Joaquin F “King” Gomes was born on March 1, 1898, in Lee, Florida, to Francisco  GOMES D’sa (1855-1931) and Laura Etta YOUNG (1875-1955).

Kings’s mother, Laura Etta YOUNG Gomes
Kings’s father, Francisco “Frank” GOMES

SIBLINGS

The Gomes family lived in Punta Rassa, Florida, in 1900. In 1900, Punta Rassa, Florida, USA was a small coastal community located on the southern tip of the mainland. Nestled along the Caloosahatchee River.

The family lived on Mound Key, Florida, in 1900.

Mound Key, near Estero Bay, was developed for 2,000 years by the Calusa. Juan Ponce de Leon landed there in 1513. By 1750, the Spanish left the area after decimating the Calusa through diseases brought by the Spaniards. The Key was homesteaded in 1891 by Frank Johnson and they lived there with other families before selling the property to the Koreshans in 1905. The island is now preserved as a Mound Key Archaeological State Park.

Mound Key Archaeological State Park

SPOUSE

Joaquin F “King” Gomes married Nellie Mary HAMILTON in Miami, Florida, in 1922.

  • William Leo (Son) was born on September 13, 1923, in Everglades City, Florida.
  • Vernon P. was born on July 14, 1926.
  • Harold Ray was born on June 10, 1934, in Key West, Florida.
  • Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in 1939.
  • Nellie Paula was born in 1947.
Key West Citizen February 18, 1939

RESIDENCES

In 1910, King lived with his parents and siblings in Boca Grande, Florida.

In 1935, the family lived on Stock Island. King worked as a general laborer. 

In 1940, King and Nellie lived on the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys with their children. King worked as a fishing guide. His son, William, worked on “Overseas Highway Beautification.”

Key West Citizen May 1, 1936
Key West Citizen January 27, 1938

In 1950, the family lived in the Everglades. Son (Joaquin Jr.) is listed as a commercial fisherman. Charles WHIDDEN lived nearby doing boat repair.

Excerpt from Lostmans Heritage: Pioneers in the Florida Everglades

“The family made frequent runs in the Gulf with produce and, most likely, moonshine. King Gomes and Robert Hamilton, Leon’s son, went missing in April 1930 while out on a run. After they were found, Gomes said they had run out of fuel. The tanker Pioneer had spotted them in the Gulf on Friday and offered to tow them to Cuba. Officers on that tanker reported that Gomes offered them “a couple of quarts” in exchange for fuel, but Gomes later denied that. At any rate, officers of the Pioneer stated that the pair declined their offer of a tow, another story that Gomes denies.  Shortly after the Pioneer left the two, the tanker Portreath came across the small boat which was by then floundering in the increasingly rough sea. That time the two accepted rescue and boarded the tanker for a lift to Cuba. Their boat was left where it was, and the Portreath reported to the Naval Station that the boat had been abandoned and was “a menace to navigation.””

IN THE NEWS

Key West Citizen January 7, 1936
Key West Citizen February 10, 1938
Key West Citizen March 12, 1938

LOSSES

  • His father Francisco passed away on June 20, 1931, in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 76.
  • His sister Edna passed away on July 26, 1936, in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 21. Edna and her husband, Silas were killed when their car was struck by the Atlantic Coast Line train. Their son, Joseph, age 3, survived the crash. 

Run-in with the Rewis Gang

The Miami News November 9, 1929

HIT BY TORPEDO

In 1942, King GOMES, was aboard a boat between Key West and Cuba that was torpedoed by a German U-boat. See transcript of the letter and read the story about the American vessel, Gertrude being torpedoed by a German Uboat. 

American fishing boat boarded and torpedoed by a German Uboat in the Florida Straits in 1942

LOSSES

  • His sister Edna died after the car in which she was riding was struck by a train on July 25, 1936. Her husband also died in the accident.
  • His mother Laura Etta passed away on September 23, 1955, in Fort Myers, Florida
  • His sister Florinda Marie died on July 26, 1964, in Palm Beach, Florida
  • His sister Anna Bell died on April 25, 1965, in Fort Myers, Florida
  • His brother Salvador Sabino died on May 22, 1966, in Naples, Florida
  • His sister Mary Joaquina died on September 8, 1971, in Sarasota, Florida
  • His son Vernon P. passed away on December 20, 1973, in Clewiston, Florida, at the age of 47.
Laura YOUNG Gomes with her son, King Gomes

DEATH

Joaquin F “King” Gomes died on June 16, 1975, in Naples, Florida, when he was 77 years old. King was laid to rest in the Fort Myers Cemetery; Plot: Old Veterans Section B plots 156-3.

SOURCES

“King Gomez and Companion Back.” and “Two Key Westers Picked up Drifting in Gulf Stream are Taken into Cuba.” Key West Citizen. 14 April 1930. Newspapers.com.; 1910 United States Federal Census; Florida State Census 1935; 1940 United States Federal Census; 1950 United States Federal Census; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; Florida, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800’s-current; Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current; The Key West Citizen (Key West, Florida); U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current; U.S., Newspapers.com™ Birth Index, 1800s-2003; U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

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