A Bit of History
Wanton’s
1836
In August 1836 reports of approaching warriors forced Wanton and other settlers to move into the fort erected at Micanopy. He took with him household furniture, boxes of dry goods, and medicine from his small trading business. After Wanton moved into the fort, soldiers occupied his property. On august 24, 1836, the garrison’s commanding officer, Major B. K. Pierce, ordered an evacuation. Pierce had only enough horses and wagons to transport the sick and some public property. Wanton, who was chronically ill, left in a small wagon with nothing except a few pieces of furniture, bedding, and clothing. The evacuees proceeded a few hundred yards from the fort and halted. Major Pierce then ordered his troops to burn the fort and the village in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Seminoles. Wanton lost his buildings, merchandise, a great quantity of furniture, kitchen utensils, tools, and farming implements. In addition, the soldiers destroyed ten barrels of molasses, three cases of sugar— each weighing 1,000 pounds— and a pair of hand millstones. Wanton estimated his losses at $1,812.50 ($63,123 today). The refugees moved to Fort Heileman near Garey’s Ferry on Black Creek. One can easily imagine the memories that flooded Wanton’s mind as he watched his dreams go up in flames. He was nearly seventy now. As in the American Revolution and the Patriot War, United States troops had destroyed his possessions. Conflict sparked by the expanding nation had transformed him into a refugee once again. Wanton was left with few material assets. Only his land remained in Alachua. He had sold most of his holdings obtained under Governors White and Coppinger to Lewis Guibert in 1820, James Riz in 1823, and Francis Avice, Zephaniah Kingsley, and Ralph King in 1834. Other St. Johns County acreage had been alienated in order to pay taxes. Also, on May 16, 1834, by means of a “deed of gifts,” he had transferred twenty-five acres to his eldest son Billy. This tract was the kernel of the family fortune, having originally been granted to Hannah Moore in 1791.