The curious discovery comes from a rather unlikely source: gunpowder expenditures lists from St. Augustine for the years 1600-1601.While cannons and other artillery were often fired to help guide ships safely across St. Augustine's protective sandbar, they were also shot off during times of public celebrations and religious festivities.

A single entry from March 1600 states St. Augustine's residents gathered together and processed through the streets in honor of the feast day of San Patricio, or St. Patrick. As they made their way through the town, cannons fired from the wooden fort in celebration of the Irish saint.

"It was certainly a surprise," said historian J. Michael Francis, PhD, University of South Florida-St. Petersburg, who uncovered the document. "It did not register the first time I saw the name "San Patricio," the Spanish name for St. Patrick. After a few seconds, it actually hit me that there was a St. Patrick's Day parade/procession in St. Augustine in 1601. Even more surprising was that the document identified St. Patrick as the patron saint of the city's maize fields."

Dr. Francis discovered the records while exploring St. Augustine's long Spanish imperial history. Over the past several decades, Dr. Francis has examined thousands of documents housed in Spain's Archivo General de Indias (AGI), one of the world's most important historical archives, classified as a World Heritage Site. The archive also includes information about Ricardo Artur (Richard Arthur), the Irish priest who likely introduced the devotion to St. Patrick. When Artur disappears from the historical record in 1604, so do the references to St. Patrick.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Ancient Beams Offer New Evidence of the First Temple's Destruction

New Visa Restrictions Target Left-Wing Terrorists and Extremists

Trump Ramps up Military Pressure on Iran's Regime, Targeting Area Near Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Site

Epic Fail: Mamdani Finally Makes Humiliating Admission About His Threat to Arrest Netanyahu

How China Made and Shipped Fake Driver's Licenses to Tamper With the 2020 Election

Andy Biggs Dominates Arizona Race

DSA Unveils Platform Calling for Abolishing the Senate, Presidency, and Supreme Court

6,600 Non-Citizens Registered to Vote in NJ Due to 'Software Error,' Dem Gov. Sherrill Admits

Justin Bieber Used the Biggest Stage Ever to Worship God with 'Everything Hallelujah' at World Cup Final

Trump Education Department Defends Homeschool Parents from Hateful, Woke Podcasters

House Committee Approves Bill Allowing Victims of 'Trans' Drugs, Surgeries to Sue

Major Teachers Union That Funds Democrats Endorses 'Gender-Affirming Care' Amid Backlash to Transgender 'Medicine'

Oregon's Troubling Transgender Story; Why Are They Pumping Minors Full of Puberty Blockers?

Trump Admin Launches 'Largest Denaturalization Effort Ever' Against Child Molesters and Scammers

Report: Iran Moves Nuclear Centrifuges Underground as Houthis Threaten US Coalition, Red Sea Shipping

State Department Issues Worldwide Caution for Traveling US Citizens

'Resurrection of the Christ' Writer Reveals Mel Gibson's Spiritual Warfare Warning about the 'Passion' Sequel

Second Family Welcomes Their New Baby Boy

FDA: That Recalled Lettuce from Taylor Fresh Farms Turned Out to Be a 'False Positive' for Cyclospora

About Those Burn Bags President Trump Mentioned in His Address to the Nation