Inventory of the Robert William Hughes Papers 1818-1900

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440

Background

Scope and content:

Papers, mainly 1865-1900, of Robert William Hughes (1821-1901), journalist, Republican politician, and United States District Judge, of Abingdon and Norfolk, Va. Included are family momentoes relating to Hughes' foster father, General Edward C. Carrington (1790-1855), and to Mrs. Hughes' father and brother, Charles C. (1795-1832) and John Preston Johnston (1821?-l847), articles written by Hughes on Virginia politics, newspapers, and horses, a few letters to Mrs. Hughes, and a scrapbook containing pamphlets and newspaper clippings of articles by Hughes or on subjects that interested Hughes, as well as a letter from J.H. Platt, Jr., Secretary, Union Congressional Republican Executive Committee, Washington, D.C., to Hughes, 17 Sept. 1870, concerning Virginia Republican politics.

Prominent correspondents include Louis Agassiz, Chester A. Arthur, George Bancroft, Benjamin F. Butler, Lewis Cass, Claudius Crozet, J.M.L. Curry, John Moncure Daniel, John Warwick Daniel, J.D.B. DeBow, Benjamin S. Ewell, Ulysses S. Grant, James Barron Hope, G.P.R. James, Joseph E. Johnston, W.H.F. Lee, James Longstreet, John S. Mosby, Bishop Alfred Magill Randolph, and William Fanning Wickham (concerning his father John Wickham and members of the Richmond Bar including John Marshall.)

Biographical / historical:

Robert William Hughes was born at Muddy Creek Plantation, Powhatan County, Va. in 1821. His parents died in 1822 and he was raised by Edward C. Carrington and Eliza Preston Carrington. He attended Caldwell Institute, Greensboro, N. C. and studied law in Fincastle, Va. He married Eliza M. Johnston, niece of Joseph E. Johnston and the adopted daughter and niece of John B. Floyd. Hughes' son was Robert Morton Hughes. Robert William Hughes was a newspaper editor and federal district attorney. Involved in post Civil War Republican Party politics, he was nominated for governor of Virginia and for Congress but did not win. He was appointed judge of the federal court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Chronology
Date Event
16 Jan. 1821 Born at Muddy Creek Plantation, Powhatan Co., Va.,the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Woodson (Morton) Hughes.
1822 Both parents died, and Hugheswas raised by Gen. Edward C. Carringtonand his wife, Eliza(Preston) Carringtonof Halifax Co., Va.(family relationship not known).
Ca. 1833-1837 "put to the carpenter's trade in Princeton, N.J."
Ca. 1837-1838 Attended Caldwell Institute,Greensboro, N.C.
Ca. 1839 Tutor, Bingham High School,Hillsboro, N.C.
1843 Studied law, Fincastle, Va.
1846 Began practice of law, Richmond, Va.
4 June 1850 Married Eliza M. Johnston,(1825-1908), niece of Gen. Joseph E. Johnstonand niece and adopted daughter of John Buchananand Sarah (Preston) Floyd.
1850 Began writing editorials for the Richmond Examiner.
1853-1857 Editor of the Richmond Examinerwhile regular editor in Europe.
1855 Birth of son, Robert Morton Hughes.
1857-1861 Editor of the Washington Union,and lived in home of Secretary of War John Buchanan Floyd.
1861 Birth of son, Floyd Hughes(2 other children died young)
1861 Because of "chronic disease" retired to a farm near Abingdon, Va.,where General and Mrs. Floyd1ived with the Hughes family.
1861-1864 Wrote for the Richmond Examiner,showing hostility toward Jefferson Davis' administration.
1865-1866 Edited the Richmond Republic,and generally pursued a course that considered "nimble"
1868 Delegate to National Democratic Convention.
1869-1870 Editor of the Richmond State Journal.
Ca. 1870 Wounded William E. Cameronin a duel.
1872 Named federal district attorney by Grant administration.
1872 Nominated for Congressbut did not win.
1873 Nominated for Governor of Virginiabut did not win.
1874 Named Judge of federal court for the Eastern District of Va.
1898 Resigned judgeship.
1901 Died at Abingdon, Va.

Source: Dictionary of American Biography; Preston-Johnston-Floyd-Hughes genealogical chart.

Acquisition information:
Gift: 103 items, 10/14/1937.
Arrangement:
Organization

This collection is organized into 2 Series: 1. Correspondence, and 2. Printed Material and Manuscript Volumes.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by date with those items without dates located at the end of the series. Series 1 is divided into subseries mostly by ten year increments.

Physical description:
103 items.