Looking for a 4x great grandfather. Kapua Shepherd. Possible Black Seminole.

There are online trees with Kapua Shepherd, but none seem to have any documentation other than other online trees. What documentation do you have that provides his name, birth year and birth location? I would strongly caution you not to accept anything as a fact until you have reliable documentation of them.

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, this is my predicament.  It has all been oral tradition amongst older family members.

I only have a memory from my grand aunt who mentioned that her grandmother had told her that her grandfather was half black and half white.  An African American who jumped ship in Samoa.

I obtained Kupua's birthdate from Family Search.

I notice that Kupua's parents birthdates have been entered in to Family Search recently.  Mr Shepherd 1785 and Mrs Shepherd 1789.  I have no idea who or where these dates came from.  All 3 were apparently born in Palm Beach, Florida.

Is there a site specifically on black seminoles of Florida?   Where I could possibly search for names?

I have seen names of 'Shepherd' (spelt variously) for native seminoles but not sure where I saw these.

Thank you for your reply.

I previously replied but it may have been deleted.

My predicament is that it is strictly oral tradition.

According to my grandaunt's memoirs,  it was said that Kupua was half black and half white.  

He supposedly, jumped ship in Samoa and married a samoan woman Lesieli Malietoa B: 1826.

I obtained Kupua's name and birthdate from Family Search.  

I notice that recently, Kupua's parents birthdates have been added to Family Search.

Mr Shepherd 1785 and Mrs Shepherd 1789.

All three were born in Palm Beach, Florida.

It might be better to concentrate on documenting your 3x great-grandparents first, or your 2x great-grandparents if there are no records for that generation. The problem is that even if you find a man who fits Kupua Shepherd's description, this does not prove he's your ancestor without documentation of the generations between you and him.

For which generation do you have reliable documentation (birth, marriage, census, death records, etc.)?

I have information on his daughter:

Alaisa Shepherd

B. 1839 ( Samoa). I have seen 2 birthdates 1843??

D.  1935. Tonga ( Extract from registrar of deaths, western pacific high commission) 

Death certificate shows  Kupua Shepard and Lesieli as her parents.

Alaisa married a Francis Pierre Leger ( He has other alternate names i.e. Frank or Bazley Leger)

B. 1838 Quebec Canada

D. 1911 in Tongatapu

Frank was apparently a carpenter.

I guess I can keep looking for other info but hopefully this is a start.