Over a century after the first Europeans had made themselves at home in The Islands of The Bahamas, another major influx of newcomers arrived. American colonists, still loyal to the British flag, left their newly independent nation, and with their slaves in tow, began unpacking all their worldly goods in Eleuthera. But regardless of the treasured possessions they unloaded from their ships, the most valuable assets these people brought to The Bahamas were their colonial building skills, and their agricultural and shipbuilding expertise, all of which became major influences on Eleutheran life.
To strengthen their position in their new land, in 1783, the former Loyalists, assisted by the South Carolina militia, took up arms and drove the Spanish forces out of the entire region - even as far away as Nassau and Bermuda - without a shot being fired.
