The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Appalachees

APPALACHEES, an Indian tribe of Florida, living on a bay which still bears their name. They were of the same family as the Choctaws, and were very numerous. They were at first not friendly to the Spaniards, and made war on them at intervals down to 1638. A Spanish post was established there, and missionaries soon won them over, care being taken to instruct the chiefs, many of whom learned to read and write. The oppression of the Spanish commanders led to a revolt about 1687; and the Spaniards after reducing them compelled many to work on the fortifications. Their appeal to the king in 1688, signed by the chiefs, is still extant. While this discontent prevailed, the English and their Indian allies invaded the country of the Appalachees, destroying many towns and killing or carrying off great numbers of the people. In 1704 St. Mark's was taken and the missionaries were put to death. The tribe was now reduced from 7,000 to about 400. On the settlement of Louisiana a portion removed to St. Louis in the vicinity of Mobile, while the Spaniards gathered the remainder at Soledad. After 1722 they disappear as a tribe, being probably absorbed in the Choctaw nation.