Lynda, I really have not forgotten the gravestone check and the "Pilatka Plat" that I said I'd do today. I missed the person who can do both for us, but she'll call me tomorrow, and we'll see what happens. Stand by.... As to cost, unless there's a substantial out-of-pocket cost, I don't "do" costs. Just help somebody else and I'll consider my small expense well-spent. Tomorrow! --Brian *********************************************************** Lynda wrote: > > Brian, I have loved your book "The River Flows North" - Clayton Library here > in Houston has a copy and I go through it every time I get to the library. I > had no idea who I was emailing! Now I'm excited to correspond with the person > responsible for the terrific book. > My 'cuz' Ed Taylor has been looking for information on Timothy for over 20 > years. My research spans a little over three years. Ed is so anxious for > information, but a copy of a letter of Ed's that I have dated 1982 he was > pretty much assuming that Timothy and his father-in-law, Philip Dewees, who > was a bar pilot also, died at sea. > Philip Dewees married a daughter of Francisco Xavier Sanchez of St Augustine. > Timothy has been an enigma - When I first started researching I found some tax > record or census - didn't record it because I had no idea what I was doing - > but the record stated he was born in CT. Seems like it was some 1845 record > because I have assumed he was living in 1845 - other than the fact of the last > child being born that year. > Am including my snailmail - I would love any scrap of information. I did find > that Sarah sold property in Alachua Co. She must have left the area because > they were in Fernandina Beach when her daughter, Mary C. (Kate) married my > great grandfather, a poor Circuit Rider Methodist preacher. > I hope I haven't made this too long - I know you are swamped with email > messages. Thank you for your wonderful assistance to all researchers. You > are certainly appreciated! > > Lynda Farley > 11822 Westlock Drive > Tomball, TX 77375 > > And be sure to let me know any cost. Thanks! > > "Brian E. Michaels" wrote: > > > Lynda, > > > > Your T. Wightman doesn't appear after 1850. I'll check our > > more-or-less-county-wide cemetery files tomorrow, if I can. Perhaps he > > has a tombstone, since he probably would have been buried here. His wife > > was still here about 1852, anyway. > > > > All I personally know about him is in the following excerpt: > > > > "According to the [Whig] Banner's first issue [in 1846], there were > > already at least two hotels in town. The Wightman House was operated by > > 'T. Wightman,' and the Palatka Hotel was one of the enterprises of > > Polish-born entrepreneur Stanislaus Glinski (who later served as > > postmaster, clerk of the circuit court, and judge of probate)".... > > > > "A copy of an early plat of the town [Pilatka, as it was spelled until > > 1875] still exists...." (from Michaels, Brian E. The River Flows > > North: A History of Putnam County, Florida. Palatka: Putnam County > > Archives & History Commission, 1976, 1987.) > > > > Lot 1 was owned by Laura Randolph, Lot 2 by Sarah W. Wightman. I may be > > able to find a xerox copy of that plat if you'd like a copy. I'll need > > your snail address, if so. > > > > I'll let you know about a gravestone. > > > > Hope this helps. --Brian Michaels > > > > Lynda wrote: > > > > > > Hi Brian, > > > I noted in one of your messages that you live in Palatka. My gr gr > > > grandfather was Timothy Wightman and records I have found indicate he > > > owned "The Wightman House" one of the two first hotels in Palatka. > > > Timothy was living in 1844-45, as his last child was born in 1845. On > > > the 1850 census his wife and children were listed but not him. No death > > > record or any trace of him has been found. > > > Timothy WIGHTMAN married on August 9, 1835 to Sarah Ann DUREZ - (but her > > > surname was Dewees) > > > He was a bar pilot - and Captain of "IKO" and "Captain Hanson". > > > Would appreciate any information, suggestion, etc. Thank you for your > > > time. > > > Lynda