This document from Alachua County’s Ancient Records Deed Book B, dated May 6, 1834, records a transaction in which Micanopy, Chief of the Seminole tribe, conveyed a young enslaved girl named Catherine to John and Susan Paine. Catherine, identified as the daughter of the Paines and born in March 1829, was to remain under their guardianship until she reached the age of twenty-one, at which point she was to be granted her freedom. The deed, witnessed at Fort King and recorded by local officials, raises questions about the personal, legal, and cultural complexities surrounding slavery, guardianship, and Native leadership in territorial Florida.
This moment in the life of Chief Micanopa comes to you from the pages of Alachua County Ancient Records Deed Book B
I found this interesting deed, does anyone know the rest of the story?
Alachua County, Ancient Record Book
Book B
Page 76
Know all men by these presents that I Micanopy Chief of the Seminole tribe of Indians in the Territory of Florida for and in consideration of One Hundred & forty dollars to me in hand paid before the sealing of these presents the receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge have bargained sold and conveyed and by these presents do bargain sell and convey to John Paine and Susan Paine wife of the said John Paine a certain Negro girl named Catherine daughter of the said John and Susan Paine born in the month of March 1829. The condition of this conveyance is that the said John Paine is to exercise the right of Parent and guardian over the said Catherine until the age of Twenty One Years when the said Catherine is by these presents to free. And I the said Micanopa aforesaid do hereby warrant this my said conveyance to be good, and engage to defend the said John from all claims to said Catherine whatsoever during and after her minority. Given under my hand and seal this sixth day of May 1834
done in presence of his
Micanopa x Chief
Augustus Steele
Judge of the County Court Hillsborough Co mark
The within conveyance witnessed also by us at Fort King this 6th day of May 1834
William M. Graham
Capt. ** Infantry
his
Osucher x Speaker to Micanopa
mark
his
Jumper x Orator to Micanopa
mark
Personally came before me Augustus Steele Judge of the County Court for the County of Hillsborough Florida William M. Graham Esq’r Captain commanding at Fort King who being sworn saith that he witnessed the signing and delivery of the within deed of gift & conveyance
Sworn before me William M. Graham
Augustus Steele
Judge of the County Court
Hillsborough CountyRecorded this Ninth day May 1834 Geo Center Clerk
Alachua C C
Transcribed by Jim Powell Jr
J.K. “Buddy” Irby
Clerk
7/1999