Ann Carroll Fitzhugh Smith and Gerrit Smith lived and worked at this estate, where they treated their wealth as a gift to be shared with oppressed people and during their lives gave away over eight million dollars. Gerrit Smith became one of the most powerful abolitionists in the United States because of his liberal ideas and his wealth, and scores of abolitionists found support and renewed commitment to freedom at the Smith home. The Smiths helped hundreds of African Americans by purchasing their freedom from slavery, arranging safe passage to Canada, helping families establish their lives locally, giving deeds to land, providing educational opportunities, and working for human rights. Through the Smiths' persuasive and exemplary efforts, Peterboro became a crossroads for human benevolence and intercultural harmony.