Didn the Davises adopt an African-American child during the war?
Not exactly. In February 1864, the Davises took into their household a young free-black orphan who was being abused by his guardian. “Jim Limber” or James Henry Brooks, as he called himself, was a playmate of the Davis children. Jefferson Davis allegedly registered his free papers, but no records have been found to corroborate this; there was no formal “adoption” in 19th-century Virginia. Varina Davis referred to Jim Limber variously as a “protege” or “pet.” He was with the Davis family when they were captured by Union troops in Georgia in May 1865; the Davises gave him over to the care of a Union general whom they trusted and never saw him again. To read a longer story about Jim Limber and a photograph of him, click here.
