Little Billy
Little Billy, member of the Seminole tribe in Florida, is known by numerous names including Billy Conepache, Billy Cornpatch, Billie Conepatchie, etc. He was a member of the Wind Clan. He evidently was one of the first Seminoles educated by white settlers in Florida. In the late 1870s, he asked Francis A. Hendry to give him an education so that he could understand the white settlers better and improve relations between their peoples. The Hendry family took him in for a time, which angered the Seminoles to the point that they threatened Billy's life. Hendry maintained the peace long enough for Billy to defend his decision to receive the education. After his education he worked as an interpreter for Dr. Clay MacCauly when he made his census report on the Seminoles in 1880.
Although the Expedition party never encountered Little Billy directly, he was a large part of their story. When they noticed a shaggy pony following them to Fort Shackleford, George Hendry told them the pony belonged to Little Billy. It also is very likely that the camp where they encountered Old Nancy near Fort Shackleford was the camp of Little Billy. They met his wife, Little Nancy Osceola, and some of his children, including the daughter who was called Lee in the Expedition record. It is also very likely that the baby boy who was named to honor J.E. Ingraham is Little Billy's son Ingraham Billie (or Ingram Billie), who grew up to become a tribal leader. A few days after meeting Old Nancy and Little Nancy Osceola the Expedition party also met Little Billy's older brother who was known as Billy Fuel or Billy Fiewel.
- Birth: Circa 1856, near Fisheating Creek
- Death: After 1917
Note about confidence of this information:
It is very difficult to provide contextual information about many of the Native Americans mentioned in the Expedition texts. One difficulty is that names are often spelled multiples ways in various sources, and information in those sources is often conflicting. Another difficulty is the Seminole practice of reusing names within families. While there is good evidence that the Billy Conepache mentioned in the texts is the same individual as the Little Billy described here, it is impossible to determine how much of the information provided here is accurate or applicable.
Name Variations:
- Little Billie
- Little Billy Conepache
- Billy Conapatchee
- Billy Konipatchi
- Billie Conepatchie
- Billy Corn Patch
- Cornpatch
- Koniphadjo
- Ko-nip-ha-tco
- Ko-nip-hat-cho
- Conapachee
- Conepatche
Credits:
Sources:
- The Seminoles of Florida, by James W. Covington, 1993
- Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of Southern Florida, by Patsy West, 2012
- The Seminole Indians of Florida, by Clay MacCauley, 1887
- "1915 Census of the Seminole Indians of Miami Agency, Florida on July 1915 taken by Lucien A. Spencer, Special Commissioner," Imprints Vol. 11, No. 4, 1992.
- Red Patriots: The Story of the Seminoles, by Charles H. Coe, 1898
- Various photos of Little Billy, National Museum of the American Indian
- Osceola's Legacy, by Patricia Riles Wickman, 2006
References in the Texts:
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For other topics referenced in the Expedition texts, please refer to the Index to Subjects and Names.
1892 Everglades Exploration Expedition : Three Digital Texts, 2015