Lot
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"Indian Key Flor., Septr 3rd", red manuscript postmark with matching "Free" rating on folded letter from Thomas Jefferson Smith to Aaron Vanderpoel, Member of Congress at Washington D.C., forwarded upon arrival to Kinderhook N.Y. with red "Washington City D.C., Sep 17" and matching "Free" rating handstamp, letter datelined "Indian Key (Florida) Augt. 30th. 1837" and reads "I wish to ask your friendly assistance in forwarding sundry petitions of the inhabitants of Dade County to make Indian Key a port of entry. You will find the papers in the hands of our delegate Mr Downing…I left the City of New York last november and have, for the benefit of the climate made this place my residence, and am practising law here…" and signed T.J. Smith, Very Fine, ex-Meroni. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED INDIAN KEY FLORIDA TERRITORIAL USAGES.
Indian Key is one of the Islands in the Florida Keys located northeast of Long Key and between the Upper and Lower Matecombe Keys. The post office was established on May 21st 1833 in Monroe County. In 1835, it became the first county seat of Dade County with Charles Howe as Postmaster. There are only three recorded Indian Key Territorial manuscript postmarks known from Sept. 3, 1837 to Nov. 16th 1840. Indian Key declined and the post office was closed in 1844 after the county seat was moved to Miami. It briefly reopened in 1850, but only a few families remained on the Island and mail was scant.
The writer T.J. Smith, along with J. Houseman (founder of Indian Key) and some 30 other residents had previously signed a petition to Washington in June 1837 requesting a U.S. ship to be stationed there to protect it and Key West from Indian attacks. Later, on August 7th 1840, 134 Indians in 30 canoes attacked Indian Key, killing six people including naturalist H. Perrine for whom a town was named. Housman, a so-called "wrecker" (U.S. licensed salvager of ship wrecks), was killed by being crushed between two ship. He had offered a deal to the U.S. to give him a bounty of $200.00 for each Indian he killed. It was because of this, that Chief Chekika and his warriors attacked Indian Key. The Chief was later killed by troops led by Lt. Col. William S. Harney.
Realized: $3,750