Atlantic Bonds: A Nineteenth-Century Odyssey from America to Africa (H. Eugene and Lillian Youngs Lehman Series)

A decade before the American Civil War, James Churchwill Vaughan (1828–1893) set out to fulfill his formerly enslaved father's dying wish that he should leave America to start a new life in Africa. Over the next forty years, Vaughan was taken captive, fought in African wars, built and rebuilt a livelihood, and led a revolt against white racism, finally becoming a successful merchant and the founder of a wealthy, educated, and politically active family. Tracing Vaughan's journey from South Carolina to Liberia to several parts of Yorubaland (present-day southwestern Nigeria), Lisa Lindsay documents this "free" man's struggle to find economic and political autonomy in an era when freedom was not clear and unhindered anywhere for people of African descent. In a tour de force of historical investigation on two continents, Lindsay tells a story of Vaughan's survival, prosperity, and activism against a seemingly endless series of obstacles. By following Vaughan's transatlantic journeys and comparing his experiences to those of his parents, contemporaries, and descendants in Nigeria and South Carolina, Lindsay reveals the expansive reach of slavery, the ambiguities of freedom, and the surprising ways that Africa, rather than America, offered new opportunities for people of African descent. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Introduction 16 1 Scipio Vaughan’s South Carolina 28 2 Leaving Home 58 3 The Love of Liberty 91 4 Troubled Times in Yorubaland 123 5 Reconstructions 159 6 Vaughan’s Rebellion 195 7 Afterlives 230 Acknowledgments 252 Notes 256 Bibliography 296 Index 316 A 316 B 317 C 318 D 319 E 319 F 320 G 320 H 321 I 321 J 321 K 321 L 321 M 322 N 323 O 323 P 323 R 324 S 324 T 325 U 325 V 326 W 326 Y 327 A Decade Before The American Civil War, James Churchwill Vaughan (1828-93) Set Out To Fulfill His Formerly Enslaved Father's Dying Wish: That He Should Leave His Home In South Carolina For A New Life In Africa. He Traveled First To Liberia, Then With Southern Baptist Missionaries To Yoruba Country. Over The Next Forty Years In Today's Southwestern Nigeria, Vaughan Was Taken Captive, Served As A Military Sharpshooter, Built And Re-built A Livelihood, Led A Revolt Against White Racism, And Founded A Family Of Activists-- Scipio Vaughan's South Carolina -- Leaving Home -- The Love Of Liberty -- Troubled Times In Yorubaland -- Reconstructions -- Vaughan's Rebellion -- Afterlives. Lisa A. Lindsay. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "A decade before the American Civil War, James Churchwill Vaughan (1828-93) set out to fulfill his formerly enslaved father's dying wish: that he should leave his home in South Carolina for a new life in Africa. He traveled first to Liberia, then with Southern Baptist missionaries to "Yoruba country." Over the next forty years in today's southwestern Nigeria, Vaughan was taken captive, served as a military sharpshooter, built and re-built a livelihood, led a revolt against white racism, and founded a family of activists"-- Provided by publisher