Hello Art,

Regarding Seminole Scout William Shields: The Smithsonian Magazine published an article with photos on the Black Seminoles in the mid 90's. I have a copy of the article in my papers, and I'm quite sure you can locate the issue (published in the 90's)at a large library magazine repository or online. The article is entitled "Against all odds, Black Seminole won their freedom". There is a photo of William Shields and Fay July both scouts born in Mexico and served the U.S. Cavalry at Fort Clark, Texas, and a photo of descendants of a John Shields (Lily Mae and Louis Dimery). The article doesn't say if William & John Shields are related. Other names in article - Miss Charles Emily Wilson (Charles is her 1st name), her grandfather was Sampson July, a scout born in Florida; Texas Ranger Lee Roy Young, Jr. holding an 1889 picture of scouts of his relatives Ben and John July, and Willie Warrior a descendant of John Ward. There is lots more. I hope this information will be useful to your project.

Malin