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Blind Tom Wiggins Events

1849 May 25 "Blind Tom" Wiggins is born
Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins was born on May 25, 1849 on the Wiley Edward Jones Plantation in Harris County, Georgia. Blind at birth, he was sold in 1850 along with his slave parents, Chari...
1850 Tom Wiggins (and his parents) sold to General James Neil Bethune
Tom Wiggins was sold in 1850 along with his slave parents, Charity and Mingo Wiggins, to Columbus, Georgia lawyer, General James Neil Bethune. The new owner re-named the child Thomas Gree...
1854 "Blind Tom" Wiggins composes first song, "The Rain Storm"
By age five Tom reportedly had composed his first tune, The Rain Storm, based on his aural impressions of a torrential downpour.
1857 Oct 7 "Blind Tom" Wiggins performs for first time before a large public audience
In October 1857, General Bethune rented a concert hall in Columbus and for the first time "Blind Tom" performed before a large audience that had difficulty comprehending how a blind idiot...
1858
to 1861
General James Bethune hires Perry Oliver to promote and tour "Blind Tom" Wiggins around the country
Slaves with musical talent meant income for their owners and in 1858 James Bethune "hired out" Tom to concert promoter Perry Oliver for a period of several years. It has been estimated th...
1860 "Blind Tom" Wiggins is first African American to perform at White House
In 1860, Blind Tom performed at the White House before President James Buchanan.
1860 "Blind Tom" Wiggins publishes "Oliver Gallop" and "Virginia Polka"
Tom Wiggins' piano pieces “Oliver Galop” and “Virginia Polka” were published in 1860.
1860 Jun 27 Baltimore Sun reviews performance of "Blind Tom" Wiggins
"TOM' the MUSICAL WONDER. We enjoyed an opportunity last night to hear the performance of the blind negro boy 'TOM' at Carrol Hall, and though prepared for something uncommon, all expectat..." —The Baltimore Sun
1861 "Blind Tom" Wiggins composes "The Battle of Manassas"
Battle of Manassas was written by Thomas Wiggins (aka "Blind Tom") at the age of 12. It is a programmatic work which describes the first major battle of the Civil War. As with many of his...
1862 May 18 "Blind Tom" Wiggins performs at Camp Magnum, a Confederate Army camp
A letter written in 1862 by a soldier in North Carolina described some of Tom's eccentric capabilities: "One of his most remarkable feats was the performance of three pieces of music at o...
1864 May 30 James Bethune convinces Blind Tom Wiggins' parents to sign an indenture agreement for his services
James Bethune protected himself against the possiblity of a Union victory in the Civil War by convincing Mingo and Charity Wiggins to sign an indenture agreement for Tom's services, on Ma...
1865 Jul Tabbs Gross sues James Bethune and his sons claiming he had bill-of-sale for Blind Tom Wiggins' services
"Why is Tom compelled to support Bethune and his two able-bodied sons who, fresh from the ranks of treason, are making the tour of the North with abundant leisure and purses well filled by..." —Cincinnati Enquirer
1866 "Blind Tom Wiggins" visits Europe on concert tour
In 1866 Tom began his European tour. At one concert, Tom listened to two pianos hammered nosily and simultaneously while a run of 20 notes was played on a third piano. Tom's ability to di...
1869 Mark Twain attends "Blind Tom Wiggins" performance
"Some archangel, cast out of upper Heaven like another Satan, inhabits this coarse casket; and he comforts himself and makes his prison beautiful with thoughts and dreams and memories of a..." —Mark Twain
1870 Jul 25 General James Bethune becomes legal guardian of Blind Tom Wiggins
On July 25, 1870, John Bethune had himself appointed Tom's legal guardian in a Virginia Probate Court, thereby negating the 1865 Indentureship Agreement. By now the Bethunes were realizin...
1874 Brochure on Blind Tom Wiggins is published
The Marvelous musical prodigy, Blind Tom,: the Negro boy pianist, whose performances at the great St. James and Egyptian halls, London, and Salle Hertz, Paris, have created such a profo...
1875
to 1883
Blind Tom Wiggins tours the US performing concerts
In 1875, General Bethune transferred management of Blind Tom's professional affairs to his son John Bethune, who accompanied Tom on tour around the U.S. for the next eight years. Beginnin...
1875 General James Bethune transfers management of Blind Tom Wiggins to his son, John Bethune
General Bethune transferred management of Blind Tom's professional affairs to his son John Bethune, who accompanied Tom on tour around the U.S. for the next eight years. Beginning in 1875...
1887 Jul 30 Custody of Blind Tom Wiggins granted to Eliza Stutzbach, widow of John Bethune
On July 30, 1887, a federal court ordered General Bethune to surrender Tom at Arlington, Virginia into the hands of Charity and his former daughter-in-law Eliza Bethune. Newspapers report...
1889 May Blind Tom Wiggins rumored to be killed by Johnstown Flood
Tom was on tour in western Pennsylvania in May 1889 on the day of the Johnstown Flood, and rumor spread that he was among the casualties. Despite his continued appearances on the U.S. con...
1893
to 1903
Blind Tom Wiggins stops touring and joins vaudeville circuit
After being dogged by incessant legal challenges to her custodianship of Tom, Eliza Stutzbach took Blind Tom Wiggins off the concert circuit around 1893.
1905 Apr 17
to 1905 Apr 22
 Blind Tom Wiggins performs publicly for last time
Prof. Southall reports that Tom's last public appearances appear to have been those of April 17-22, 1905 in Boston. She adds that the Boston Evening Transcript left no doubt in its subse...
1908 Jun 13 Blind Tom Wiggins dies
Tom died at age fifty-nine on June 13, 1908 at Eliza's home in Hoboken. A few days later The New York Times headline read "BLIND TOM, PIANIST, DIES OF A STROKE -- A CHILD ALL HIS LIFE." N...
1908 Jun 15 The New York Times reports on Blind Tom Wiggins' Death
BLIND TOM, PIANIST, DIES OF A STROKE Old Negro with Strange Mastery of Music Ends His Days in Hoboken. A CHILD ALL HIS LIFE Cared for in His Declining Years by the Daughter of His Old ...
1954 Georgia Historical Commission erects historical marker to Blind Tom Wiggins
The inscription of the Blind Tom historical marker reads: "BLIND TOM" 200 feet east is the grave of Thomas Wiggins (1843-1908) As "Blind Tom" he thrilled audiences here and in Eur...
1976 Feb 10 Marker erected in honor of Blind Tom Wiggins at Westmoreland Estate
The participants at the dedication of the Blind Tom marker at Westmoreland estate, on 10 Feb 1976, were Elnora Walker (left), Tom's niece and the only person I could find that had seen/be...
1979 May Dizzy Gillespie plays at Blind Tom Wiggins' grave marker