The Agna Dulce Indians were often referred to as the Freshwater Tribe. This name applied to the people of seven to nine neighboring towns which were related to the Acuera Indians. They lived along the coast of eastern Florida between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral.
First European Contact
Ponce de Leon made his landfall upon this coast in 1513. The French had few dealings with these people but undoubtedly met them.
Fontaneda heard of the provinces of Maiaca and Mayajuaca in 1854, and later there were two Spanish missions in this territory, San Antonio de Anacape and San Salvador de Maiaca. These appear in the mission list of 1655 and in that of 1680, but from data given with the latter, it is evident that Yamasee were then settled at Anacape.
Agna Dulce Population
There are no separate population figures given for the Agna Dulce Indians, but in 1602, the missions recorded 200 Indians belonging to this tribe had been Christianized and 100 more were under instruction.
What happened to the Freshwater Indians?
All of these Indians were converted to Christianity early in the seventeenth century and the population declined rapidly after exposure to European illness for which they had no immunity. The last body of Timucua were settled in this district. (See Utina Indians.)