Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives
204 W. Washington St.Lexington, VA 24450
specialcollections@wlu.edu
URL: http://library.wlu.edu/specialcollections
Administrative Information
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.
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.
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 .
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Folder Number, Box Number, Hugh Adams Papers, WLU Coll. 0373, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn University Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
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.
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 .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Adams family
- American Colonization Society
- Antislavery movements
- Carson, A. C.
- Chapin, Charles
- Curry, David P.
- Davidson, Greenlee
- Free African Americans
- Halliburton family
- Hutcheson, Robert
- Lewis family
- Liberia -- Careysburg
- McLain, W. (William)
- Miles family
- Reid, Samuel McDowell
- Slaves -- Biography
- Virginia -- Brownsburg
- Virginia -- Rockbridge County
- Whipple, David J.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Adams, Andy
- Adams, George
- Adams, Henry
- Adams, Hugh
- Adams, Isabella
- Adams, Joshua
- Adams, Mary
- Adams, Rose
- Adams, Scylla
- Adams, Susan
- Carson, A. C.
- Chapin, Charles
- Curry, David P.
- Davidson, Greenlee
- Halliburton, William
- Hutcheson, Robert
- Lewis, Reuben
- McLain, W. (William)
- Miles, Andrew
- Reid, Samuel McDowell
- Whipple, David J.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Liberia -- Careysburg
- Virginia -- Brownsburg
- Virginia -- Rockbridge County
Container List
The control folder for the Hugh Adams Papers contains a physical folder list with descriptive information about contents, a transcription of Hugh Adams' will (1860), copies of online resources, including materials provided by the Library of Virginia, pertaining to the families and individuals formerly enslaved by Hugh Adams who emigrated to Liberia in May 1860.
In the will of Hugh Adams, he writes that he desires the emancipation of all his slaves upon his death.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 4
Notes on "Adams Negroes"English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 4
Invoice for A. M. Carson and R. S. Hutcheson1859-07-15English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 4
Letter from R. Hutcheson1859-03-26English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 4
Invoice for A. M. Carson1860English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 4
Receipt for R. Hutcheson from W. McLain1860-04-19English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 5
Invoice for R. Hutcheson from Wade1880-01-01English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 5
Receipt from Adams & Lockridge to R. S. Hutcheson1890-12-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 5
Receipt from Adams & Lockridge to R. S. Hutcheson1890-11-18English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 6
Invoice from McNutt for Andy1860English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 6
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Andyearly 1859English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 6
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Andylate 1859English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 6
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Andy1860-04-14English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 6
Final Statement for Andy1860-04-19English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 6
Final Receipt for Andy1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 7
Invoice from W. McLain for George1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 8
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Henry1859English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 8
Invoice from Gilkeson & McNutt for Henry1860English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 8
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Henry1859-07-01English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 8
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Henry1860-04-14English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 8
Invoice from Ward Bros. for Henry1860-04-18English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 8
Final Receipt for Henry1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 9
Invoice from Gilkeson & McNutt for Isabella1859-12English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 9
Final Receipt for Isabella1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 10
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Josh1859-07-01English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 10
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Josh1860-04-14English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 10
Invoice from Gilkeson & McNutt for Josh1860English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 10
Final Statement for Josh1860-04-19English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 10
Final Receipt for Joshua1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 11
Emancipation Certificate for Joshua Johnson1860-04-02English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 12
Invoice from Gilkeson & McNutt for Mary1860-03English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 12
Final Statement for Mary1860-04-19English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 12
Final Receipt for Mary1860-04English.
Rose and Rueben's daughter was two-years old at the time.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Purchase Agreement, Rosa and Reuben1860-04-14English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Invoice 1 from A. M. Carson for Rosy1859English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Invoice 2 from A. M. Carson for Rosy1859English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Invoice from Gilkeson & McNutt for Rose1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Rosey1860-04-14English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Final Statement for Rosa1860-04-19English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Summary of Boarding Charges1860-04-20English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Final Receipt for Rosa1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 13
Invoice from Ward Bros for Reuben1860-04-19 English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Scilla1859-07-01English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14
Final Receipt for Sylla Jane1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14
Final Statement for Sylla Jane1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14
Invoice from Gilkeson & McNutt for Scilla1860English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Scylla1859English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14
Invoice from A. M. Carson for Scilla1860-04-14English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14
Receipt from Hamilton Easter & Co. for Wm. Halliburton1860-04-19English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 14a
Agreement between Andrew Patterson and Robert Hutcheson for the sale and emancipation of William "Bill" Halliburton1859-01-19
William Halliburton was Scylla's husband.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 15
Purchase Agreement, Sylla Jane and Bill Haliburton1860-04-14English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 16
Final Receipt for Susan1860-04English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 16
Final Statement for Susan1860-04-19English.
- Text [0000004537] box: 1 folder: 17
Invoice from Ward Bros. for Andrew Miles1860-04-19English.