Some time ago my sister, Demaris, received a letter from a researcher (from TX I believe) stating that our George Hughes was born in Brunswick, VA. We could not make a case for that and eventually shelved it along with other information that had no documentation. Today I am pulling it back out.
The Revolutionary War Pension Files entry that reads George Hughe or George Hughey may be our George Hughes after all. It reads as follows:
From the book, Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files: George Hughe, or George Hughey, S21306, NC Line, appl 2 Sep 1834 Spartanburg Dist. SC, sol was b in 1758 in Brunswick Co. VA & he lived in Rutherford Co. NC at enl & after the Rev. he lived in Union Dist. SC then to Spartanburg Dist. SC, a son John Hughey made aff'dt 12 Mar 1857 in Spartanburg Dist. SC & stated sol died there 26 Jul. 1838.
I had seen this entry many times and thought the son named John Hughey pretty much ruled out our family, however, after digging around in Lunenberg and Brunswick recently, I believe we may have something here. If George and William were brothers, and they probably were, we need a Hughes who was in both Lunenberg and Brunswick at the correct times for the birth records of 1752 and 1758 to have occurred. There is a John Hughes, brother of Joseph who fits that profile.
The positives here would be that William of Rutherford was born in Lunenberg and John Hughes was in Lunenberg as we see from the will entry below. Also, there was a John Hughes in Brunswick at the right time to have been both the father of William and George. A look at a map shows that Brunswick is just below Lunenberg. We know that our George named his first son John. Also, we know of his Rutherford connection. I strongly suspect that he and William were brothers.
Here is the record mentioned.
HUGHES, JOHN * VA-13-2-287
John Hughes will in Brunswick county is dated 1784.
Lunenberg
1755 Nov 25 Last Will & Testament of Joseph Hughes: Could this tie into the family of Joseph, who fought at King's MountainHenry Hobson: 200 acres
John Hughes, brother: 225 acres given by father; saddle and bridle
Jane, wife: 250 acres given by father; 7 Negroes
Elizabeth Hughes: mother
Executors: Jane Hughes, wife; John Hobson and William Hobson.
Witnesses: Richard James, Thomas Poindexter and Ann Atkinson.
Probated: Jun 29, 1756; Cumberland Co. VA.
After I did the above, I went to rootsweb and was surprised to find that this is the same family that Edward Garrett wrote about in 1,000 Years From Normandy! I learned that there is quite a bit of documentation on the father of John and Joseph Hughes.
Stephen Hughes of Cumberland
His name was Stephen Hughes and he lived in Cumberland Co., VA. His family is the same as that of Rees Hughes who donated land for St. Peter's Parish Church! BINGO We find that Mr. Garrett knew the history of the family. According to my understanding, George is not a direct descedant of the church builder, but his is the same family. The ancestors were cousins if I am reading this correctly.
You who are reading this, please examine the evidence and see if you can prove or disprove what I have written. I know that the mystery here and the negative side of this is the son named John Hughey. I will be writting for the Rev. War record of George Hughe no.S21306, NC Line. If any of you already have this record, please share.
Another item that remains a mystery is my own March 2004 entry that reads: Laurens & Newberry
Hughes found in Laurens Co., SC in 1800 included Aaron (Aron), Caleb, George, James, John, Joel, Thomas, William. Also, Stephen Hughes will names John & Joseph as heirs in 1799. Aaron and George are both listed on census as living in "Garretts Co.".