Jefferson County, Florida by Jerrell H. Shofner Page 92: In discussing events around 1833: While Wirt and Goldsborough were organizing their German colony, Randall brought the Murat Negroes to the Miccosukee plantation and began clearing land. Florida law required a white man to live on every plantation cultivated by slaves, and Randall explained that while he intended to supervise operations he had engaged William West, a recent immigrant from England as overseer. West lived in a house owned by one of the Townsends near the plantation and the arrangement was only nominal, being made to avoid a penal statute. Page 121: While writing about the slavery laws "Sometimes the letter of the law was obeyed while its spirit was violated. Thomas Randall hired William West to supervise William Wirt's Negroes at Miccosukee, without any actual duties, but merely to satisfy the law." (Personal note - I think Miccosukee is in Leon Co.) Page 153: This is a section on crimes "Although the provocation is not know, Samuel Puleston, a prominent Monticello druggist, shot and wounded Richard P. Leonard and Winfield Anderson as they were riding past William West's tavern in Monticello in 1850." Hope this helps. Leslie Maddocks Florida State Genealogical Soc.

Yes, Miccosukee is in Leon County. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leslie Maddocks" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 2:57 PM Subject: RE: [FLORIDA] WEST > Jefferson County, Florida by Jerrell H. Shofner > > Page 92: In discussing events around 1833: While Wirt and Goldsborough > were organizing their German colony, Randall brought the Murat Negroes > to the Miccosukee plantation and began clearing land. Florida law > required a white man to live on every plantation cultivated by slaves, > and Randall explained that while he intended to supervise operations he > had engaged William West, a recent immigrant from England as overseer. > West lived in a house owned by one of the Townsends near the plantation > and the arrangement was only nominal, being made to avoid a penal > statute. > > Page 121: While writing about the slavery laws "Sometimes the letter of > the law was obeyed while its spirit was violated. Thomas Randall hired > William West to supervise William Wirt's Negroes at Miccosukee, without > any actual duties, but merely to satisfy the law." (Personal note - I > think Miccosukee is in Leon Co.) > > Page 153: This is a section on crimes "Although the provocation is not > know, Samuel Puleston, a prominent Monticello druggist, shot and wounded > Richard P. Leonard and Winfield Anderson as they were riding past > William West's tavern in Monticello in 1850." > > Hope this helps. > > Leslie Maddocks > Florida State Genealogical Soc. > > > > > > > >