Petition to the President by Citizens of Alachua County
January 1832
To the President of the United States
The Subscribers Citizens of Alachua County Respectfully represent that the present
situation of the county and its inhabitants induce them to request that a Company of U.S
Troops may be ordered from Cantonment Brooke Tampa Bay or some other station to
Camp King near the Seminole Indian Agency & to suggest as reasons therefore that there
are a much larger proportion of slaves than white persons owned by the citizens within 30
miles of the Northern Boundary of the Seminole Indian Nation and more than 1600
Indian Warriors and 1100 slaves belonging to the Indians many of whom are traversing
the County night and day.
That the two Companies stationed at Cantonment Brooke Tampa Bay are over 100
miles distant from the Seminole Agency & at too great a distance to render any assistance
in case of emergency.
The subscribers would also respectfully suggest that the troops could not only be
advantageously employed in opening or repairing the roads passing through the lands of
the United States but would be considered a great safeguard and protection to the
Citizens of the County thereby inducing many to prchase and settle on the public lands
increasing the value of the land.
All of which is respectfully submitted
Alachua County East Florida, January 1832
Jno H. McIntosh Jun S. Price Cha Waldron Wm. Piles
Geo Downs J. Lanier R. R. Tarver S. Johnson
David Levy H. A. Moore S. Beekham Tho Harn
Cha W. Cushing Ja Harn B Toscan J. G. Tyner
W. Downs W. Strickland Jn Hamilton Jessee Crawford
Jas Edwards Sam Mitten Wm Persons John Hany
W. W. Reed John Haulk R Russell Waldron Giles Ellis
J Verhain Anthony Ivy E. M. Wanton J Martin
G Priest J Suanee Wm Crum E. Bird
Geo Knight Jonas Ellis Jn Warren J Goss
J Hughes W. Wood W Spires W Williamson
Tho Calden Tho Leadwith Cotton Rawls Wm Pinnar
Ezekiel Ogden James Pinnar Ja McFaden D. Mizelle
Willm Parsons Cha J. Duvell
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