Shocking murder at Ragland 1842

[lazydaisy]

Hi Rollwrong

Yes, I believe my connection is through Elizabeth being Valentines daughter.

Also a bit of a mystery is Diana Davies, mother of Valentine and Charles.

I seem to remember being told that Diana & her husband Mr Hughes - cant recall his name were married in a Catholic church. Wonder if this is true?

Do you have any info on this?

LD

[rollwrong]

Hi LD,

I've got Diana Davies' husband as John Hughes (b.1765).

I have their marriage as being "in Wonastow" and Valentine's baptism record shows he was Christened in Wonastow church.

I don't believe there is (or has been) a Catholic church in the village, so although I can't say 100% about the marriage, I believe Valentine's baptism was Church of England (I was going to say Church in Wales, but it didn't exist back then :-) )

Where did the Catholic marriage idea come from? My family are all Anglican or (mainly) Welsh non-Conformist, so a bit of Catholicism to mix it up would be nice!

Regards,

Rollwrong

[rollwrong]

I finally managed to visit Dingestow today with my family. I wasn't sure whether we'd find Eliza's grave (or indeed if there was one).

It was a sad moment for us all when we found Eliza and Valentine's grave almost immediately. Our guess was that the parish may have contributed as it was quite a fine monument, not far from the church door.

What did surprise us (and maybe shed some light on how Valentine and his family thought of the events) was that Maria was also listed as being Eliza's mother. I was honestly expecting her not to be mentioned.

I have a photo and full transcription if anyone would like a copy - let me know!

[rollwrong]

I finally managed to track down the final years of Maria Hughes. Yes, she did get sent to Devizes Asylum and I'd assumed that it was the place she'd seen out her days.

In 1851 however, the Joint Counties Asylum was opened in Abergavenny. Maria was transferred there in 1853. She died in 1858 at Abergavenny - One of 3000 patients to do so at the hospital before its closure in (I think) 2009.

[Seabreeze]

The marriage took place Dingestow 27 May 1839

Valentine Hughes (bachelor) age 43 labourer

Mariah Williams (spinster) age 38 servant

witnesses John Hughes and William Robinson

[jreinke13]

Rollwrong,

I would be interested in the photo's that you have from your Dingestow cemetery trip.  I have researched the Hughes line and am getting back into it.  Any additional Hughes that can be found in this cemetery, John and Diana ?  The last Hughes I have are John Hughes (1765-1835) who married Diana Davies (1763-1841).  Are any further generations proven ?

Cheers,
Jaime

[morgan77]

hi there  is a valentine Hughes buried in dingestow 12 jan 1863 age 69 abode coed y vedwr