Micco Ahaya

The Oconee People of Alachua, Florida were called Wild Men, or Seminole by others. For two generations Oweeka, Cowkeeper, the Long Warrior and Billy Bowlegs were loyal supporters of the British who honored their rights to live in North-Central Florida and operate a very successful cattle ranching business. The naturalist William Bartram visited them in 1774 and when his book was published in 1794 it included many details of their lives in Alachua, They helped support the Spanish who arrived in 1784 and continued defend Florida as it was invaded by mercenary fighters (Patriots) from Georgia who wanted the Native Americans (Indians) and Spanish out of the Territory. Colonel Daniel Newnan, the Inspector General of the State of Georgia invaded Alachua in 1812 and killed the Long Warrior. In 1814 the Patriots from Georgia invaded again and established The Republic of East Florida in Spanish Florida. In 1818 Andrew Jackson invaded Florida and forced Billy Bowlegs 1st to flee Suwanee Old Town and hide in the area near The Great Wahoo Swamp and Long Hammock north of Tampa. Florida became a state in 1821 and the American settlers continued to push the Seminole further into the swamps and less desirable parts of the state. Billy Bowlegs 1st had been assumed to be dead, but he lived until at least 1837. He attended the Treaties of Moultrie Creek and Payne's Landing. He was captured and taken to Fort Foster near Tampa in 1837. Most of the Oconee People that had been called Seminoles were badly defeated and shipped to Oklahoma by 1838. The United States spent more than $15,000,000 in the early 1800s to remove the Native Americans. Copies of the original letters, newspaper articles and documents are used to tell the story of their fight to remain in Florida.