History and People of the Hughes Estate
The Hughes Estate was a large sugar plantation located on the northern coast of Anguilla, B.W.I. Analysis of artifacts recovered through archaeological excavation estimate a peak occupancy between the 1770s-1830s. Historical documents as well as architectural analsysis support the archaeoligical data. At the time of emancipation in 1834, the Hughes Estate was among the ten largest plantations on Anguilla.
While the exact year the Estate was founded is unknown, the plantation was associated with a John Hughes Senior during the time it functioned as a plantation. In July of 1794, John Hughes Senior wrote his will, bequeathing the Estate to his wife Rebecca and his four surviving sons William, Edward, Thomas, and Samuel. In his will, John Hughes Senior also stipulated that Jack, a free man of color, continue to live on the Estate and receive a salary as the Estate manager. It is possible that Jack too was a son of John Hughes Senior.
By 1819 when the first detailed census on Anguilla was taken to comply with the Registration Act, the Hughes Estate was managed by William Hughes and jointly owned with the other heirs of John Hughes Senior, who at this date consisted of Joanna Hughes, the widow of Edward, and her six children. Thomas, Samuel and Jack are no longer associated with the Estate in 19th century records.
At the time of emancipation in 1834, William Hughes jointly with Joanna Hughes and her children were listed as the heirs and owners of the Hughes Estate. William Hughes died in 1839, at which time archaeological evidence indicates the property may ceased to be occupied. No household items such as ceramics recovered at the site date past the 1840s. In 1867 Joanna Hughes sold the property containing the Hughes Estate archaeological site to the great-great grandfather of one of its current owners.
Archival information on the men, women and children enslaved by the Hughes' comes from censuses in which enslaved people were enumerated as property, with the first of such documents recorded in 1819. From church baptismal and burial records fuller information on families could be found for a few of the people enslaved at the Estate. The names of the people enslaved by the Hughes are absent in the archives before year 1819. Oral histories and archaeoligical finds can create a fuller and more meaningful picture of the lives of the people enslaved by the Hughes.
Names of the men, women and children who lived and labored at the Hughes Estate in bondage in year 1827:
Betsy and her children Hamilton, Ebby and James
Albert
Morote
Mary Ann
Andrew
Becky
Didi
Bella
Mauryehy
Minerva and her daughter Maria
Greeta
Lenah
Betsy
Suky
Penny
Sam
Pilate
Isaac
Jack
France
Johntong
Ebby
Lucy
Peg
Thomas
Bess
Sarah
Jack
Daniel
Michal
Rachel
Hagar
Alice
Patsy,
Gift
Sidney
Gillah
Kate
Sammy
Scipio
Flash
Sue
Sukey
Lenah
Romeo
Carolina
Sue
William
Lenah
Fanny
Henrietta
Lousia
Belinda
Nancy
Harriet
Peter
Susanna
Betty and her daughter Mary
Jeffery
Alice
Buchanon
John
Edward
Elanor
People who escaped slavery and were listed as "absent":
Mingo age 37, Robert age 38, Billy age 50, George age 44, Jacob age 40, France age 55, Charles age 60, Isaac age 50, Thomas age 37, James age 30, Madison age 15, Bella age 51 and Thomas age 24.
Sources:
Anguilla Records of Slave Compensation Claims
1834–1835 Slave Compensation Claims Returns,1834-1835. Transcribed in 2005 by M. Burrow and H. Nielsen from St. Kitts Archives in Basseterre. Anguilla Heritage Room, Anguilla Library Service.
Anguilla Anglican Church
1827-1839 Burial Records. Transcribed H. Nielsen in 2005. Anguilla Heritage Room, Anguilla Library Service.
Anguilla Anglican Church
1827-1913 Baptismal Records. Transcribed H. Nielsen in 2005. Anguilla Heritage Room, Anguilla Library Service.
Anguilla Council Minutes
1819 Anguilla Census. Transcribed in 2006 by M. Burrow and H. Nielsen from St. Kitts Archives in Basseterre. Anguilla Heritage Room, Anguilla Library Service.
Anguilla Records of Deeds
1794 John Hughes Senior Last Will and Testament. Transcribed in 2005 by H. Nielsen from St. Kitts Archives in Basseterre. Anguilla Heritage Room, Anguilla Library Service.
Anguilla Records of Deeds
1867 Deed between Joanna Hughes and Luke Arrindell Lake. Transcribed in 2006 by H. Nielsen. Anguilla Archives Series, Anguilla Heritage Room, Anguilla Library Service.
Registrar of Slaves
1827 Entries 150-151, Register of Slaves, Anguilla. Office of Registry of Colonial Slaves and Slave Compensation Commission: St Christopher: Anguilla Island Indexed. Public Record Office, T 71/261, National Archives, Kew, England.
Printis, Lucas, Eva and Josh, students of Kenyon College, consulted on translating research results to the general public for this webpage.