My 5x great-grandfather Captain Temple Pent was a pioneer, wrecker, lighthouse keeper, and early Dade County politician. Born in the Bahamas in 1794, he helped settle Coconut Grove and later founded Conch Town on Key Vaca. He guided Navy ships through the reefs, survived a pirate attack, and once held a map to a buried treasure—16,000 Spanish doubloons rumored to be hidden in Matecumbe.
From 1840 to 1844, he served as Dade County’s first territorial representative, then as territorial senator for the Southern District from 1844 to 1846. He was appointed Justice of the Peace several times, earning him the nickname “Old Squire.” In 1853, he was accused of orchestrating a wreck for profit and blacklisted from the wrecking trade. Still, he returned to a life at sea and served as keeper of the Cape Florida Lighthouse from 1852 until his death in 1868.
But what I love most isn’t the politics or treasure lore. It’s this quote from his grandson, John “Teet” Pent in a 1940 interview:
“Grandpappy would go up to the reservations where the Seminoles were camped and fiddle for them… He’d sit up all night on his aged knees and saw on that fiddle till the sun came up… We never were afraid of Indians, because they knew we were friends.”
While others brought rifles, Temple Pent brought a fiddle. While others made war, he made music. And the Seminoles called him friend.
And in the wildest twist of fate? My best friend since middle school and I discovered we’re fifth cousins once removed, both descended from Temple. We were family all along!
You can still raise a glass to him today—Temple Pent’s Revenge, a Key West rum named for the blacklisted wrecker who refused to fade.
Because legends don’t die.
They get better with age.
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