Exciting News From Our Hughes Family

Kim Self Hughes, who is married to George Hughes from Jefferson County, AL, recently contacted me concerning our Hughes family. She spoke to John Carrol Hughes, who is a descendant of George Washington Hughes (1813-1890). John has a copy of the book In Memory by Alice Emily Hughes Barnwell Deavenport (daughter of John Taylor Hughes, whose father was Matthew Martin Hughes). This book contains personal letters written by Alice Emily Hughes and the letters answer a few questions we have been wondering about for some time.

Mr. John Carrol Hughes has graciously given us permission to place an excerpt from the book here:

"This is the story of my life. I was born October 15, 1867, in Hall County, Georgia, where Flowery Branch now stands. As you will note from the date 1867 this is the second year after the Civil War. And, the war or conditions existing from the war affected my life greatly.

Father leased land and cleared the trees on enough of it to build a house. He kept busy clearing land during the winter months and cultivating it in the spring. Under the terms of the lease after four years the cleared land went back to the owner, he then would have to clear more land for his use. He decided to look for something better since he only was able to make a bare living.
He found a friend, Mr. Gunter, with a small family who was in the same mood. The two families planned to move to Alabama. Father bought a big yoke of oxen and a heavy wagon in which to move both families’ house furnishings and farm equipment. Mr. Gunter would furnish a one horse wagon for the wives and children to ride in.

Although I was only four years old I remember the oxen were afraid to cross bridges; instead of facing forward they would push each other sideways and at times almost go overboard. When we came to a bridge father would walk on one side and Mr. Gunter on the other, each had a big ox whip, they would crack the whips in front of the oxen, in this way keep the oxen more to the center of the bridge.

The distance was two hundred miles. We made it in nine days. We soon found homes to rent. The Gunter family stopped in Blount County, Alabama. Father and mother went on to Jefferson County about 18 miles north of Birmingham where father’s great-uncle Jesse Hughes lived. Father’s uncle Washington Hughes lived in his same neighborhood. "

- reprinted from "In Memory" by Alice Emily Hughes Barnwell Deavenport (daughter of John Taylor Hughes, whose father was Matthew Martin Hughes)

Note: This excerpt is confirmation that Matthew Martin Hughes and George Washington Hughes were brothers. Also confirms that Jesse Hughes (1811 - 1882) was an uncle to Matthew & George.

The above information tells us that Jesse was most likely a son, not of William H. and Jane Hughes as we have thought for sometime but rather a son of George and Rhoda and a brother to William. For Jesse to have been born in 1811, this is the only conclusion that can be drawn. Apparently he just was not listed in the family Bible.

Jesse

Jesse Hughes may have been the son of John Davis Hughes.

Martin Francis and Sidney L. Martin

While in Morgan county, AL this weekend for Mother's Day, I went to the cemetery where my dad is buried. I took time to walk the Mt. Tabor cemetery grounds. Numerous Francis family members are buried there. My great grandmother, Anna Elizabeth Francis had a brother named Martin Francis. I have always thought this is why my own grandfather was named James Martin Hughes. Sunday I found the grave of a Sidney L. Martin b. Nov. 18, 1894 married to Viola B. (Burleson) Martin b. Jan 14, 1903. He was buried next to Martin Francis. (Anna Elizabeth's brother) I haven't been able to find his parents but I have always thought the Hughes family must be connected to the Martin family in some way. Hopefully I will have time to search for Sidney Martin's ancestry this week or maybe someone who reads this will leave a a comment giving the history.

The gravestone read:
Sidney L. Martin
Nov. 18, 1894
July 1, 1969

Next to Sidney was his wife:

Viola B. Martin
Jan. 14, 1903
Feb. 16 1989

I also found the grave of:

Martin Francis
Oct. 10, 1867
July 23, 1994

and

James Burleson

Feb. 4, 1850

Mt. Tabor has many Francis family members, Burleson family members, Hughes family members, Martin family members and Speegle family members, just to name a few.

Meador/ Shirley Connection

(8). Frances Anderson m. James Meador Dec 4, 1809 Cumberland Co. VA

Cumberland County Meador family

On the Web

==1809 [24 Oct] Legatees of JACOB ROBERTS decd (Frances Brown of Rutherford Co., NC, John Meadows, John Gilbert, John Roberts, Josiah Dean, Isaac Roberts, Jacob Roberts, Thos Roberts, JOHN D. MITCHUSSON) to Mrs. Mary Roberts widow of said J.R. decd for $100, 179 acres on North Fork of Durbins Creek. 1) 100 acres original grant to Wm. Gibson 2) adjacent 79 acres original grant to Ezekiel Griffith, both conv to J. R. decd. Wit: Micajah & Caleb Hughes, T. Parks, J. P. [June 4, 1810]

Laurens County, South Carolina: Register of
Mesne Conveyance: Vol. D: 1791-1793:


Reference: Records of the Clerk of Court as
Register of Mesne Conveyance: Roll 4: 1791-1800
South Carolina State Archives:

568
Hughes, Caleb
indenture

570
Hughes, Caleb
indenture

572
Hughes, Caleb
indenture

356
Hughes, John
indenture

18
Hughes, Robert H
lease & release

Mary Meador married Caleb Hughes - Laurens, SC

Hughes Family - Laurens

Elizabeth Hughes, Laurens County, SC 1796 was the daughter of Caleb Hughes. She is mentioned in a deed by John Meador to neices Mary Hughes, Jenny Meador Hughes, Charity Anderson Hughes, Elizabeth Hughes daughter of Caleb Hughes. Wit. by Joseph Lyons, Micajah Hughes, Hudson Berry.

Caleb Hughes if later is found on the 1800 Laurens census with 3 males between ages 16-26, one male 45 and up, 2 females 10-16, two females 16-26, and one female 45 and up. Probably the same Caleb.

William Huse - War of 1812

My gggrandfather, William H. Hughes (Huse) served in Youngblood's, 1st Regiment SC Militia during the War of 1812. For some reason, William spelled his name, HUSE rather than Hughes. This is how the name is spelled in the 1850 census of Marshall County, AL.

History of George Hughes

The link below is a continuation of Forrest's work and similar to what was entered here Aug. 9, 2009. Most of you know that he is a descendant of George and Rhoda through their son Moses. I must say that the history is factual, however, due to lack of recorded information concerning his birth, the naming of George's father is basically the best theory available and is probably as close as we are going to get to the truth.

Ancestry of Blackmore Hughes

Drake Logan Speegle

Today we remember little Drake Logan Speegle. He will be buried next to my father, Richard Marvin Hughes, in Mt. Tabor cemetery, Morgan County, AL.

Blackmore Hughes of VA

I have read a good deal about Blackmore Hughes, but Forrest research seems to be well done and accurate.

Blackmore Hughes, VA