Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Sandy Cornish

C1793-C1869

— Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden —

Sandy Cornish Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. Sandy Cornish Marker

Inscription. Sandy Cornish (Uncle Sandie) was born a slave in Maryland about 1793. He migrated to Florida in 1839 where with his wife Lillah's help he was able to buy his freedom. In the late 1840's his free papers were lost in a fire. Six unprincipled men captured him with the intent of selling him at the slave market in New Orleans. Uncle Sandie escaped and to prevent recapture he inflicted severe injuries on himself. In the public square of Port Leon, he cut the muscles of his ankle joint, plunged a knife in the other hip joint and cut off the fingers of his left hand rendering himself unfit for labor and thus worthless as a slave. In the late 1840's he came to Key West where he and Lillah bought a farm on what is now Truman Avenue near Simonton Street. Uncle Sandie supplied fresh vegetables and fruit to the islands inhabitants. During the Civil War many Union soldiers visited Sandy's fruit orchard. He was by all accounts a highly successful farmer, one of the richest men in Key West and a leader of the African American community. In 1864 he established the ongoing Cornish Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at 702

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Whitehead Street. Uncle Sandie died in the late 1860’s a wealthy, respected and free citizen of Key West.
Donated by
Peter & Ellen Batty
Karl Scheuerman and Carol Solomon

Erected by Peter & Ellen Batty, Karl Scheuerman and Carol Solomon.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Charity & Public Work • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.

Location. 24° 33.583′ N, 81° 48.411′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from the intersection of Wall Street and Tift’s Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located within the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Wall Street, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Keys.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. Sandy Cornish Marker

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Senator John M. Spottswood (here, next to this marker); Stephen R. Mallory (here, next to this marker); Dr. J.Y. Porter (here, next to this marker); Ellen Russell Mallory (here, next to this marker); Harry S. Truman (here, next to this marker); Joe Pearlman (here, next to this marker); Sister Louis Gabriel (here, next to this marker); Elisabetha Merklin Knight Beiglett Smith (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . .
1. Sandy Cornish – A real man. No scrubs allowed!. (Submitted on May 14, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. The Key West Sculpture Garden – Where History Meets Art. (Submitted on May 14, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 996 times since then and 123 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 14, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.