Billy Bowlegs

Billy Bowlegs is a Florida historical marker in Fort Myers, Lee County, dedicated 1961.

951 Marsh Ave Billy Bowlegs Park (see comments), Fort Myers

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Seminole Chief Billy Bowlegs refused to move West in 1842 following the Second Seminole War. An 1853 State law making Indian residence illegal caused increased pressure against the Seminoles in the Big Cypress Swamp. In December, 1855, army surveyors from Fort Myers injured crops of Bowleg's plantation. This began the Third Seminole War often called the Billy Bowlegs War. He surrendered after three years when his people were promised financial aid. In March, 1858, Bowlegs and 165 Seminoles left peacefully for Oklahoma.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1840 · Map of the Territory of Florida. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1859 · Colton's Florida (1859) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1860 · Johnson's Florida (1860) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1868 · Colton's Florida (1868) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1870 · Johnson's Florida (1870) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Colton's Florida (1859), 1859, covering the location of Billy Bowlegs, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Colton's Florida (1859), 1859, covering this location. Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Marker data: Florida Historical Marker Program, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State

Billy Bowlegs

Historical maps covering this location

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