The Florida Cheraw Indians, via Facebook
A few years ago, I wrote about the Florida Dominicker Indians, and started with this: “I’m posting this because I’ve hit a bit of a wall and I’m hoping someone who can help will see this and reach out to me. ”
Who Are the Florida Dominicker Indians?
Florida’s Dominicker Indians were a fairly isolated group of people in North Florida who fled from South Carolina to avoid all the problems of white people (I’m glossing over this, but go back and read my first post, linked above, for a more thorough explanation) when the United States was still relatively young.
When the census folk came asking, many of claimed they were mixed-race or Black, and that led to the mistaken perception that these people were not at all Indian.
Zora Neale Hurston hinted otherwise, but people largely ignored this.
When I was working on Backroads of Paradise, some of her notes that didn’t make it into the Guide to the Southernmost State intrigued me, and I started digging. She was right, of course. And I’m still digging.
I asked the internet for help, and boy, has it delivered.
I did not expect to get as many meaningful replies as I have. And I did not expect those replies to be so much in the vein of “I’m looking for answers, too.”
The first response to my post came about a week after it went live. Rhy Curry had some solid information:
There was more. And throughout the past few years, more people have reached out about this “forgotten” group of Indians.
What I’m Learning About Florida Dominicker Indians
Others volunteered their lineage, trying to help me piece together the puzzle.
“My family lived in Cerra Gordo on the Choctawhatchee River in 1860. During the civil war, the mother, Lucretia Oglesbee, her three daughters, Mary V. Georgian, and Elizabeth, all disappeared. I have to wonder if those girls were raised up by the Black folk that were around there. If so that may explain the blue-eyed Black [people].”
And other locals offered what they knew.
“If you are still searching for the family groups, most — at least within the last 10-20 years — owned properties in the ‘Coon Bottom’ area of Ponce de Leon. Yes, this is actually what it’s always been called and the actual name of the road itself. I hope this helps.”
But Lots of People Simply Want Information
“I’m a grandson of Holmes County and spent summers in the ’70s and early ’80s swimming at Ponce De Leon Springs. I’d like to learn more about the history … it’s been a taboo subject in my family (father’s side) for a century. Never been able to talk about it. That might be part of the story; people try to hide that part of their past. I wonder if some folks are opening up these days.”
Dominickers Are Clearly Still Here
The post led to a fascinating conversation with Hodalee Christopher Scott Sewell, former chief of the Dead Lakes, Scotts Ferry band of Dominickers.
I spoke with him in September. He lives among the Cherokee in Oklahoma, and he filled in so many gaps for me.
My next step is to spend some time in Holmes County.
There’s only so much I can accomplish behind a keyboard, and many people are far more willing to talk to someone in person.
Many gaps remain.
I’m posting again about the Florida Dominickers because I hope that I’ll get more responses, and that people will share more information that will lead to some interviews in person in Holmes County.
Thanks to all so far who have reached out, and to those of you who will do so because of this post.
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