Turning History into Hope
Honoring the courage of those who endured slavery and the descendants who chose collaboration. We build scholarships and preserve history—together.
When the descendants of enslaver Hugh Hall invited the descendants of Samuel Hall back to the plantation where their ancestor was held in bondage, they chose a path of collaboration—forming a foundation dedicated to scholarships, historical preservation, and healing.
Discover Our Story
Descendants gather at the Hugh Hall House, Iredell County, NC
In July 2023, an unlikely meeting occurred between the descendants of a slave master and the descendants of his enslaved people. This meeting took place on the Hall plantation in Iredell County, North Carolina, when the descendants of Hugh Hall, a slave master and educator, invited the descendants of Samuel Hall, one of the people enslaved by Hugh Hall, to a gathering on the plantation.
Samuel Hall had dictated his life story to journalist Orville Elder for his biography entitled Samuel Hall, 47 Years a Slave, in which he described his life. Because of this book and ancestry.com, the two families were able to connect with each other.
Samuel Hall's autobiography, 47 Years a Slave
After Samuel Hall gained his freedom, he dictated an autobiography to journalist Orville Elder, chronicling his extraordinary journey to freedom and the immense barriers he overcame. His story continues to inspire generations striving to overcome the obstacles they face in their own lives.
Born into slavery on the Hall plantation, after Hugh Hall’s death Samuel was sold in 1855 to a plantation in southwestern Tennessee near the Mississippi line, separating him from his first wife and family. During the Civil War, he secretly served as a spy for the Union Army. Near the end of the war, he freed his second family from their enslaver with the help of Union soldiers before relocating to Washington, Iowa.
His autobiography, dictated at the age of 94, documents his life, the names of his family members, and documents his remarkable experiences in his journey through slavery to freedom.
Descendant, Verleria Sims France shown on the porch of the historic Hugh Hall House.
This groundbreaking partnership of two families, who share a painful history, has created the Hugh Hall (enslaver) and Samuel Hall (enslaved) Foundation. They are dedicated to preserving and sharing their rich history and promoting healing, education, and empowerment.
Hugh Roddy Hall was an educator who taught at Ebenezer Academy, a preparatory school established by his uncle James Hall. Notably, he taught enslaved people literacy skills—a rare and significant act in that era. Caesar Hall, Samuel's half-brother, was also enslaved on the Hall Plantation. He was a founding member of Freedom Presbyterian Church, located near the Hall plantation.
Today, the Hall plantation remains in family ownership, held by Hugh Hall's great-great-grandson, James Hall Adams Jr., and his wife Becky, whose genealogical research helped reconnect the Hall descendants.
The kitchen of historic Hugh Hall House. Shown, from the left, Becky Adams, Ella Valles (a Samuel Hall Scholar), and Jim Adams.
Looking south from the Hugh Hall House across the plantation grounds
Passages from Samuel Hall’s autobiography, dictated at the age of 94.
1912
Click to Open
Watch the powerful moment when the descendants of Samuel Hall visited the historic Hall plantation for the first time.
Videography by Javis Hough
The Hugh Hall Home
Freedom Presbyterian Church
Descendants gathered on the east porch of the Hugh Hall House (from the left Janet McClain, Elijah Hinton, and Anna Madison).
Test your knowledge of the Hugh Hall & Samuel Hall families. Can you earn the title of Foundation Historian?
Question 1 of 7
The Foundation has two programs dedicated to education and historical preservation.
Empowering Iredell County high school seniors to achieve their dreams of higher education and build generational wealth.
Visit Scholarship Website →Preserving the homes, farmsteads, and stories of the Hall plantation for future generations to learn from and reflect upon.
Visit Museum Website →Work is now underway to create a history museum on the Hall plantation that will preserve and share the remarkable stories woven into this land.
The museum will include:
These grounds have generations of history—stories of perseverance, faith, and the enduring human spirit. The Hall Museum will ensure these stories are never forgotten, offering visitors a place to learn, reflect, and honor the lives of those who came before us.
The James Hall Adams Sr. standing in front of the Hugh Hall House
James and Rebekah Adams beside the kitchen fireplace in the Hugh Hall House.
Your donation makes a difference. Contributions to the Scholarship Fund assist outstanding high school students in need of financial assistance to attain their dream of attending a college of their choice. Contributions to the Hall Museum will help to preserve the historic homes, farmsteads, and stories of the Hall plantation for future generations.
When you give, you can designate your gift for one of our programs: the Samuel Hall Scholarships or the Hall Museum.
Donations are processed securely through Clover. You will receive an email receipt from app@clover.com for your records.
The Internal Revenue Service has determined that the Foundation is a Public Charity, so your donations to the Foundation are tax exempt. To claim a tax deduction, please request an acknowledgement letter from the Hugh Hall and Samuel Hall Foundation.
Donate NowWe would love to hear from you. Whether you have questions about our scholarship program, the Hall Museum, or how you can support our mission, please reach out.
Read Samuel Hall's autobiography: