Good Day to all! Did you know that during the mid-1800’s Thomas P. Kennedy was likely the most important trader on Florida’s west coast? Born in Philadelphia in 1812, he was raised by an aunt who placed him with a hardware merchant to learn the trade. As a young adult, he joined the Texas revolt against Mexico, where he was wounded and captured fighting against Santa Anna. Imprisoned, he was released in 1836 following the Mexican defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Thomas came to Florida around 1837 to serve as a clerk in the army quartermaster department at St. Augustine. He then moved to Florida’s west coast in 1840, establishing a store at Ft. Brooke, now Tampa. In 1846, appointed “Indian agent”, he also opened a trading post on Charlotte Harbor’s eastern shore. His two stores were the only places legal trading with Seminoles was allowed. The Charlotte Harbor store was also frequented by the area’s Spanish fishermen. General William J. Worth though, commander at Fort Brooke, had an ulterior motive for selecting the site. Kennedy had also been his “confidential clerk” at Fort Brooke.
Much closer to the area occupied by most Seminoles after the Second Seminole War, December 1835 to August 1842, he intended to use the trading post in an attempt to capture prominent Chief Holata Micco (Billy Bowlegs) and begin moving the Seminoles to Arkansas. Fortunately for Bowlegs, he was warned by a local trader, so no Seminole would approach the store if soldiers were present. Bowlegs continued to resist relocation until 1858, following the Third Seminole War, 1855 – 1858.
After significant damage from a hurricane in 1848, which also sank the sloop Virginia, at anchor near the store, drowning all nine passengers and crew, the Charlotte Harbor store was abandoned in May 1849 when its inventory was moved up the Peace River by canoe to a new store near Ft. Meade and Bowling Green. That store was plundered and burned by a small party of Seminoles just two months later. Store manager, George Payne, who had survived the 1848 hurricane at Kennedy’s Charlotte Harbor store, and one of his assistants, Dempsey Whidden were killed in the attack.
Receiving no restitution for his losses from either the army or Seminoles, Kennedy ended his operation on the Peace River and opened a store east of Tampa on the Alafia River. He became active in Tampa politics and was a well-known citizen upon his death in August 1858. Although there is no written record of the Charlotte Harbor store burning, it likely did at some point, since an 1883 map delineates a “Burnt Store” area, which we still have today.
“Did You Know” appears, typically, every other Wednesday, courtesy of this newspaper and the Charlotte County Historical Society. The Society’s mission is to help promote and preserve Charlotte County’s rich history. We are also always looking for volunteers and interested individuals to serve as board members. If you believe our area’s history is as important as we do, please visit Charlotte County Historical Society on-line at https://cchistoricalsociety.com/, or call 941- 769-1270 for more information
Check out History Services’ yearlong project, “Telling Your Stories: History in the Parks”. It began in January 2021 with placement of the first interpretive sign “Charlotte Harbor Spa” at South County Regional Park. The last was dedicated December 15, 2021 at Centennial Park featuring Florida postcards. All dedicated signs can be viewed at online library resources. Select “Programs and Services”, then “History Services” and “Virtual Programs”.
Visit the same site to access recently released oral histories featuring 40 local folks. Select “History Services” and scroll down, or phone 941-629-7278, to find out what history related programs and videos are available, in addition to information on the “Cookie House” tours coming up at Cedar Point Environmental Center in Englewood.
March 5
