Wiggins

Reverend Nelson Wiggins (1813-1892) was married twice. His first wife was Sarah A. and his second, Hannah. The census of 1870 has the two, Nelson and Hannah, living in New Garden, PA. Rev. Wiggins is listed as a laborer and then a farmer in the census, Hannah is a housekeeper. Rev. Wiggins also owns land in New Garden in 1863 and the 1873 map of New Garden shows Wiggins as the only African American listed as a prosperous farmer.
During his time as the second minister at Bucktoe, he feuded with Levi Hood and James Walker about church practices. It came to blows and was resolved in court in favor of Nelson Wiggins.
Isaac Mason’s account of his escape from slavery refers to Nelson Wiggins as the Underground Railroad Agent who took him in and set him on his way to Canada. Wiggins may have helped a great many more freedom seekers, as a descendent reports, “the AUC (African Union Church, Bucktoe) was a substantial source of support for freedom seekers coming through (Chester County)” Perry Augustus, another African American Abolitionist was known to have worked with Wiggins.
Reverend Nelson Wiggins died in a buggy/car accident.