Bolek

This article is about the Seminole chief. For the French World War II intelligence officer with this code name, seeGustave Bertrand.For the Polish cartoon character, seeBolek and Lolek.For the secret agent Bolek, seeLech Wałęsa § Wałęsa and secret police.

Bolek
Boleck, Bolech
Seminoleleader
Preceded by	King Payne
Succeeded by	Micanopy
Personal details
Died	1819
Relations	King Payne(older brother)
Parent	Cowkeeper
Nickname	Bowlegs

Bolek(died 1819), also spelled asBoleckorBolechs,and known asBowlegsby European Americans, was aSeminoleprincipal chief, of the Alachua (Oconee) chiefly line. He was the younger brother ofKing Payne,who succeeded their fatherCowkeeper(known to theSeminoleasAhaya) as leading or principal chief in Florida.Bolek succeeded King Payne in 1812 when he was killed during thePatriot War.

Early life and education

Bolek was one of several children born to Ahaya (Cowkeeper) and his wife. He and his older brother King Payne were groomed by their mother's brother (in thematrilinealkinship system) to become chiefs and take leading roles among the Seminole. They inherited that role through their mother's people, who were descended from the Alachua chiefly line.

Bolek was designated as a village oritwálachief while a young man; he was based on theSuwannee River,near present-dayOld Town, FL.He began to oppose United States influence inSpanish Floridaduring the early 19th century. He preventedGeorgiaslaveholders from entering Seminole territory to pursue escaped slaves from the Low Country. Some of the fugitives married into the Seminole people; most created independent communities nearby as allies and were known asBlack Seminoles.They kept much of their Gullah culture and developed theAfro-Seminole Creolelanguage in Florida, which they used through the 19th century.

In 1812, Bolek and his brotherKing Paynebegan raiding frontier settlements along the Florida-Georgia border. Seminole bands fought several engagements with militia forces; Payne was killed in 1812, and Bolek suffered serious wounds during the same skirmish against Georgia militia forces under Daniel Newnan.An expedition by ColonelJohn Williamsthe following year destroyed hundreds of Seminole villages and captured numerous horses and cattle. Border warfare between the Seminole and Georgia settlers contributed to US involvement in theCreek War of 1813-1814.

Seminole Wars

During theFirst Seminole War,beginning in 1818, American forces under GeneralAndrew Jacksonadvanced into northern Florida capturingKinache's village ofMiccosukeeand occupying the Spanish settlement ofSt. Marksbefore destroying the Red Stick village ofPeter McQueenat theEconfina Riverand Nero's town of maroons on the Suwannee River before reaching Bolek's (old town) abandoned village. They captured two Englishman,Robert Ambristerand Peter Cook^(?),who were taken back toFort St. Marks.Charged with assisting the Seminole, they were executed by American forces (seeArbuthnot and Ambristerincident). Although this created an international incident, Jackson continued his offensive and recapturedPensacola.

The U.S. purchased Florida from Spain in 1819 via theAdams-Onis Treaty,and the Seminole expected they would have more to do to try to keep the Americans from their territory. Bolek died that year and was succeeded as principal chief by his maternal grandnephew,Micanopy.

Micanopy was principal chief through the move into central Florida and theSecond Seminole War.He also led the Seminole to Indian Territory, realizing that trying to fight the US superior forces was finally futile. In the West, he worked to gain separate territory and independence for the Seminole fromCreekoversight until his death in 1849.

He was succeeded by his sister's son, John Jumper, who died in 1853. John's younger brother, Jim Jumper, succeeded as principal chief, leading the Seminole in Indian Territory until after the American Civil War, when the United States government began to interfere with tribal succession.

Another member of theCowkeeperdynasty wasBilly Bowlegs.

References

• Johansen, Bruce E. and Donald A. Grinde, Jr.The Encyclopedia of Native American Biography,New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1997.