The tabby ruins are credited to William H. Shaw, who likely built them soon after settling here in 1843, and the Shaw family lived and worked here until a Seminole Indian uprising in 1856 drove them to Key West. Recent archeological investigations suggest the site had earlier been used as a Spanish fishing camp beginning in the late 1700s. Tabby is a mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand and water, poured wet in successive levels about 6 inches deep. Because each layer could take up to three days to harden, building with tabby was a time-consuming process. After the wall was completed, a plaster of lime, sand, and water was spread over the structure to waterproof it and give it a smooth finish.