Elijah O'Quinn

From: http://www.underthemagnoliatree.net/Elijah_Oquinn.html -

ELIJAH O'QUINN was born Abt. 1800 in SC, and died July 1838. He married MARY EDWARDS. (Some have his wife recorded as Annie McClellan) .She died July 1838. Elijah and his family moved from the Carolina’s to Georgia in 1831. In 1834-35 the family moved to Florida and settled on the Santa Fe River. A Short time later the family was

murdered by Indians near Fort Harley. Fort Harley is located 8 miles east of Lake City, FL on the Santa Fe at Olustee section.

http://www.underthemagnoliatree.net/Indianmassacre.html - NILES NATIONAL REGISTER- August 18, 1838

Correspondence N. Y. American

Camp in E. Florida, July 19th 1838

Sir: Unfortunate Florida has again become the scene of those perilous excitements, by which, for so long a period, her citizens have been agitated. It would seem that the Seminoles, in whatever degree diminished in number, or humbled in pride are far from being conquered. The citizens in the vicinity of the Santa Fee and Suwanee are under the necessity of abandoning their crops and retiring to the forts, or incurring the imminent risk of being murdered on their plantations. The son of a Mr. GWINN came recently into camp saying, that the Indians had attacked his

father's house, and he had "left father fighting them." Capt. Dade with his company of the 2nd dragoons, immediately galloped to the spot, which was but a few miles above, on the bank of the Sante Fee; but on arriving there, the warfare, such as it had been was over. The house was deserted. A trail of blood leading from the yard to a neighboring field, was pursued, and, after passing over a fence, the father was discovered lying a few paces beyond. This fence he must have climbed after he was wounded, as the marks of blood upon it corresponded with two wounds which he

had received in each thigh. The Indians evidently pursued him to the fence, and from there fired on him again, since, from the nature of a third and fatal wound, he must have fallen upon the spot where it was received.

On examining the premises further, the lifeless and disfigured remains of Mrs. GWINN were discovered contiguous to those of her husband. She was not scalped, but was made the victim of a curelty deeper and more refined. The wretches had dashed out the brains of her infant, and placed the mangled innocent in its mother's arms. There she lay the murdered mother, fondling with

the icy embrace of death her murdered child.

The remains of these unfortunate victims of savage cruelty were hastily collected and deposited in a common grave.

This report is believed to be about Elijah O'QUIN and his family, not GWINN. It is known that Elijah and his family lived in the area and were killed by Indians. The boy who escaped is believed to be James Bates O'QUIN. He told this story many times to his family members. James was taken in by a family named BATES, hince he changed his middle name to BATES in honor of them, or so the story goes.

Records of the massacre are found in Huxford’s book on early settlers in Georgia. It has been told by relatives that Elijah and his family crossed the river to pick peaches from an unattended orchard. They were almost finished when they were suddenly attacked. Elijah, his wife one son and the daughter were killed on the spot. Their son James was spared because of a dog which took him by the collar into the water and kept the Indians away from him.

Another family story suggests that the sister was not killed but taken alive back to the Indian reservation. After several attempts to rescue her failed, it was told that she grow up and became the mother of Indian children, more than likely she out her life and died with the Indians. See the article in the St. Augustine Herald, dated July 2, 1838.

Notes for ELIJAH O'QUINN:

Served in the Florida Seminole War:

Enlisted: November 15, 1835 for a period of 4 monthsin Alligator, FL (now Lake City) Columbia County

On Company Muster Roll under Captain Roberts' Co. 6

November 15, 1835 to March 16, 1836

Rank: Corporal

Enlisted again June 16, 1837 for a period of 6 months at Fort White was issued a black horse.

His name appears as such: Elijah O'Quin, pvt. -black horse- 8 miles

Number next to name indicates number of miles from rendevous.

Elijah O'Quin and his wife Mary were both killed by indians. The story goes that they were found tied to a peach tree. Story reported in "The Florida Herald", July 8, 1838 and the Niles Register, August 1838

Source: Florida Militia, Seminole Indian War, National Archives

http://www.underthemagnoliatree.net/Floridaherald.html - THE FLORIDA HERALD

St. Augustine July 8, 1838

_______________________________________________________Submitted by Susan Mahoney and Thelma (Dee) Schumann, direct descendents of Elijah O'QUINN. With a special thanks to Maureen DeBolles of the St. Augustine Historical Society. This report is believed to about the Elijah O'Quin family as it has been told for generations.

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More victims to Savage barbarity. "THE WAR IS CONSIDERED PRETTY WELL AT AN END." By the arrival of a gentleman from Garbys Ferry on the 4th inst. we have received the heart rending intelligence of the murder of a whole family name GWINN, who resided on the Santa fe River. They fell victims to savage barbarity; a father, mother, and two children were found murdered at their residence on the 2nd inst.; a

daughter about 13 years of age is missing. There are many conjectures, as to her fate; but if murdered her body has not been found.

This is the result of considering the war as pretty well ended, and of withholding from the suffering inhabitants that subsistence which would have enable them to live off from their plantations. If they had been mustered into service their families would have been provided for and their homes would have been protected.

A report is in circulation that two other families had been murdered in the same neighborhood; making the number seventeen, but we are happy to learn by a gentleman from Newmansville, that this is an exaggeration. Two persons whose names we did not learn, were murdered since the massacre of the GWINN family.

Our informant states that a large gang are about the "Big Prairie" and its

neighborhood, supposed to be the Micasukies and Tallahassees; a body estimated at three or four hundred, supposed to be fugitive Creeks are in the Oke-fe-noke swamp. Several companies have been raised "on their own hooks" a mounting of about 200 men. A portion marched to about 200 men. A portion marched to the Big Prairie, and the remainder to the Oke-fe-noke swamp.

_______________________________________________________By David Leary: Our friends of Aluchua, and Columbia; They have suffered much and still suffer--they have done nobly and still do--while we have felt for their distress, we have admired their devotion and taken pride in their achievements--their country's gratitude will reward their patrotism--their country's justice guarantees the reimbursement of their losses.