Following parts one and two published last year, this week’s column features the second petition published by Dr. E. Russ Williams, Jr., in his book "The Founding Families and Individuals of Washington Parish, Louisiana, 1798-1860," a fantastic historical treatise that I was fortunate to find during the pandemic.
It is my sole source for this column which contains a valuable listing of the gentlemen who settled the area known as West Florida, attached to a petition to Congress in which they pled not to be attached to the Territory of New Orleans but rather to the Mississippi Territory. Their humble plea, made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in 1811, began as follows:
"We, the inhabitants of West Florida, your petitioners, represent to your honorable body, that while we rejoice in the late event, which has brought about our emancipation from the iron shackles of despotism, or rather released us from the more horrid calamities of anarchy, we still labor under a painful apprehension, that your enlightened body, will either continue us a separate Territory, or attach us to the Territory of New Orleans, instead of incorporating us with the Mississippi Territory, which qw [sic] most ardently wish for the following reasons."
Clearly desperate, they gave evidence of the similarities and differences of people, mannerisms, geographics, customs, language, and the sort. Believers in homogeneity, they did not wish to be an instrument of the government, in an attempt to counteract the influence of the French in the Territory of Orleans, believing this to be "a sacrifice too great." The petitioners thought the role of counteracting French influence and policies would be best left to American emigrants, who would come by choice, volunteering.
The petitioners raised the issue of isolation as a result of geographics, principally Lake Pontchartrain situated between them and the City of New Orleans where business in the Territory of Orleans was, and would continue to be, conducted. This barrier presented a burden to the people of West Florida, who would have to traverse Lake Pontchartrain in order to conduct official business.
Admitting their lack of strength to become their own sovereign State, the petitioners presented their own best solution --- their annexation to the Mississippi Territory. And they further pled that their settlement of the land, under Spanish rule, be honored and that their settlement rights "made between the time of the cession of Louisiana, until the time of taking possession of West Florida, wherever they have been made bona fide and not with the intention to monopolize unreasonable quantities of land; under such regulations as may best comport with the wisdom and justice of Congress" be confirmed.
The petitioners were frank in their request, laying it bare. They concluded their petition:
"We humbly trust that your enlightened body will grant this request, when you take into view all the cirsumstances [sic] which it involves. The consequences to us and our families are all important. If we are deprived of our property, and consequently will be reduced to the extremes of want and wretchedness."
A dire situation, indeed. And now for the names. Perhaps you will find your ancestor like I did. The petition was signed by the following early settlers (names and spelling relayed as Dr. Williams had them in his book --- I took the liberty of capitalizing in a couple of cases):
C. Terry, Robt. Yair M.D., James Martin, Elijah Peirson, William Gilbert, David Terry, Paul Breeding, Ephraim Dismukes, John Miller, Robt. Singleton Senr, James Hughes, Seth Singleton, Hymbrick Singleton, Robert Singleton Junr, Samuel Hide, John Vernon, Mathew Robartson, Green Bradford, Edward Garret, Elegah Self, Joseph Dunbar, Reuben Bevers, William Chain, Wm Robertson, Isaac Erwin, Moriss Wilks, Church Dixon, and Reuben Bennett.
Also: David Robinson, Martin Brown, Barden Dykes, Joseph Cutrer, John Morrow, Thomas Bell, John Dicks, Jogn Amaker, John Eady, Wm Boils, Jas. W. Daniel, Henry Cuttrer, Cullen Sanders, Wiley Thompson, Daniel McKenny, Wm Elsey, Martin High, Peter Jenkins, Jno. Robinson, Balaam Brewer, Lemuel Young, Lott Ridgdell, Joel Pearson, Thomas Cryer, Britton Addison, Zedekiah Martin, Richard Martin, Joseph Chavers, Iaac Dykes, Wm Busby, Dennes Dyks, Bengeman Roberson, Wm Carter, John Thorwarth (?), John Slocum, John K. Goff, John Gustavus, Noble Butler, Woodey Jones, William Dyches, Jerimiah Vardaman, and William Smith.
Also: John Hayes, William Waskom, Joel Robertson, Thomas Maples, Wm Hogins, Jesse Bagget, Amos Donnelly, Wyley Robertson, John Mayples, William Roberts, B. Bickham, Nathan Bond, James Gwin, Gideon Yarbrough, Abner Bickham, William Toney, Francis Hudson, Aron Robinson, Joseph Spell, Edwin Fussell, Wm. Fussell, John C. Faust, John Brumfield, Wm. Lawrence, Wm Berry, Moses Miller, Harvey Person, Jno Holden, Jas. Corker, Wm. Smith, Philip Magee, Jessey Parker, Wm. Magee, Jno. Chapman, Jno. Ross, Wm. Ross, Mailen Holden, Nathn Wilkenson, Jno. Chapman Jr., Charles Galloway, Jno. Galloway, Thos Flewellen, Silas Chapman, William Cooper, Hugh McIntyre, Benjamin Howard, Angus Colquhoun, David Rester, and John Mitchell.
Also: Thomas Wainwright, Iaac Cuttrier, James Bennett, William Self, Reuben Roberds, Jno. Roberds, John Stanley, Thos. Addison, Johanan Ricks, Wm. Thompson, Jeremiah Thompson, Alexander Painter, Wm. Jackson, Elias Holley, Joseph Erwin, James Hays, Henry Black, John Bickham, Thomas Bickham, William Meanes, Zadock Barrow, Johnathan McGhee, Ephraim Estess, Robert Jones, Elisha Roerts, Jno. Strother, Wm Lea, Jnk. B. Start, Wm Galloway, Wm. Nicholas, Thos. Nicholas, Jno. Nicholas, Benja. Fokey, Dunkin McIntoer, Messer Brown, Wm Bickham, William Lucus, Simmion Fuller, John Tally, Matthew Wood, John Clowd, John Talley, Junior, Rubin Mayfield, John Richardson, Stephen Stafford, Benjn Richardson, Simon Williams, William Hayes, Calep Morley, Henery Hill, John Willeaford, Wm Slocum Silas Mathews, and Daveid Kemp.
Also: Jacob Olford, Gaberell Pickering, Elisha Estess, Ezra Estess, Abel Dykes, Josua (?) Roberts, Isum Chisum, Isaac Roberts, Isaac W. Roberts, Zacheriah Mottawis (?), Wiley Jones, Nedom Alford, Wesley Hudson, John Edwards, Rice Wells, Jessey Chapman, William Peters, Wm McCowen, Nathaniel Peters, Edmund D. Hunt, L. Berry West, Peter Galloway, John Stinces (?), Price Conally, James Bailey, Jno. B. Sands, Robert Badon, Joseph A. Watson, Henry Portwood, Micajah Mccullin, Thomas Griffin, Branson Hosea, and George Golly (?).
