Founded by the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in the latter part of the 16th century, this mission was in operation for more than 100 years. It was here that Father Francisco Pareja wrote books in the language of the Timucuan Indians. In time, the mission gave its name to the island and the river. Philadelphia Quaker, Jonathan Dickinson, passed through here in 1696 and recorded that he found in the center of the island "the town of St. Wan's, a large town and many people; they have a friar and a worship-house. The people are very industrious, having plenty of hogs and fowls, and large crops of corn." The mission was destroyed in 1702 during a raid from South Carolina, then a British colony.