 | John Carney's Tombstone |
Tombstone of John Carney, courtesy of John McGuire
Note: Although his tombstone and Lesley's Co. record have Carney's death as April 17, 1856, James W. Covington in The Billy Bowlegs War 1855-1858 The Final Stand of the Seminoles Against The Whites (Mickler House Publishers, Chuluota, Florida, 1982), page 44, has: "Three days later on April 15, the same Indians shot and killed a man named John Carney who was plowing in his field near present day Bloomingdale. John Carney must have been a brave or perhaps, foolish man, to have been working on an isolated field during an Indian scare. When news of the upper Manatee attacks had been circulated, he sent his wife and several children to the safety of Tampa but remained behind to prepare his fields for the summer crops. Since sounds of the Indians signaling to one another in the nearby forest were clearly audible, Carney spent the night at the home of a nearby neighbor, John Vickers. On the following day Carney resumed work but mid-morning Vickers heard the sound of gunfire coming from the Carney far. He ran to the field and found a horse and plow but did not see Carney. Now thoroughly alarmed, Vickers hurried a distance of five miles to Alafia Store and told the militiamen the news. They were able to reach Carney's farm early in the next morning and discovered his body, pierced by five shots, lying in the field. A detachment commanded by Captain Lesley attempted to track down the Indians but, due to the eighteen hours headstart, the attackers were able to elude the troops. Upon hearing news of Carney's death, the neighbors sought protection at the strongest fortified house in the area...Although Carney's tombstone marks his death as April 17, 1856, he actually was killed on the previous day. The grave is located on the property owned by Mr. Sewell of the Stearns Road, Bloomingdale." Covington has "April 15" and "April 17, 1856, he actually was killed on the previous day" so Carney either died, per Covington, on April 15 or 16, 1856.
The Florida Peninsular (Tampa, Florida) of Saturday, April 26, 1856, reported:
Latest Indian News On April 18, 2004, John McQuire e-mailed: "Mr. Stone, I was out for a run yesterday and noticed that someone vandelized the tombstone of John Carney, the farmer killed in the indian raid of 1856. It was broken beyond repair, which is a sad reminder of our times."
Sept. 17, 2003 & April 18, 2004, May 22, 2004, Nov. 9, 2004, Feb. 24, 2008
One Man Killed
The Indians who were reported last week to have committed the latest depredations on the Manatee, and whose trail was pursued to the vicinity of Bull-Frog Creek, made their way to the Alafia, and on Thursday morning, the 17th inst., murdered John Carney, a citizen of enviable character-a man beloved by his neighbors, respected by his friends, and admired by the public.
Mr. Carney had some time previous to his death moved his family to this place, but, not feeling able to lose his improvements, he continued to work in his field, not without taking the precautions, however of being well armed. On the evening previous to the fatal attack, Mr. C. heard occasional whistles around his field-this and other little occurrences, occasioned him some uneasinesws, and he went to his neighbor's John Vickers' house, and remained all night. Mr. Vickers informs us that Mr. C. was restless during the whole night-almost constantly walking the floor-and seemed to be laboring to shake off some presentment of evil, which seemed to intrude itself upon his mind. Early in the morning, he returned to his field, and continued plowing. About 10 o'clock a.m., Mr. Vickers heard several guns fire in that direction. As soon as Mr. V. could dispose of his family, securely, he went over to Mr. Carney's place, found the horse hitched to the plow in a half finished furrow, but no driver. On looking around a hat and handkerchief were discovered, which Mr. V. readily recognized as the property of his friend Carney. He then cut the horse out of the harness, and went to the Alafia Store, a distance of five miles, taking the hat and handkerchief to prove the truth of his assertions.
Next morning, before day, Capt. Lesley arrived at Mr. Carney's Place with a small force, prepared to pursue the Indians, after making a hurried search of the premises, by torch loght, without discovering the body of
Carnes, he started the trail of the murders.
Early the same morning, another party from this place, composed of Messrs. Mitchell, Edwards, Maranda and Roe, arrived at the house of the unfortunate man. On approaching the field, the body of Carnes was discovered, about 500 yardss from it, lying on its back. Perforated by fine balls, mainly in the breast. It seems he had either been shot while at the plow, or while running as his shoes were full of blood. [Paper creased, two lines missing.]..by his weeping friends, within a few rods of the house.
Mr. Carney's demise leaves a widow and several children, bereft of the strong arm that had ever been raised in their behalf, to battle this unfriendly world. They have the sympathies of the entire community.
Courtesy of John McGuire, May 22, 2004
John Carney, Private, Capt. Lesley's Co., "Killed by Indians Apl 17th 1856"