian officials refused the request and directed him to leave before sundown. By December 26, Low had returned to Simon's Bay, where British officials seized the Tuscaloosa, intending to hold the vessel until the original owners could reclaim it. Low and his crew left the ship, and an officer and several sailors from the HMS Narcissus took control. Neither the ship's original owners nor Confederate agents ever reclaimed the vessel, so British authorities released it to the U.S. Consul in March 1864. The Consul, in turn, gave the vessel to the Union Navy.
Here is Felix on the CSS ALABAMA Ship in Table Bay in 1863.
The Map of the cruise of the CSS ALABAMA between 1862 and 1864
The CSS Alabama's South African Expeditionary Raid commenced shortly after the CSS Alabama left Brazil and the south Atlantic Ocean and patrolled southward of the African continent near the Cape of Good Hope. The raid lasted from about the beginning of August 1863 to the end of September 1863. The primary area of operation during this expeditionary raid was off the southern seaboard of Africa ranging east and west hunting for China clippers having to make the voyage around the Cape of Good Hope near Cape Town. CSS Alabama worked its way slowly back and forth in the vicinity of Cape Town between August - Sept 1863
20 June 1863 the CONRAD was captured by the CSS ALABAMA off the Brazilian coast while she was on her way from B
21 June 1863 The CONRAD was renamed CSS TUSCALOOSA and Lt J LOW became Captain, was manned with 15 of the ALABAMA sailors.
July 1863 the coaster, Atlas, brought an official letter of introduction to the Governor from Raphael Semmes, the “gallant captain” of the Alabama, Capt Semmes asked Captain Boyce to land some thirty prisoners for him in Table Bay, with which request Captain Boyce was unable to comply. REF From the _Cape Argus._August 6th, 1863.
27 July 1863 no little excitement was caused in Cape Town on the arrival of the coasting schooner Rover from Walwich Bay, with the news that the Confederate steamer Alabama had actually made her appearance about twenty-five miles off Green Point. REF: The TIMES Newspaper
29 July 1863 By a letter addressed to the Governor of this Colony by Captain Semmes, copy of which was telegraphed to me on the 4th instant, it appears that the Alabama had proceeded to Saldanha Bay for a few days, anchoring there on the 29th of July.
31 July 1863 Tuscaloosa captured the American ship Santee with a cargo of rice and bonded her for $150,000.
4 August public excitement was again aroused on the arrival of the schooner Atlas, Capt. Boyce, from Saldanha Bay, with the intelligence that the Alabama was lying snugly at anchor in that bay repairing. Ref The TIMES newspaper
Shortly after the Atlas arrived, a boat brought up some of the prisoners from Saldanha Bay, and amongst them one of the crew of the Alabama, who said he had left the ship REF From the _Cape Argus._August 6th, 1863. COULD FELIX FLOREZ HAVE BEEN ONE OF THESE PRISONERS?
5 August 1863 CSS ALABAMA captured a Yankee bark the Sea Bride near Cape Town
8 August 1863 Low brought his ship the CSS TUSCALOOSA into Simon's Bay in South Africa, for 7 days for provisions
9 August 1863 the CSS ALABAMA steamed out from Cape Town, bound for Simons Bay.
9 Aug 1863 CSS ALABAMA captured a Yankee bark the Martha Wenzell in the area of the Cape of Good Hope.
15 August the CSS ALABAMA left Simons Bay (the CSS ALABAMA remained in Simons Bay from 9th Aug under various pretexts of needed repairs).
15 Aug 1863 CSS TUSCALOOSA departing Simons Bay thence for a 90-day cruise, he stopped at Angra Pequena, Southwest Africa, to discharge cargo of wool and goat skins.
28 August 1863 the CSS ALABAMA arrived at Angra Pequeña Bay
17 September 1863 the crew were permitted to have shore liberty, and nearly the entire number, including the petty officers, proceeded to get as drunk as possible. A week was spent in getting the unruly fellows on board and coaling ship.
24 September 1863 finding himself still fourteen hands short, Captain Semmes shipped eleven new ones at Simons Bay BIG CLUE ABOUT THE DESERTION OF CREW IN CAPE TOWN, PERHAPS OUR FELIX FLOREZ WAS ONE OF THEM?
19 November 1863 CSS TUSCALOOSA put into St. Catherine's, Brazil, for supplies & was not allowed to purchase them & was told he must depart before nightfall.
26 December 1863, CSS TUSCALOOSA returned to Simon's Bay
27 Dec 1863 CSS TUSCALOOSA seized by British authorities as an uncondemned prize which had violated the neutrality of Her Majesty's Government.
The CSS Alabama rendezvoused a few times with her daughter ship, the CSS Tuscaloosa. Ref CSS TUSCALOOSA _ WIKIPEDIA internet site
This statement might be a BIG CLUE for us,
20 June 1863 Capt Semmes captured the CONRAD
21 June he manned the newly named CSS TUSCALOOSA with 15 of his best sailors
I assume none of the CONRAD's sailors were kept on board the TUSCALOOSA and that they were transferred to the ALABAMA on the 21 June 1863. What happened to them, could they have been imprisoned on the ALABAMA from June till they reached Cape Town near the end of July?
I have hypothesised one of a few scenarios, I am looking for evidence to support one of the following or otherwise
1. that at one of these rendezvous points the captured passengers of the Conrad were transferred from the ALABAMA to the Tuscaloosa on her journey along the western coast of SOUTH AFRICA / Namibia and possibly to Simonstown. I assume that the captured sailors of the CONRAD including their Captain were imprisoned on the CSS ALABAMA the day of the capture of the vessel 20th June 1863. At some point these prisoners would need to be released at a neutral port. BIG QUESTION is when and at what port they were released. WE THINK FELIX FLOREZ WAS IN THIS GROUP.
2. That the prisoners remained on the Tuscaloosa and were finally released in Simonstown?
The Menigo Family history states that their great grandfather Nicholas "Clas" Menigo arrived with our Felix Florez on the Tuscaloosa in Simonstown and that they walked all the way to Kalk Bay, where they settled in 1863. I would love to hear from the Menigo family, please write to me at veldsmw@aol.com. This could be supporting evidence to support hypothesis 2.
The Menigo Family history states that their great grandfather Nicholas "Clas" Menigo arrived with our Felix Florez on the Tuscaloosa in Simonstown and that they walked all the way to Kalk Bay, where they settled in 1863. I would love to hear from the Menigo family, please write to me at veldsmw@aol.com. This could be supporting evidence to support hypothesis 2.
After this patrol station, the CSS Alabama made her way eastwards into the Indian Ocean to continue her unhindered wrecking of enemy commerce in the Indian Ocean as far as Indonesia.
After visiting Cape Town, South Africa, Alabama sailed for the East Indies where it spent the next six months cruising for enemy shipping. While there, the formidable commerce raider destroyed seven more ships before redoubling the Cape of Good Hope and returning to Europe.
FELIX FLOREZ - and his descendants
Felix Florez and Maria Hendrina Chapman had 5 children: 4 daughters and 1 son
died 05-08-1959 age 88 years
married : Christian May Adams
He was born Dec 27 1862 in Paarl
died 24-08-1947 age 84 years 8 months
They had 13 Children 10 boys and 3 girls
Suzanne Alida Florez
born dec 31 1874 died sept 1 1946
born dec 31 1874 died sept 1 1946
married :James Thomas Fish
born jul 23 1870 died jul 26 1932
They had 8 children 4 sons 4 daughters
Maria Florez
baptized 25jul 1877
married an englishman ?? Churchhill??
Lucy Ann Florez
born 15 dec 1878
born 15 dec 1878
married Charles Dennis
Michael Torento Florez
"Uncle Baasie"
baptized 26 jun 1883
Suzanne Alida Fish nee Florez,
born 31-Dec-1874 daughter of Felix Florez and Maria Hendrina Chapman
occupation Housewife, died 1-Sep-1946, 71 yrs 9 months. St Siprians in Retreat.
married in St Michaels RC Church Rondebosch Cape, married to James Thomas Fish born. 23-Jul-1870, Kalk Bay,
occupation Farmer, James died 26-Jul-1932, 62yrs. "Hillbrow" White Road Retreat,
buried: Plumstead Cem, Dr G H F Grares, Died of Tuberculosis of the Lungs.
As a child he trekked with his father (James Adolphus Fish) into the hinterland he saw a falling
star in namaqualand area fall into a field and cause a large crater and set the field alight could be in
German South West Africa 9 yrs old, Recluse very strict with kids, very hard man, difficult to get on with.
Farm land now owned by Plessey Ltd their buildings now occupy this land. They also stayed in Heathfield house
called “sweethome" had 2 large palm trees in the garden.
Children :
- James William Thomas Fish
- born 7 Apr 1895 died 28 Nov 1987 married Edith
- Florence Emily Fish
- born 15 May 1899 died ? Dec 1924
- Sidney Adolf Fish
- born 17 Dec 1901 died 31 Oct 1963
- married Milly Colne
- married Elizabeth Groenewald
- Walter Leslie Fish
- born 19 Jun 1904 died 18 Jun 1997
- married Francis Pauline Allan
- Olga Geraldine Fish
- born 21 May 1912 died 13 Jan 1936
- Leonard Felix Fish
- born 6 Jun 1914 Died 4 May 1973
- married Barbara Knight
- Majorie Henrietta Fish
- born 6 Aug 1916
- married Hubert Sebastian Solomons
- Lorna Syble Fish
- born 10 Mar 1922 died 29 May 1923
1884 Felix Flores - Death & Will - Kalk Bay Cape Town South Africa
27 APRIL 2019 - STARTING A PROJECT TO FIND OUT THE ORIGINAL PLACE OF BIRTH OF THE FILIPINOS WHO ARRIVED IN KALK BAY IN THE 1850 - 1860's
please contact me at veldsmw@aol.com we can all contribute to finding our original families in the Philippines today. I would like to organise a trip to the Philippines in about 2 yrs time to meet many of our living families. It would be great if some Kalk Bay families could accompany me and our group on an exciting trip to the Philippines to find our families. Let me know if you can help us contact more Filipino families in Cape Town to gather more info on their families and if they would like to join our group to go to the Philippines. Please email me and I will send you a higher resolution image of this map.
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