Billy Bowlegs

Full-length, standing studio portrait. Theodore Lesley, 2707 Morrison Avenue, Tampa 9, Florida, letters of June 17 and 27, 1959, to WCS: According to quote from The Florida Peninsular (Tampa) of December 12, 1857, on November 19, 1857, a company of Florida Volunteers] under Captain Cone (or perhaps Captain Stephens, Captain Stewart, or Captain [L.G.] Lesley) discovered Billy Bowlegs' settlement [in the Big Cypress Swamp] where "The entire suit of King William, the invincible was secured, together with his Ambrotype, taken when he was last in Washington as Diplomatic Assistant to a celebrated contractor for removing Indians." The ambrotype was kept by Captain L. G. Lesley. About 1885 his son, Captain John T. Lesley, had a copy made. The original was subsequently lost, [original found, see Negative 53887] but the copy is in the possession of Theodore Lesley, grandson of JTL. About 1954 T. L. lent this to Mr Harry P. Kennedy of Tampa (deceased ca 1957), with the understanding that he would have one copy made, for his own use only. Burgert Brothers should not have a copy negative., according to T. L. [but it is in their file of stock views, seen by WCS 3/14/59] Information from W. C. Sturtevant 8-4-59.