Hugh Adams Papers
Scope and Contents
The Hugh Adams Papers archive is comprised of approximately 75 documents concerning the emancipation of nineteen slaves of the Adams estate and their estate imposed emigration to Careysburg, Liberia. Adams was actively involved for many years with the American Colonization Society ( A.C.S.) which promoted and engaged in the emigration process of free or freed African-Americans to Liberia on the west African coast. Included in the archive is an original handwritten copy of the will of Hugh Adams. Within the will, Adams settles his estate and specifically outlines his plan for emancipating his slaves and for funding their imposed emigration. The archive also contains account documents for living expenses of nine of the nineteen freed slaves during the interim period between emancipation and their voyage to Liberia in May 1860.The surnames of the emancipated persons and families are Adams, Miles, Halliburton, Lewis, and Johnston or Johnson. Other noteworthy contents include an official Rockbridge County manumission document and two contracts detailing the purchase of enslaved husbands by their wives who were emancipated and funded by Adams' will. Other individuals whose names are found on documents within this archive include Rockbridge County lawyers Greenlee Davidson and David P. Curry, lawyers 'Gilkeson and McNutt', possibly of Augusta County, Virginia, Rockbridge County officials Samuel McDowell Reid, Charles Chapin, and David J. Whipple, estate executors A.M. Carson and Robert Hutcheson, and A.C.S. secretary Reverend William McLain. Click here to access the Hugh Adams Papers in WLU's Digital Archive.
Dates
- Creation: 1857-1860
Creator
- Adams, Hugh (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Due to the physical condition of the Adams archive, under most circumstances, it is perferred that copies rather than original documents are used by researchers.
Conditions Governing Use
The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Biographical / Historical
Hugh Adams (1793-1858) was a landowner, farmer, and slaveholder in the vicinity of Brownsburg, Rockbridge County, Virginia. He was a member and proponent of the American Colonization Society, the national organization promoting the emmigration of free African Americans to Liberia.
Extent
.25 Linear Feet
Custodial History
The archive was collected by Hugh Robert Bolen of Bustleburg, Rockbridge Co., Virginia. It was discovered amongst family papers by John Bolen, son of the collector.
Online Access
This collection has been digitized in its entirety and may be viewed online via WLU's Digital Archive.
Subject
- Adams family (Family)
- Lewis family (Family)
- Miles family (Family)
- Davidson, Greenlee (Person)
- McLain, W. (William) (Person)
- Halliburton family (Family)
- American Colonization Society (Organization)
- Curry, David P. (Person)
- Reid, Samuel McDowell (Person)
- Whipple, David J. (Person)
- Chapin, Charles (Person)
- Hutcheson, Robert (Person)
- Carson, A. C. (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Hugh Adams Papers
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives Repository