In 1887, Bethune’s ex-wife won rights to the “Last American Slave” as Wiggins was called in newspapers. While it appeared to be freedom, Wiggins was once more a slave-musician. Author Jeffery Renard Allen wrote a novel based on Wiggins titled “Song Of The Shank,” but uncovered a little-known side in his research. It was said that Wiggins may have been an autistic savant, but such a condition was not well known at the time. Wiggins also crafted his own music but was billed as uneducated. There have been efforts to find his original musical compositions to restore and preserve them.
Wiggins may have played a meek role to appease his owners but took back his pride in other ways. As his career waned, Wiggins refused to play back church hymns and he became increasingly defiant. His health began to fail him and he officially retired from performing in 1905. Three years later, he died to complications from a stroke. Wiggins’ mother or family never benefited from the riches Blind Tom made.
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