Near Sumatra in Franklin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
"Milly Francis"
1. "Milly Francis" Marker (obverse)
Inscription.
"Milly Francis". . (obverse) , Francis the Prophet, whose Indian name was Hillis Hadjo, was an important Creek chief who was forced to leave his home in the Alabama Territory at the end of the Creek War of 1813-14. He established a new town on the Wakulla River several miles above Ft. St. Marks. In 1818, Gen Andrew Jackson led an army into Spanish Florida to campaign against the restive Seminoles. With the army was a young Georgia militia private named Duncan McKrimmon. While Jackson’s forces were at recently constructed Ft. Gadsden in the spring of 1818, McKrimmon went fishing, lost his way, and after several days was captured by Indians from Francis Town. Duncan McKrimmon was taken to that village where he was stripped and bound to await execution. The younger of Francis’ two daughters, a girl of about fifteen named Malee (Anglicized as “Milly”) begged Private McKrimmon’s captors to spare his life. This they agreed to do. Instead of being shot, he was sold to the Spaniards at Ft. St. Marks, who then released him.
(Continued on reverse side). (reverse)
(Continued from reverse side). Not long afterwards, Francis the Prophet was detained by U.S. forces and on April 8, 1818, was hanged at the order of General Jackson. A few months later, Francis’ family surrendered themselves along with a number of other Seminoles. They remained at Ft. Gadsden for several weeks awaiting removal to a reservation in the West. Duncan McKrimmon traveled to Ft. Gadsden and out of gratitude offered to marry Milly, but she refused his proposal. Milly went to live in Indian Territory on Arkansas River where she married and had a number of children. In 1842, Lt. Col. E. A. Hitchcock found Milly living there widowed and in poverty. He initiated actions which led to the granting in 1844 by Congress of a pension of $96.00 a year and a Congressional medal to Milly. Delays occurred and when the pension was finally activated in 1848, Milly was on her deathbed. There is no evidence that the medal recommended to honor Milly for saving the life of Duncan McKrimmon was ever cast.
(obverse)
Francis the Prophet, whose Indian name was Hillis Hadjo, was an important Creek chief who was forced to leave his home in the Alabama Territory at the end of the Creek War of 1813-14. He established a new town on the Wakulla River several miles above Ft. St. Marks. In 1818, Gen Andrew Jackson led an army into Spanish Florida to campaign against the restive Seminoles. With the army was a young Georgia militia private named Duncan McKrimmon. While Jackson’s forces were at recently constructed Ft. Gadsden in the spring of 1818, McKrimmon went fishing, lost his way, and after several days was captured by Indians from Francis Town. Duncan McKrimmon was taken to that village where he was stripped and bound to await execution. The younger of Francis’ two daughters, a girl of about fifteen named Malee (Anglicized as “Milly”) begged Private McKrimmon’s captors to spare his life. This they agreed to do. Instead of being shot, he was sold to the Spaniards at Ft. St. Marks, who then released him.
(Continued on reverse side)
(reverse)
(Continued from reverse side)
Not long afterwards, Francis the Prophet was detained by U.S. forces and on April 8, 1818, was hanged at the order of General Jackson. A few months later, Francis’ family surrendered
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themselves along with a number of other Seminoles. They remained at Ft. Gadsden for several weeks awaiting removal to a reservation in the West. Duncan McKrimmon traveled to Ft. Gadsden and out of gratitude offered to marry Milly, but she refused his proposal. Milly went to live in Indian Territory on Arkansas River where she married and had a number of children. In 1842, Lt. Col. E. A. Hitchcock found Milly living there widowed and in poverty. He initiated actions which led to the granting in 1844 by Congress of a pension of $96.00 a year and a Congressional medal to Milly. Delays occurred and when the pension was finally activated in 1848, Milly was on her deathbed. There is no evidence that the medal recommended to honor Milly for saving the life of Duncan McKrimmon was ever cast.
Erected by Department of National Resources in cooperation with Department of State. (Marker Number F-202.)
Location. 29° 56.297′ N, 85° 0.588′ W. Marker is near Sumatra, Florida, in Franklin County. Marker can be reached from Forest Road 127, 4 miles west of State Road 65, on the right when traveling south. On Route 65,
2. "Milly Francis" Marker (reverse)
a sign marks the turn for Fort Gadsden/Prospect Bluff Historic Sites. Go west on Forest Road 129. In about 4 miles, turn left onto Forest Road 129-D. The kiosk and parking lot are visible from that point. Roads are unpaved and may have potholes.
There is a walk from the parking lot, kiosk, and toilets to the site.
The site was named Fort Gadsden Historic Site until 2016, when its name was changed to Prospect Bluff Historic Sites. Some signs still carry the old name. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sumatra FL 32335, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Additional keywords. Fort Gadsden Historic Site, Prospect Bluff Historic Sites
Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2018, by Daniel Eisenberg of Boca Raton, Florida. This page has been viewed 726 times since then and 75 times this year. Last updated on March 4, 2018, by Daniel Eisenberg of Boca Raton, Florida. Photos:1. submitted on February 26, 2018, by Daniel Eisenberg of Boca Raton, Florida. 2. submitted on February 25, 2018, by Daniel Eisenberg of Boca Raton, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.