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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Anglesey => Topic started by: jalrose on Monday 11 September 23 22:33 BST (UK)
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I have Hugh Hughes born in Anglesey in 1803 to Hugh and Margaret Hughes. In 1830 he was caught stealing 2 horses and sent to Flint for sentence, and ultimately transported to Australia. Does anyone know anything of his family in Anglesey please? One horse belonged to a William Prytherch of Ty-mawr and the other to a Mr H.Hughes of Bodgnolwyn (hopefully not his father). thank you
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Hi,
I don't know if this will help but the web site Convict records of Australia has Hugh Hughes sentenced at Flint Great Sessions, to 14 years, travelling on 22 July 1830 on the ship Burrell with 191 other convicts arriving at New South Wales on 31 Dec 1830. His occupation shown as Farm Labourer.
The entry was amended by a Sherilynn White in 2013 to say he died 14 Nov 1882, There seems to be a community page and if you were to consider registering maybe she might know more? They have a Facebook Page to get in touch with other members.
Trying to find his family in Anglesey could prove rather difficult on the information you currently have.
Alan
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Thanks Alan, appreciate the response. I do have plenty of info on him in Australia, was just hoping there might have been something on his parents. I can see a lot of people have checked my post, so I concede I have hit a brick wall. Not to worry. :)
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Hi,
The difficulty is that Hughes is such a common surname.
You could try joining Gwynedd Family History Society who have various publications (including births) available to purchase for most parts of Anglesey but there will be numerous options unless you can tie him down to a specific part of the island.
Also it is possible using Patronymics (as they did in those days) the fathers surname may not have been Hughes - your Hugh could simply be "Hughes" meaning son of Hugh.
Does the date of death tie in as 1882 - did Hugh get married - do any of his records give any clue?
Alan
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Hi,
I have just been looking at Free Reg and there are at least 6 marriages between 1790 and 1805 involving a Hugh Hughes and a Margaret in Anglesey during that period.
Do you know if Hugh and Margaret had other children which perhaps we could find on the census records post 1841?
Alan
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The Crime and Punishment database at the National Library
has information about Hugh Hughes of Llangefni, age 33,
apprehended at St Asaph, accused of two seperate horse
thefts from William Prytherch and Hugh Humphreys, both of Llantrisant
in Anglesey. He was sentenced to death.
https://crimeandpunishment.library.wales/sf_results.php?name=Hughes&co=Anglesey&parish=All&status=&off_co=All&off_cat=Any&from=1830&to=1830&prosecutor=&freetext=&punish=
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The report of the trial in the Chester Chronicle on 8 April 1830 includes a few details which might help, though a couple of the dates must be errors:
“HORSE STEALING. – Hugh Hughes, (33) was indicted for stealing a mare, the property of William Prytherick, on the night of the 28th of Sept. out of his stable at Ty-mawr, Llantresaint, Anglesea.
John Owen, examined by Mr. CORBETT. – I was servant to the prosecutor on the 29th Jan. I saw my master’s horse in the stable on that night ; the next morning I found the door broken open, and the mare gone. On the 30th Jan. I found the mare in the possession of Mr. Roberts, special constable of St. Asaph. The prosecutor is cousin to the prisoner, and the prisoner had been in the prosecutor’s service.
Thomas Roberts, constable of St. Asaph. – I saw the prisoner going through St. Asaph ; he had two mares with him, – one he was riding, and leading the other. I followed him, and took him into custody.
William Prytherick. – I saw my mare again on the 1st of Jan. at St. Asaph. The prisoner never offered me any thing for the mare ; he has purchased sheep of me, and driven them off sometimes before he paid for them. I don’t care whether you call the mare a filly or a mare ; she is four years old.
Cross-examined by Mr. J. JERVIS. – I think she was a filly not a mare. I have known the prisoner fifteen years, he always bore a good character.
Mr. JOHN JERVIS contended that the case could not go to the jury, as the indictment laid the property stolen as a mare, but the evidence of the prosecutor himself was that he oftener called her a filly than a mare.
The Court thought this was a question solely for the opinion and decision of the jury. The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
The prisoner was then indicted for stealing a mare, the property of Hugh Humphreys, of Bodonolwyn, Anglesea, on the 28th Jan.
John Humphreys. – I am brother of Mr. Hugh Humphreys, the prosecutor. – On the night of the 28th Jan. my brother’s mare was safe in the stable. I missed her next morning, and went in pursuit of her, and found her in the possession of Mr. Roberts, the constable of St. Asaph. The mare is four years old next May ; I never called her a filly, but when she was sucking. I have known the prisoner for five or six years, and he always bore a good character.
Thomas Roberts. – I apprehended the prisoner in St. Asaph, with two mares in his possession.
Hugh Humphreys. – I lost my mare on the 28th Jan. and saw her at St. Asaph, on the Monday following.
The prisoner in his defence said he had priced the mare. This was contradicted by the prosecutor.
The jury found him Guilty. Sentence – death recorded.
His lordship said, in consequence of the excellent character the prisoner had received, and it being his first offence, application would be made in the proper quarter for some mitigation of his sentence.
Drosybont
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Hi,
From his age at trial have found a possible baptism on Free Reg -
Hugh Hughes baptised 6 March 1796 - Church - St Eilian, Llaneilian, Anglesey
Parents Hugh Hughes and Margaret.
On censuses if it is the correct Margaret, she is in Llangefni in 1841 (age 65) and 1851 (age 79 born Llanfairpwllgwyngyll) - showing as a widow born c1772 with her 10 year old grandson Robert Jones.
Plus a potential marriage between Hugh Hughes and Margaret Williams at St Eilian 23 October 1795 - she of the parish - he from Amlwch.
This may give you a starting point to now take this further
Alan
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Well I spend the day volunteering at the local charity shop, come home, and there are all these posts. Thank you ever so much everyone. There are now hints to look further for sure. I like the newspaper article with its differing views on filly or mare! (I had an article dated 12/2 but it only mentioned who he had stolen the horses from). My interest in finding out who his parents were stemmed from his death notice in 1882 which contained the request "home papers please copy" - this request was more often made to notify English relatives of some standing in the community. Again, grateful thanks all.
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Hi,
If it is your Hugh born in 1796, you may be interested in the following potential siblings baptisms -
Jane - 4 March 1798
Owen - 21 Sept 1800
William - 26 December 1802
John - 12 May 1805
Jane - 30 July 1809 (suggesting earlier Jane had died)
Margaret - 26 January 1812
All at Llaneilian; Some show surname as Hugh; Parents Hugh and Margaret.
Alan
PS Don't think the Margaret I mentioned in the 1841/51 censuses are connected as she was not born in Llaneilian.
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Thank you Alan. That many siblings, perhaps the family simply wanted them to know their brother was deceased when they placed the death notice in the newspaper. And your theory on surname of Hugh or Hughes appears correct. Well done.
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Google Books has a copy of "I am a Government Man to Mr Scott of Glendon - Hugh Hughes: From Convict to Free Man" by David Cragg (2015, Australia) which details Hugh Hughes' full story - the theft of the two horses, his flight from Anglesey, the arrest, trial and transportation to New South Wales. The final approx. 170 pages describes his life in Australia. But the book has little to say about Hugh Hughes' family, only that he was born on Anglesey in 1804 to Hugh Hughes, farmer and his wife Margaret nee Prytherick (i.e. Prytherch or Prydderch) and that he was a cousin of William Prytherick of Ty Mawr, Llantrisant, the owner of one of the stolen horses.
As mentioned by Tall Al above patronymic naming was common in rural areas of Anglesey in the early 19th century so we cannot assume that Hugh Hughes' father had surname Hughes.
Prytherch is a much rarer name than Hughes so I've looked for information on his mother Margaret Prytherch.
There was a marriage 18 Dec 1804 at Llangristiolus between Hugh Prichard (Prichd.) and Margaret Prydderch, both otp and ipo Hugh Prytherch and John Knowles.
Then Hugh, son of Hugh & Margaret Prichard of Tyddyn Isaf was baptised at Llangristiolus, 10 Feb 1805. I think this may be the Hugh Hughes we are discussing.
These are the baptisms of some of Hugh's siblings:
Richard, 8 Nov 1807, Llangristiolus - son of Hugh Prichard & Margt his wife.
Anne, 15 Nov 1812, Llangefni - dau. of Hugh Prichd of the parish of Llangristiolus by Margt his wife.
John, 23 Apr 1815, Llangristiolus - son of Hugh & Margaret Prichard, Tyddyn Isaf, farmer.
Mary, 20 Apr 1817, Llangristiolu - dau. of Hugh & Margaret Prichard, Tyddyn Isaf, labourer.
Richard, 23 Apr 1820, Llangristiolus - son of Hugh & Margaret Prichard, Tyddyn Isaf, farmer.
Robert, 12 Mar 1824, Llangristiolus - son of Hugh & Margaret Prichard, late of Tyddyn Isaf now of Llangefni, carrier.
In the 1841 census Hugh and Margaret Prichard, both aged 60, and their son John are at Glan Hwfa St. Llangefni, together with Jane and Margaret, both 30, who may be two other daughters. Hugh is descibed as a coal carrier.
I'm not sure that this is all convincing, but maybe it helps?
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My goodness, what a complicated system to try and research. Thank you so much for all your efforts and patience to trace what you have in respect of the siblings etc. I will probably obtain a copy of David Cragg's book, although I have various newspaper articles, State Records etc which provide enough detail. Its a balancing act where to spend money when researching a large family! Truly appreciate all the help I have obtained through kind people on Rootschat, including yourself. Cheers.
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Hi,
Just wanted to say that I agree with Dragon T and that this looks like the right connection. The only issue is Hugh's age at trial shown as 33 when he was really 26.
The cousin William Prytherch or Prydderch (b1796 Llantrisant) can be found on several censuses.
The family seems to be as follows -
George Prytherch (1731-1807) of Nant, Llangristiolus and Jane Williams who married in 1761 with 13 children born between, 1762 and 1780, John the first and Margaret the last. In his will George left all surviving children £20 each,
John married Ann Parry (Widow) in 1787 with son William Prytherch born 1796, and Margaret married Hugh Prichard in 1804 with son Hugh Hughes born 1804.
They are part of a very large Anglesey family
Alan
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Yes, Alan, Had noticed the age in the newspaper article Drosybont sent was at odds with the baptism/birth date (along with the first reference to theft), but thanks for mentioning the fact - sometimes one cannot see the wood for the trees! I am very content with the factual information I now have.
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Yes, I'm convinced by the details provided by Tall Al and Dragon T. Regarding his age, at first I thought it might be just a reporting error, but his age is also shown as 33 in the UK criminal records and a year of birth consistent with that is shown in some records in Australia. There is one exception, though, the Convict Indent for the Burrell, which shows his age as 26.
Perhaps his age was recorded incorrectly when he was arrested and this was copied from record to record. As well giving his description, the Convict Indent details his skills, so whoever recorded the information must presumably have spoken to him. And if he wasn't fluent in English when arrested, he was likely to have been more so by the time he arrived in New South Wales, and so more able to provide accurate information.
Drosybont
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Yes, it is frustrating to not have accurate records for his age, but as Drosybont says, his education could have been lacking, his Welsh accent a subsequent problem etc. He died in 1882, presumably 78 years, and considering all the hardships he would have suffered, that would be a good innings. I am inclined to not worry about the age discrepancies in the various records. Many thanks for everyone's input.