Like any other average African American, James Churchwill Vaughan lived a decent life and tried to make ends meet in America, despite several social problems that still leave the black community a step behind the white community. James was born in South Carolina in 1828 and lived with his extended family, knowing no other place to call home. Although he was born free, James’ father was born a black slave who worked on a plantation his entire life until he was too old. His father’s wish was to change the name of an ordinary black family from the United States to Vaughan without the prominence, respect, wealth and power of elites in some parts of West Africa, particularly Nigeria. On his deathbed, James’ father wished that his family would move to Africa to find their true home and create something better for themselves. After his father’s death, James decided to honor his late father and move to Africa without a concrete plan. With the support of the American Colonization Society, James Churchwill Vaughan traveled to Africa, leaving his family behind. He arrived in Liberia with high hopes, which were immediately dashed. First, James experienced difficult times in Liberia and encountered the same social problems that his father wanted his children to be freed from in this African country. Despite his disappointment, Jacob remained in Liberia for a while until he took a job as a carpenter for the missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention in Yorubaland, now Nigeria. Luckily for him, the church sponsored his trip to Nigeria and provided him with housing and a stable income while he worked for them. Little is known about the reasons why he left his missionary work, but his later involvement in anti-racism and missionary work in Nigeria and West Africa suggests that there was little tension before his departure. James became a millionaire in Nigeria but according to the Metropole article he had a very difficult and interesting time but he ran away before he could get back on his feet. He persevered despite adversity after arriving in Nigeria when the country was completely conquered by the British following the fall of the Oyo Empire. This time was called “The Age of Confusion.” In 1860, during the war, he was captured and almost sent into slavery, but he managed to escape. After his escape, he returned to Abeokuta, where he settled and married a refugee from the neighboring Kingdom of Benin, with whom he had several children. However, he has not forgotten his family abroad.
After problems with the missionaries, Churchwill decided to return to Lagos and make the entire journey on foot with his family. During his time in Lagos, he became a wealthy merchant, engaging in trading and construction, eventually becoming a millionaire. In the late 1860s, James Churchwill rose from a poor immigrant to one of Nigeria’s most influential men, joining the elite and political class. James sought to reunite his family in the United States and Nigeria and in 1869 sent his distressed family to the United States.Linen bags filled with gold. James used his influence to denounce slavery and the fact that many wealthy Nigerians owned slaves themselves. He preached that instead of owning and exploiting slaves, they should be employed as laborers and paid for their hard work. In 1888, Vaughan, along with several other successful immigrants, founded the Native Baptist Church, the first non-missionary church in West Africa. He died in 1893 at the age of sixty-five and was given a proper burial.His grave can still be viewed today, more than 100 years after his death.
