St. John's Cemetery Individual Record

Forsyth CaroForsyth Caro

Forsyth Caro
(September 11, 1897 -- September 19, 1982)

Section: 33
Space: 7
Lot: 19
Parents: Thomas S & Laura B Caro
Spouse: Lela Seymour
Occupation: Law
Comments: Not found in Burial records
Area: 0

Exceptional Lawyer and Humanitarian was a Member of a Distinguished Family Represented in Pensacola Since The Spanish Colonial Period

The Caro family has played important rolls in the history and development of Pensacola since the Spanish colonial period. In recent years the Caros' have continued to serve the community with educational, professional and civic endeavors. A few of the examples are: Paul W. Caro, Sr., an accountant, was one of the founders of Pensacola's Baptist Hospital; a public elementary school was named in honor of teacher Hellen Caro; Forsyth Caro was a prominent lawyer, as described below. The Caro family representation is one of the largest in St. Johns' Historic Cemetery, with approximately fifty monuments giving insight into the lives and stories of individual members of this distinguished family.

Ambrosia Caro was born in Spain and married Ann Gutierrez Moreno of Malaga. They had a son, Benito Thomas Caro, who was born in Yepes, District of Oceana, Toledo, Spain. In 1786 Benito married Maria del Rosario Machado, who was born in the Canary Islands. Benito's uncle, Fernando Moreno preceded him to Pensacola. Fernando Moreno became the patriarch of the large and well-known Moreno family. Benito and Maria may have met in Cuba where Benito served as assistant attach to the Governor General. Benito owned property in Pensacola as early as1787 but he and Maria also lived for a time in New Orleans and later, in Mobile where Benito was engaged in shipbuilding. In 1813 they moved to Pensacola. Benito died on April 8, 1814, as a result of an adze cut he received cutting a ship timber. He is buried in St. Michaels Cemetery.

Benito and Maria had 10 children: Catherine, Joseph E., Gregory, Sebastian, Annette, Benito, Ambrosia, Merced, Dolores and Philip Anthony. All married and established themselves in various professions. Joseph E. Caro was keeper of the Spanish Archives and interpreter of court documents written in Spanish and French. Philip Anthony loved the water and followed the sea. He built and owned the Powhatan, which carried passengers and cargo back and forth to Mobile and New Orleans.

Philip Anthony Caro and Mary Ann Weaver married and had ten children. They built a large home on Bayou Chico, and Phillip continued shipbuilding; he received a contract to build a bridge over Bayou Chico. The toll rates, posted on the gates at each end of the bridge, were as follows: cattle per head 5 cents, man and horse 5 cents, horse and buggy 15 cents, 2 horses and buggy 20 cents, 4 horses and buggy 40 cents. Years later, after Philip's death the Caro residence was moved west to accommodate a new draw bridge over the bayou; the house subsequently served as a studio for artist Manny Runyan and then became Perry's Seafood Restaurant. Phillip's daughter, Mary Elizabeth Caro Gormly gave an invaluable account of the early days of the Civil War in Pensacola in her personal diary beginning in 1861.She described life in occupied Pensacola, Confederate attacks on the Navy Yard and Fort Pickens, conduct of the Federal troops, and her brother, James Weaver Caro's participation in the Confederate Army when they attacked Fort Pickens.

Six of Phillip's sons were active harbor pilots, including Benito G., George W., John H.,. Philip T., Thomas S., and William S. Caro. Thomas Sullivan Caro, nicknamed "Sully" married Laura Caroline Berner and they moved to their own home on West Chase Street. He continued to provision ships and serve as a harbor pilot. Fishing, lumbering and shipping were big industries at that time and he prospered, �Sully� and Laura had five children: Kate, Allen, Thomas S, Jr., Albert Reed, Yvette (Brown) and Forsyth Caro. Kate and Yvette went to Palmer College; Albert and Forsyth graduated from Stetson Law School.

Forsyth Caro, born September 11, 1897, graduated and passed the Florida Bar examination at age 20 years. He petitioned the court to be allowed to practice law at age 20, since the minimum age required was 21 years. His petition was granted and he opened his own law office. He had a very successful law career for 56 years. He became president of the Bar Society. Forsyth married Lela Seymour of Mobile, Alabama on February 21, 1924. They had four daughters: Lela Mary Caro Morey, Catherine Allen Caro Shrouse, Laura Caroline Caro Watson and Flora Anne Caro Hardiman.

His partner, Attorney Joe Harrell, once said that Forsyth Caro was one of the most brilliant and effective trial lawyers in the country. Family members state that Forsyth Caro's philosophy of life was "All that justifies our very life and living is the good that we can do for others and that he applied this to his law practice, as well as to his private life. During the Depression he ran an employment agency in his office, charging no fees for these services. He worked to improve the W.P.A. wage scale; to draft the first Workmen's Compensation law and, later, include all state and county employees; to revise the jury system; and to curtail medical quackery, illegal gambling and moonshining. He was blessed with a photographic memory and shared with all his love and scholarship of the Bible, poetry and music, especially, opera.

He died on September 19, 1982 and is buried in St. Johns' Historic Cemetery 3 North, Section 33.