Part of Spain's effort to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism, Santa Catalina served as the provincial headquarters of the Guale mission province.
After two major slave raiding attacks in 1680, the Santa Catalina de Guale mission was moved south to Sapelo Island.
Relocated to Sapelo Island, the four original mission villages of Tupiqui, Sapala, Satuache, and Santa Catalina were merged in one.
As a result, the Santa Catalina de Guale population contained many titular leaders lacking actual roles as village headmen.
In 1683 the French pirate Michel de Grammont raided Spanish Florida settlements, including St. Augustine and the Mocama mission province, forcing further southward migrations.