This diary extract was transcribed and edited by Frank Wappat. Copyright 1983.
The earliest spelling of our name on our family tree is the signature of Ralph Wappat II. He was born in 1719 and signed "Wappat". The name continued to be spelt this way until Eleanor Wappat, wife of William Pearson Wappat, added a second "t" when registering the births of her children making it "Wappatt". This branch of our tree exists now only in Mexico as only one male survived in her family.
He was John William Pearson Wappatt, born 1866 in Hope Town, a Northern district of Darlington in Durham County, England.
He and his family (parents, 3 sisters and a brother who died in his teens) moved to nearby Middlesbrough, where they lived at 70 Wood Street. His father obtained work on the North Eastern Railway, where in later years he became an engine driver, until his retirement.
John, or Jack as he was known, soon grew tired and restless in Middlesbrough. Judging from his diaries he had a very good education, was a good writer and had a good command of the English Language.
His hobbies were running, swimming, boxing and singing, showing he was athletic; his musical talents extended to playing violin, concertina and cornet. He was proficient in later years in shorthand, although his diaries give little evidence of this.
On the 10th August 1886, he began a rigorous two months "fitness" course, rising at 7am and retiring at 10.30pm. During this time he bathed regularly, drank a pint of milk daily, and had electric shock treatment. This was supposed to relax and strengthen nerves and muscles.He took up boxing, weight lifting and voice exercises.
On the 3rd October 1886, he began a six months intensive training that included the use of a "cavalry" sword. He was then 20, yet no mention is made of work or employment. He is listed in the 1881 Census as a clerk in an Iron Merchants Office, Middlesbrough.
All of the training appears to be in readiness for his planned departure to the USA, for on the 14th June 1887 he left the Port of Liverpool bound for America.
According to his diary, the journey took 13 days before they arrived at Cape Charles. John arrived at his unnamed final destination at 8.30am on 29th June 1887.
He mentions upon arrival "dinner 25 cents .. girl with tan .. dark town wooden shacks .. niggers .. big fellows .. black pigs .. grasshoppers .. iced water .. Bananas .. houses whitewashed .. women smoking .. pissing out of windows which are always open .. always drinking .. spittoons in Church .. temperature 104 in the shade - 2 cooks dropped dead, also a nigger, with sunstroke .. boss shakes hands." He also mentions in passing; Hampton, Norfolk, Pennsylvania, Washington and oyster planting.
On the 30th June 1887 his started work as a boss over "10 Niggers" in No.2 Pier where he mentions "sharks .. snakes .. 2000 hop heads of tobacco .. toads .. quinine .. mocking birds .. Malaria .. sick and vomiting .. "frogs croaking enough to give anyone the gripes to hear" .. niggers sing. " He mentions nothing more for two weeks until 16th July 1887 when he writes "Southerners" (not Yanks) indicating they are in a Southern State of America.
On 17th September 1887 he left his job "paid off" he says with 22 dollars. On 20th September 1887 he "left in a hurry for Norfolk".."down York River to York Town." On 29th September 1887 he bought ticket to St. Louis for $17.50c and got a rebate at Cincinnati. He left for Washington, returning to "Centi".
3rd October 1887 He went to Louisville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia.
21st October 1887 Jack gets a job at B.BOPLING MILLS weighing crops for 9 dollars a week. 4th July 1888 Independence Day. "Now bossing 38 niggers." Here he starts lending money; 8 1/4 dollars for 1 dollar 25 cents.
1st Sept 1888 The Superintendent gave him a contract for all iron made at new forge, at 18 cents a ton. "Can make 5 dollars a day. One week made 22 dollars 28, plus 2 dollars 25 by lending money."
21st October 1888 "Been at job for a year, am worth 270 dollars in cash plus gold watch, gun, clock, shoes, 6 "lots" in Missouri and agreement with T.M.Watson about oil in Tennessee, and jewellery. Made 30 dollars 30 one week." Has row with "Wheeler" - quit Mill!
17 November 1888 Went to Avondale Gate City 20th December 1888 Jack went to New Orleans with 93 dollars in pocket plus receipts for 200 dollars. A graphic description of New Orleans follows; "Bands play everywhere, mainly in the streets and street corners, as well as cafes. The music is like a type of rhythmic march music and I saw and heard a machine that talks and actually plays music and sings (circa 1890, this would be an American Edison Cylinder recording player)."
By May 1891 He writes in shorthand with some English and a little disjointed Spanish, then he signs the entry J.W.P.Wappatt. For the rest of 1891 he appears to be selling parrots in the USA "riding all over the country". He was fined at Texacana 11 dollars 75 cents for selling parrots without a licence! Regular work for companies appears to have been abandoned. He is now working on his own, selling parrots, hunting, fishing and is wealthy enough to visit Chicago's World Fair, St.Louis, San Antonio until he arrived in Villagran, Mexico in July 1892 still signing his diary entries as J.W.P.Wappatt.
A doctor, grandson of a doctor of that particular time at Villagran recalled to me "When he first arrived in Villagran he could not speak a word of Spanish. He arrived on a black horse and became known as 'Juan Black Horse'. He travelled quite a lot selling birds and animals and appears to have been a kind of adventurer".
In 1894, Jack notes his arrival in Mexico, where he acquired a derelict gold mine and two small silver mines, which are still there today and the silver mines still produce.
However 3 years previously his diary records 14th October 1889 "Assets in Limon, Costa Rica 650 dollars, plus valise, pistol, gun." On the 18th January that year he records his assets in Limon as 47 dollars cash plus the hardware.
Two questions arise;
1) Did he have a separate business in Costa Rica?
2) Did he live there, or why send his money there?
Throughout his diary he signs himself "J.W.P.Wappatt" However in a different handwriting near the beginning of his diary at Middlesbrough, England is J.P.Williams, Limon, Costa Rica, Central America.
