Date:

1840

Title:

Map of East Florida (reduced from the original entitled Map of the Seat of War in Florida compiled by order of Bvt. Brigr. Genl. Z. Taylor, Tampa Bay, FL 1839)

Cartographer:

Mackay, Capt. John & Lieut. J.E. Blake

Summary:

This is one of the most popular (obtainable) maps of Florida. The U.S. occupants of Florida in contrast to the Spanish were increasingly interested in the interior parts of Florida instead of just the ports of Amelia, St. Augustine and Pensacola. They realized that the warmer climate would allow them to grow different crops and to graze animals year round. Consequently they were anxious to get the Indians to vacate their land and move to territories west of the Mississippi. Treaties (Payne's Landing and Ft. Gibson) were signed and approved for this purpose in 1833 but the Indians later refused to move. General Jackson, who fought the First Seminole War 1817-1818 was now president of the U.S. and sent troops to enforce the treaties. Osceola, an adamant Seminole, murdered two U.S. officers and the Second Seminole War (1835-1842) began. During this war much information was gained of the interior of Florida as forts were set up and roads cut to connect them. This famous map shows them in detail as well as contributing to the acceptance of the names for Lake Keechobee (Okeechobee = Big Water) and Pay Haiokee or Grass Water or Everglades.


Note:

Tebeau, Fairbanks, Cohen

Coverage Time:

1800s