Abraham

c.1790 to after 1870

Name: Abraham (also known as Souanakke Tustenukle)


Occupation/Training: Interpreter

Abolitionist Involvement: Born in the late 1700's, he was one of the most dynamic leaders of the African Seminoles, and was an interpreter for the removal of the Seminole and the Africans who lived among them, to Indian Territory in the 1830's. He is believed to have been a slave in Florida, and later one of the Africans who lived in Fort Negro, near Apalachicola. When the fort was destroyed, he later lived among those attendants of King Bowlegs, but by the 1820's he lived in the African town of Pilaklikaha. He accompanied the Seminole Chief Micanopy with a delegation to Washington DC. He was one of the signers of the Treaty of 1832 signed in Ft. Gibson, where it was decided that the Seminoles with their African compatriots would be removed to Indian Territory. He later worked with General Jessup as an interpreter for the US Army. Abraham is credited with bringing about peace of terms that were favorable to the Seminole Indians, and to the African Seminoles--the Estelusti. In the 1840's after relocation to Indian Territory, he was later removed from his status as official interpreter. He was known to have been a band leader of the same status as Wild Cat and the African John Horse who lead the exodus of the Seminole and Africans to Mexico. He was interpreter for Billy Bowlegs when he was still in Florida, and accompanied him to Washington and to New York. He was one of the most widely traveled of the Estelusti, and lived the remainder of his years near Little River.

Family: Wife, Hagar, and sons---Renty, and Washington, and a daughter.

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