Groups of freed and fugitive slaves sought refuge in Florida and formed relationships with the Seminoles in the 18th Century. This kinship carried on through the bloody Seminole Wars into the Trail of Tears. Later, members of those groups became known as Seminole Maroons, Seminole Freedmen, or Black Seminoles. Some would find their way to Oklahoma, others to Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean, and some remained in Florida. They formed communities throughout the diaspora and held on to their history and maintained a distinct culture.