Captain James Frederick WigginsCaptain Wiggins’s parents, Hundley and Nancy (Wilson) Wiggins, were married in Coffee county, Tennessee in 1822. Their eight children were all born in Tennessee before they felt the tug of “Texas fever”. In 1847 Hundley moved his family to Texas. They settled in Cherokee county and remained there for the remainder of their life. Hundley Wiggins purchased a 2,860 acre of land near Striker Creek from Wade H. Walker and his wife. By the time of his death in 1863,his land holdings were up to 4,000 acres. In his will he divided the land between his children and beloved wife Nancy. He listed his 35 slaves by name in his will. Also he set aside two parcels of land, one for a white cemetery and one for slaves. The 1860 slave census for Cherokee county list 42 slaves belonging to Huntley from the age of 59 to one year old. James Wiggins married Josephine A. Vinson probably in Tennessee as there are no records in Cherokee county of the marriage. The 1860 census shows that Josephine was born in Tennessee. They first son, James Vinson Wiggins was born in Texas in May, 1860. They had five other children, John Wiggins, Rosey Lee, Hundley, Lillian, and Mary Beatrice. The 1860 slave schedule shows James with five slaves. September 16,1861 James was listed on the muster roll of Cavalry company known as the New Salem Invincibles. September 21, 1861 James was enrolled as Captain of the J. F. Wiggins Company, of the 3rd Regiment, Sibley’s Brigade of Texas Mounted Volunteers at New Salem in Rusk County. On October 26, 1861, he was mustered into service at Camp Pickett near San Antonio, Texas. This company was successively known at Captain Wiggins Company of Cavalry, Captain Wiggins Company 3rd Regiment, Sibley’s Brigade Texas Mounted Volunteers, Captain Wiggins Company and Company F, 7Th Regiment Texas Cavalry. Captain Wiggins brother, William Christmas “Bill” Wiggins served under him as 2nd Lieutenant. After the Company fought in the battles of Glorieta and Val Verde New Mexico they returned to Texas and was sent to Louisiana. Captain Wiggins was captured at Camp Pratt, Louisiana on November 20, 1863 and sent to New Iberia, LA. By order of Captain Porter he was confined at 21 Rampart Street on November 23, 1863. He was exchanged on December 21, 1863.Camp Pratt was originally a Confederate camp and fell into the hands of the enemy in 1863. On the 14th day of June 1865 Captain Wiggins signed a Parole of Honor at Mud Creek, Cherokee county, Texas. Information from “Cherokee County History” published by Cherokee County Historical Commission in 1986. Additional Information obtained from “Foot Note” web site
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Captain Wiggins
