Source
State Archives of Florida, Collection M89-32
Description
An entry from Daniel H. Wiggins' diary dated November 5, 1838, with comments on farming, soil conditions, economic opportunities in the Florida territory and his fear of the Seminoles. He also discusses the visit of a group of soldiers to Thomas Randall's plantation south of Monticello, Florida.
General Note
A native of Long Island, New York, Daniel H. Wiggins was living in Annapolis, Maryland, in the 1830s with his second wife, Wilhelmina Welch, and their five children, where he worked as a millwright and wheelwright. In 1838, apparently at the urging of Thomas Randall, an Annapolis acquaintance who was then living in Jefferson County, Florida, and serving as a judge, Wiggins left Maryland for greater economic opportunities in north Florida. He sailed from Baltimore to Savannah, which he reached on October 15, 1838, and then traveled overland to Monticello. Wiggins reached his destination after an 11 day journey. He initially lived at Belmont, Randall's plantation south of Monticello, but he also traveled extensively through Jefferson, Leon, and Gadsden counties, working as a machinist and experimenting with a cotton press. Wiggins remained in Florida at least until the latter part of 1841. He eventually returned to Annapolis, where he was living in 1850. Shortly thereafter he traveled with Randall to the California gold fields. Unfortunately, while there he contracted an unspecified illness and died. Wiggins' diary, which he regularly maintained during his years in Florida, is a remarkably detailed description of life in the new territory. He commented extensively on the region's geography, climate and population. Wiggins also made observations on the institution of slavery and on the ongoing Second Seminole War.
some other thing of timber the names of which I have as yet learnt the soil of Judge Randalls land appears to be mostly a mixture of red clay and sans-- the low ground is of a darker coulour and much richer-- but the high lands are thought to be more healthy so it is hard to find a place where all advantages concentrate of two ever [?] chuse the least-- health of the first consideration may the Lord direct in my choice of a location-- health contentment and competency are the three grand constituents to human happiness-- but religion is the one thing needfull a little after dark a detachment of soldiers stopt here for the night-- they are on their way from St. Marks to Dedmans bay they number about 20 under command of Lieutinant Todd-- I talked with some of them they say they have seen tuff [?] times
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