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A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 35/340

A History of Columbia County, Florida

Understandably, settlers were outraged at these offenses, but
the wretched economic state of the Indians placed them in a
precarious position. The Seminoles of Florida rarely lived above a
subsistence level, and such factors as adverse weather took a
serious toll in some seasons. In 1825 three corn crops were
destroyed by the flooding of the Apalachicola River. Similar
hardships were felt by those living in the “Big Swamp” region of
central Florida.4
Fears were intensified in northern Florida on December 6,
1826, when the Carr family living just west of the Aucilla River in
Jefferson County was massacred. Six people, one white man, four
white children and a black man died in the flames of their house.
Governor Duval initially did not think the Seminole nation was
involved, but ordered the militia under General Richard Keith
Call to try to apprehend the perpetrators of the violence. By
December 12, Duval was fearful that the Seminoles were pre­
paring for war, but by early 1827 it was generally felt that the acts
had been committed by a band of seven or eight vagabond Indians
roaming the country without the knowledge of their chief. Even­
tually two Indians were brought to trial for the crime, but were
acquitted for lack of evidence.5
The Indians suffered violence from the white settlers as well.
Under the territorial law justices of the peace were enpowered to
order punishment of Indians for certain offenses. Such an order
had been issued to arrest and whip several members of the
Mikasuki band of Chief Tiger Tail. The chiefs brother died under
the lash. Murder charges were brought against those who had
whipped him, but they were released when Judge Thomas Randall
of Jefferson County ruled that the proofs taken against them were * 6

4Martin, Florida During the Territorial Days, p. 229.
6Jerrell H. Shofner, History of Jefferson County (Tallahassee, 1976), p. 66; Niles
Register, Vol. XXXI, January 6,1827, pp. 289-90, January 13,1827, p. 312, February
10, 1827, p. 369.
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