Oh Alan, you know very well how little I know on that. I'd think they were like 'reverse' kla, well, you know the word we do not like to use here. Muleongeons or however one spells is. Redbones. They're probably the same make up, just territiorial names are different. Always one central figure seemed to stir the pot when they got fired up though. Not sure who it was this time. Long list but one from Tennessee comes to mind.

The state of Florida was, as I said, still wild as the west during that time. Yes, there were some 'genteel' folk but there were a whole lot more who just weren't all that law abiding. We had some wild times in the early days with old Martin Hutto picking on the mail carrier. He was caught about 3 time and then turned himself back once in to get the reward then let himself out of the jail that was about to fall down because it was that old and rotten. He started his career as a "highwayman" in about 1827 and had a partner but that ones name is still not really believed to be what Hutto said it was. He liked to hit the mailman around the Yellow River in Walton County. Just looking for something of value. Never really hurt anyone.

Yes, ol Hutto was much earlier than the era we are s'posed to discuss but that entire stretch of the panhandle was like the badlands. You were never safe. Snakes, gators, spiders, and some people were going to make a trip miserable for anyone who wanted to take one. The Murrellites were just a later edition of the misery I'd guess.

Pam