Building a Tree for Grandpa Harry Hughes Part IV

This post will continue the exploration into the life of Samuel Hughes, the elder, grandfather to Harry Hughes, also known as Joseph P. Hughes.

In the previous post, I describe two marriages for Samuel Hughes: the first to Sarah Windsor in 1819¹ and the second to Martha Lewis Large in 1840². It turns out that there was another marriage: Samuel Hughes married Mary Hughes in 1825³.


The first marriage to Sarah Windsor was 25 October 1819 at St Oswald in Chester, Cheshire, England. Sarah died in 1824⁴.

Marriage #1 - Samuel Hughes and Sarah Windsor 1819

The second marriage to Mary Hughes (possibly a cousin) was 27 November 1825 at St John the Baptist in Chester, Cheshire, England. Mary Hughes died in 1827⁵.

Marriage #2 - Samuel Hughes and Mary Hughes 1825

And the third marriage to Martha (Lewis) Large, a widow, was 28 September 1840 at St John the Baptist in Chester, Cheshire, England. Martha Hughes died in 1895⁶.

Marriage #3 - Samuel Hughes and Martha (Lewis) Large 1840

There were several other Samuel Hughes in the area at the same time. Samuel Hughes, the elder, appears to be the only one who was literate. And a comparison of the signatures in each of the certificates shows a strong similarity.

There were children from each marriage as well as from the first marriage of Martha Lewis to Robert Large. The next posts will talk about Samuel Hughes (the younger, Harry's father) and his siblings and many half-siblings.



1. Cheshire Diocese of Chester bishop's transcripts marriages 1576-1906; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 16 April 2020); entry for Samuel Hughes and Sarah Windsor 25 October 1819 by banns, at St. Oswald, Chester, Cheshire, England.
2. Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish marriages 1538-1910; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 8 April 2020); item 1:152; entry for Samuel Hughes and Martha Large by banns 28 September 1840, at St John the Baptist, Chester, Cheshire County, England.
3. Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish marriages 1538-1910; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 April 2020); item 2 p 155; entry for Samuel Hughes and Mary Hughes by banns 27 November 1825, St John the Baptists, Chester, Cheshire, England.
4. Cheshire Diocese of Chester bishop's transcripts burials 1576-1906; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 16 April 2020); burial entry for Sarah Hughes, 24 May 1824 of Harthill at Bunbury, Cheshire, England.
5. Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish burials 1538-1911; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 21 April 2020); item 10 p 26, burial entry for Mary Hughes, 33, 09 June 1827 at Tattenhall, Cheshire, England.
6. Cheshire Diocese of Chester bishop's transcripts burials 1576-1906; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 21 April 2020); burial entry for Martha Hughes, 09 November 1895 at Harthill, Cheshire, England.

Building a Tree for Grandpa Harry Hughes Part III

Samuel Hughes 1798 - 1884

Harry Hughes, also known as Joseph Percy Hughes, was the son of Samuel Hughes and Frances Woodward. This post will talk about his grandfather, Samuel Hughes (the elder), born 1798 in Clotton, Cheshire, England and died 1884 in Broxton, Cheshire, England.

Reading of a Will¹

Samuel Hughes, the elder, wrote his will in 1881². The will is very helpful as it names many of his children, gives the married names of some of his daughters, and discusses which of his children predeceased him. He mentions children from his first marriage to Sarah Windsor³ and from his second marriage to Martha Lewis Large4. It also mentions his stepchildren from Martha's first marriage to Robert Large⁵. In all, there were 14 children mentioned. He didn't mention Charles Hughes, an infant that died young in 1850⁶ or Joseph Hughes, his son who died in 1870⁷.

The Will of Samuel Hughes 1881

Transcription of Samuel's Will 1881

[page 1]

This is the last will and testament of me Samuel Hughes 

of Bank Head farm Broxton in the parish of Malpas in the county of 

Chester farmer. I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral 

expenses be lawfully paid. I will and bequeath to my wife Martha 

Hughes all my personal property money goods furniture live and dead stock 

for her soul use and benefit for and during her natural life or otherwise 

so long as she shall remain unmarried. At the decease of my said wife 

Martha Hughes I will and direct that all the clear profits on my 

property from my decease be divided among my three sons Samuel 

Hughes Richard Hughes and Edward Hughes also my daughter 

Sarah Warburton Aldersey and William Large my wife’s son share and 

share alike. 

I will and direct that the residue of my property be divided 

among my own and my wife’s children as undermentioned share and 

share alike namely Mary Mayer John Hughes Thomas Large William 

Large Robert Large my son in law Richard Parker George Large Samuel 

Hughes Richard Hughes Edward Hughes and Sarah Warburton 

Aldersey. I also direct that my daughter Martha Lea being dead her 

share of the residue shall be equally divided among her surviving 

children when they shall arrive at the age of twenty one years. I 

also direct that my daughter Eliza Foster being dead her share of 

the residue shall be paid to her son Thomas Hughes Foster. I also 

direct that my son Alfred Hughes being dead his share of the residue 

shall be equally divided among his surviving children when they arrive 

at the age twenty one years. I also will and direct that Mary 

Mayers share be paid to her in her own right and not be subject to 

her husbands control. But and providing any of the last named of the 

[page 2]

aforesaid legatees shall die and leave no husband wife child or 

direct heir such share or part willed to the deceased legatee shall be 

equally among the surviving legatees. I named and appoint my son 

Richard Hughes of Liverpool Spirit Merchant and my son in law John 

Warburton Aldersey of Liverpool Spirit Merchant my executors and 

trustees. And I direct that the above named Richard Hughes and 

John Warburton Aldersey shall have the superintendance of the Bank 

Head farm after my decease. My executor shall not be chargeable on their 

own account nor for each other for any expenses losses law changes or other 

cash or charges belonging to this my last will and testament. I will 

and direct that the whole of my property live and dead stock 

household furniture [illegible] shall be valued at my deceased by a competent 

firm and that my son Richard Hughes so hold the said valuation 

as security for money which I owe to him. I bequeath to my daughter 

Sarah Warburton Aldersey the clock downstairs and the clock upstairs 

to my wife's son William Large. In the event of my daughter Mary 

Meyer's decease before the final distribution of my property I direct that 

her share be paid to my son John Hughes. I will and direct that 

Richard Parker shall receive twenty pounds out of George Larges’s share 

of my property at the final distribution there of in repayment of money 

lent to the aforesaid George Large. In the event of any dispute arising 

amongst the family after my disease I direct my executors to call an 

immediate sale convert everything into money and put it out to interest

the aforesaid Martha Hughes to receive the interest during her life. It is 

also my wish that should my executor keep on the farm that William 

Large should stay with his mother to assist her in the management of it.

Samuel Hughes signed and declared as and for the last will 

and testament of me Samuel Hughes the testator this fourth day of June 

one thousand eight hundred and eight one in the presence of the 

undernamed witnesses who at my request and in my presence and in the 

presence of each other have hereunto subscribed their names. - Samuel 

Greenway Singleton _ John Carter, Witnesses.

Moved at Chester the 16th day of July 1884 by the oaths of Richard 

Hughes the son and John Warburton Alders the Executors to whom

Administration was granted.

The Testator Samuel Hughes was late of the Bank Head Farm Broxton

[page 3]

in the Parish of Malpas in the County of Chester Farmer and died on

the 11th day of March 1884 at Broxton aforesaid.

To be continued!

The next posts will detail the children mentioned in the will. All of them were siblings or half-siblings to Harry's father, Samuel.



1. Burnet, John, Engraver, and David Wilkie. The reading of a will / engraved by John Burnet ; painted by David Wilkie, R.A. London: Published by Hurst Robinson & Co. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/92519203/>.
2. Cheshire Wills And Probate; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 April 2020); document reference: MF91/33, WR25 P835; entry for will of Samuel Hughes, farmer of Broxton, 1884.
3. Cheshire Diocese of Chester bishop's transcripts marriages 1576-1906; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 16 April 2020); entry for Samuel Hughes and Sarah Windsor 25 October 1819 by banns, at St. Oswald, Chester, Cheshire, England.
4. Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish marriages 1538-1910; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 8 April 2020); item 1:152; entry for Samuel Hughes and Martha Large by banns 28 September 1840, at St John the Baptist, Chester, Cheshire County, England.
5. Cheshire Marriage licence bonds and allegations 1606-1905; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed the 9 April 2020); marriage license for Robert Large and Martha Lewis 29 August 1826 at Chester, Cheshire, England.
6. Cheshire Diocese of Chester bishop's transcripts baptisms 1576-1906; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed the 9 April 2020); baptismal entry for Charles Hughes, son of Samuel and Martha Hughes, Harthill, 27 January at Chester, Cheshire, England.
7. Cheshire Diocese of Chester bishop's transcripts burials 1576-1906; database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 18 April 2020); burial entry for Joseph Large, age 37 or Broxton, 1 July 1870 at Harthill, Cheshire, England.

Building a Tree for Grandpa Harry Hughes Part II

Harry Hughes, AKA Joseph Percy Hughes, was the son of Samuel Hughes and Frances Woodward. This post will talk about his father, Samuel Hughes, who brought Harry to Canada with him in 1879 when he apparently permanently separated from his wife, Frances. Their older son, George Woodward Hughes, stayed in England with his mother. While researching the family in England, I was able to find two more daughters for Samuel and Frances. Unfortunately, all three of their daughters died before 1879.

Samuel Hughes

Samuel Hughes was born on 03 May 1841 in Harthill, Cheshire, England¹ as the sixth child of Samuel Hughes and the first child that Samuel and Martha Lewis had together. He had five full siblings, namely: Richard, Edward, Sarah, Alfred, and Charles. He died on 23 Apr 1917 in Crystal, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA². When he was 27, he married Frances Woodward, daughter of Joseph Woodward and Elizabeth Rhoden, on 06 Mar 1869 in Chester, Cheshire, England³ (St. John the Baptist Church).

Samuel Hughes was counted in the census as a newborn with his parents in May 1841 in Harthill, Cheshire, England⁴. He was baptized on 30 May 1841 in Harthill, Cheshire, England⁵. 

Samuel was counted in the census living with his older half-sister, Eliza, in 1851 in Broxton, Cheshire, England⁶. He was listed as a scholar and was presumably going to school nearby. He was counted in the census living with his parents again in 1861 in Broxton, Cheshire, England⁷.  He is listed as the farmer's son and is working on his father's 73-acre farm called "Bank Head farm."

Bank Head farm circled in old and contemporary maps from the National Library of Scotland,
sharable under Creative Commons.

He was counted in the census with his wife and son, George in 1871⁸in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England⁸ (1 Shaws Place, Somerville Street⁸). They went on to have four more children in the next 7 years.

Newspaper Ad 1879⁹

Samuel took out a newspaper ad on 24 Mar 1879 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England⁹ that stated “I, SAMUEL HUGHES, Anderson-terrace, Wavertree, hereby give notice that I WILL NOT be ANSWERABLE for any Debt or DEBTS my Wife,  FRANCES HUGHES, may Contract after this date, March 22, 1879. Witness - Thomas Sergeant.” 

Article showing arrival of Sarmatian in

Quebec in July 1879.

Samuel emigrated from Liverpool, Lancashire, England on 03 Jul 1879^10,11. He immigrated to Quebec, Canada on 13 Jul 1879^12,13. Samuel and Joseph emigrated on the ship Sarmatian. When Samuel and Frances separated, their three daughters had recently passed: Lizzie Annie in 1877 (at age 7) and Alice (age 1) and Elizabeth Ethel (age 0) in 1878. 

 He was counted in the census in 1891 in Montreal-Ouest, Québec, Quebec, Canada¹⁴.  Samuel Hughes was listed as 40 years old, living in a hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His marital status was blank and he was born in England as were both his parents, and he was a member of the Church of England. He was a cattle foreman. He was a wage earner but unemployed the week before census, and he could read and write. His age is off by 10 years, not an uncommon mistake. 

He immigrated on 06 Mar 1913 from Canada to US¹⁵. Samuel Hughes is crossing into the US from Montreal, Canada. He is 70 years old, still a cattleman, now widowed. He's able to read and write, he's Canadian English from Montreal with no relatives in Canada. He is going to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Samuel did not have a ticket to his final destination but his son had paid his passage.  He had $50 and had never been in the U.S. before. His son, Harry, lived at 108 Utah Ave N Minneapolis. Samuel was 5' 9" with white hair and brown eyes. He was born in Harthill, Cheshire, England, arrived in Quebec in July 1879 on the Sarmatian and was examined 6 Mar 1913.

Samuel died four years after arriving in the United States.

He was buried on 25 Apr 1917 in Crystal Lake Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA¹.

Samuel Hughes and Frances Woodward had the following children:

 1. George Woodward Hughes was born about 01 Dec 1869 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England^16,17. He died on 09 Feb 1961 in Chester, Cheshire, England¹⁸ (Heath Lane Hospital, Great Boughton). He married Mary Elizabeth Hinde about Jan 1894 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England¹⁹.

 2. Lizzie Annie Hughes was born on 12 Nov 1871 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England²⁰. She died about Feb 1877 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England²¹.

 3. Joseph Percy Hughes²², AKA Harry, was born on 31 Dec 1874 in Chester, Cheshire, England^23,24. He died on 15 Jan 1957 in Hennepin, Minnesota, USA²⁵. He married Anna Kline on 10 May 1916 in Hennepin, Minnesota, USA^26,27.

 4. Elizabeth Ethel Hughes was born on 22 Mar 1877 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England^28,29. She died about Aug 1878 in West Derby, Lancashire, England³⁰.

 5. Alice Hughes was born on 25 Jun 1878 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England^31,32. She died about Nov 1878 in West Derby, Lancashire, England³³.

Citations:

1 Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Death Certificate, Record Type: Death Certificate, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 35 N. West Temple Street, Cert. # 1917-MN-004687.

2 Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Death Certificate, Record Type: Death Certificate, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 35 N. West Temple Street, 1917-MN-004867.

3 Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish marriages 1538-1910, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 March 2020); marriage entry for Samuel Hughes and Frances Woodward, 6 March 1869, St. John the Baptist, Chester, Cheshire, England.

4 1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census,, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 29 March 2020); citing [The National Archives] Series RG07, piece 89, folio 33, p. 1; entry for Samuel Hughes (age 40), Harthill, Great Houghton,  Cheshire, England.

5 Cheshire Diocese of Chester bishop's transcripts baptisms 1576-1906, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed the 9 April 2020); baptismal entry for Samuel Hughes, son of Samuel and Martha Hughes, Harthill, 30 May 1841 at Chester, Cheshire, England.

6 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census, "1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census," database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 29 March 2020); citing [The National Archives] Series HO107, piece 2171, folio 11, p. 15; entry for Eliza and Samuel Hughes, Broxton, Cheshire, England.

7 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 29 March 2020); citing [The National Archives] Series RG09, piece 2624, folio 84, p. 21; entry for Samuel and Martha Hughes, Broxton, Cheshire, England.

8 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 27 Mar 2020); citing [The National Archives] Series RG10, piece 3745, folio 66, p. 55; entry for Samuel and Frances Woodward Hughes family, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.

9 Newspapers.com, Database; newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com: accessed 25 March 2020); Liverpool Mercury; 24 Mar 1879 - Page 1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47337219/liverpool-mercury-etc/?xid=637.

10 Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 December 2017) Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: C-4530, month 7. Passenger Lists, 1865–1935; entry for Sam'l and Jos. P Hughes, on passenger list for Sarmatian, arrived 13 July 1879, at Quebec.

11 Newspapers.com, Database; newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com: accessed 20 April 2020); Liverpool Mercury; 1 Jul 1879 - Page 4.

12 Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 December 2017) Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: C-4530, month 7. Passenger Lists, 1865–1935; entry for Sam'l and Jos. P Hughes, on passenger list for Sarmatian, arrived 13 July 1879, at Quebec.

13 Newspapers.com, Database; newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com: accessed 20 April 2020); Liverpool Mercury; 14 Jul 1879 - Page 7.

14 1891 Census of Canada, database; ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 20 March 2020) citing Library and Archives Canada, Series RG31-C-1. Entry for Samuel Hughes: West Ward, Montréal Centre, Quebec, Canada; Roll: T-6410; p7, Family No: 25.

15 Manifests of Passengers Arriving at St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954, database, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com: accessed 20 March 2020), entry for Samuel Hughes, age 70, arrived St. Albans, VT, 1913; citing NARA, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: M1464; Roll Number: 207.

16 Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish baptisms 1538-1911, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 March 2020); baptismal entry for George Woodward Hughes, 26 December 1869, St. Peter, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.

17 England & Wales Births 1837-2006, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Births, Vol.8A:435; birth registration for George Woodward Hughes, December Qtr 1869; mother’s maiden name Woodward, at Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.

18  England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995, database online, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 14 April 2020)

Citing: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England; probate for George Woodward Hughes.

19 England & Wales Marriages 1837-2007, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Marriage & Divorce, Vol 8A:720; marriage registration for George Woodward Hughes and Elizabeth Hinde, Mar Qtr 1894; at Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.

20 Lancashire Baptisms, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 March 2020); baptismal entry for Lizzie Annie Hughes, 16 March 1875, St. Peter, Liverpool. Lancashire, England.

21 England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Deaths and Burials, Vol 8B:51; death registration for Elizabeth Hughes, age 7, Mar Qtr 1877; at Liverpool, Lancashire, England.

22 Lancashire Baptisms, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 March 2020); baptismal entry for Joseph Percy Hughes, 16 March 1875, St. Peter, Liverpool. Lancashire, England.

23 Lancashire Baptisms, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 March 2020); baptismal entry for Joseph Percy Hughes, 16 March 1875, St. Peter, Liverpool. Lancashire, England.

24 England & Wales Births 1837-2006, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Births, Vol.8A:391; birth registration for Joseph Percy Hughes, March Qtr 1875; mother’s maiden name Woodward, at Chester, Cheshire, England.

25 Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002, Url: http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/7316.htm, Ancestry.com, 360 W. 4800 N.

26 Compiler: County Clerks, Minnesota Official Marriage System (http://www.mncounty.com/Modules/Certificates/Marriage/MarriageSearch.aspx), database, moms.mn.gov (https://moms.mn.gov/: accessed 14 April 2020); marriage entry for Harry Hughes and Anna Kline, Licence 01910455, 10 May 1916, at Hennepin County, MN.

27 Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 14 April 2020), FHL Film Number 1380466, digital folder 004703822 > image 1013 of 2098; county courthouses, Minnesota, entry for Anna Kline and Harry Hughes, 20 May 1916, at Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN.

. "Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 14 April 2020), FHL Film Number 1380466, digital folder 004703822 > image 1013 of 2098; county courthouses, Minnesota, entry for Anna Kline and Harry Hughes, 20 May 1916, at Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN.

28 Lancashire Baptisms, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 29 March 2020); baptismal entry for Elizabeth Ethel Hughes, 18 March 1877, St. Peter, Liverpool. Lancashire, England.

29 England & Wales Births 1837-2006, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Births, Vol.8B:531; birth registration for Elizabeth Ethel Hughes, June Qtr 1877; mother’s maiden name Woodward, at West Derby, Lancashire, England. https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=BMD/B/1877/2/AZ/000288/129.

30 England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Deaths and Burials, Vol.8B:473; death registration for Elizabeth Ethel Hughes, age 1, Sept Qtr 1878; at West Derby, Lancashire, England.

31 Lancashire Baptisms, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 29 March 2020); baptismal entry for Alice Hughes, 17 July 1878, St. Peter, Liverpool. Lancashire, England.

32 England & Wales Births 1837-2006, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Births, Vol.8B:605; birth registration for Alice Hughes, September Qtr 1878; mother’s maiden name Woodward, at West Derby, Lancashire, England.

33 England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007, database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 14 April 2020);  Civil Deaths and Burials, Vol 8B:496; death registration for Alice Hughes, age 0, Dec Qtr 1878; at West Derby, Lancashire, England.

Building a Tree for Grandpa Harry Hughes Part I

In the post titled, "Eureka - I think I found it! Part I" and three following posts, I described my efforts to find the family of Harry Hughes, my husband's grandfather. Harry, as we found out recently was also known as Joseph P. Hughes. He was born on 31 December 1874 near Chester, Cheshire, England which was the birthplace he always listed. He was baptized in St. Peter's church in Liverpool, Lancashire, England which is close to Cheshire. His parents lived in nearby Garston, Lancashire at the time.

Harry and his father, Samuel, both have a lot of holes in their timelines. There are large gaps, spanning a decade or more, for which there appears to be no information.

While I do some offline investigating in those timeline gaps, I decided to build Harry's family tree backward using online records, if possible.

I knew that Samuel Hughes (1841 - 1917) was almost certainly Harry's father. But who were Samuel's parents? Who was his wife, Harry's mother? And who were her parents? In the post, "Eureka, I think I Found It Part III," I shared the marriage certificate of Samuel Hughes and Frances Woodward. Here it is again below.

Marriage record for Samuel Hughes and Frances Woodward 1869¹

The marriage record states that Samuel Hughes, age 27, a bachelor, a farmer from Broxton, son of Samuel Hughes, also a farmer, married on 6 March 1869 at St. Johns in Chester parish, Frances Woodward, age 25, a spinster with a residence of Foregate Streets, daughter of Joseph Woodward, also a farmer. The certificate contains what appears to be the actual signatures of the bride and groom as well as the signatures of the witnesses, Alice Woodward and John Brereton.

Brereton is another name that shows up on the research trees of probable Hughes DNA matches. The Brereton name is in a tree that contains intermarriages between the Hughes, Brereton, and Cheers families. It appears that these families migrated to Australia in the mid-1800s. I need to keep this information handy as these people are part of Samuel's FAN club,2 "Friends, Associates, and Neighbors."

Concentrating on Frances Woodward, Harry's mother, the marriage record shows she was born about 1843 and her father's name was Joseph. In the 1871 census where Frances is enumerated with Samuel Hughes, her birth location is given as Christleton. So Christleton is a good place to start looking for her baptism.  And her baptism shows up exactly where it is supposed to. In fact, she is the only Frances Woodward baptized in Cheshire between 1841 and 1845. So I am reasonably sure this is the correct Frances.

Baptismal Record for Frances Woodward 1843³

Page 10 on the left lists "Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Christleton in the County of Chester in the Year 1843." The fourth one listed is Frances, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Woodward, a farmer in Christleton. She was born on 5 June 1843 and baptized on 25 June 1843.

The 1851 census for Christleton helped to further develop the Joseph and Elizabeth Woodward family structure. Elizabeth was listed as widowed and she had 4 young daughters: Jane, born about 1841; Frances, born about 1843; Alice, born about 1845; and Martha, born about 1847. Elizabeth and her four daughters were living with Mary Rhoden, Elizabeth's mother, who was also a widow. ⁴

I will need to find Joseph's death which would likely be between 1846, the conception of the last child, and 1851, the year of the census. But I want to go backward to the previous census to see if there are additional family members.

1841 Census for Joseph and Elizabeth Woodward⁵

In the 1841 census of Christleton which is shown on the right, Joseph, age 50, and Elizabeth, age 30, are listed with six children. Sarah, born about 1825; Mary, born about 1832; George, born about 1833; Emma, born about 1834; Martha, born about 1837; and Joseph, born about 1838. The entire family was listed as being born in Cheshire. 

I noted that Elizabeth was 20 years younger than Joseph and the oldest child was 15. There was a 7-year gap between the oldest child, Sarah and the next child, Mary. I hypothesized that Elizabeth was not his first wife and noted that I will need to look for evidence of a previous wife. I also noted that NONE of the children in the1841 census were with Elizabeth in the 1851 census. It's possible there are two separate families or it is possible that there is just one family that broke apart after Joseph's death and the older children are being cared for elsewhere.

Burial Entry for Joseph Woodward 1849 ⁶

Evidence of Joseph's death was relatively easy to find. I was able to find his burial record in 1849 in Christleton where he had lived at least since marrying Elizabeth. He was buried at Christleton on 13 April 1849. I searched for a newspaper account of his death but was unable to find one. 

I can't imagine being a mother, 39 years old, with 9 children and at least one step-child. And then being suddenly widowed with these 10 children, aged 2 to 25. It's not surprising then, to find Elizabeth living with her mother and her four youngest children, including Frances, Harry's mother.

The obvious question is where are all the other children? So much more to find out.

Here is the family constructed thus far for Frances Woodward, her parents and siblings:



Joseph Woodward, born about 1790 in Cheshire, England, died 1849, probably in Cheshire England. He married,
Elizabeth Rhoden, born 1809 in Cheshire, England.
Daughter, Mary was born about 1832.
Son, George was born about 1834.
Daughter, Emma was born about 1835.
Daughter, Martha was born about 1838 and must have died before 1847.
Son, Joseph was born about 1839.
Daughter, Jane was born about 1841.
Daughter, Frances was born about 1843.
Daughter, Alice was born about 1845.
Daughter, Martha was born about 1847.

The next post will fill some detail for the family.

1. "Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish marriages 1538 - 1910,” database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 20 March 2020); marriage entry for Samuel Hughes and Frances Woodward, 6 March 1869, St. John the Baptist, Chester, Cheshire, England.
2. FamilySearch Research Wiki, (http://https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/) "Elizabeth Shown Mills," rev.10:04, 26 March 2019.
3. "Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish baptisms 1538-1911," database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 24 March 2020); baptismal entry for Frances Woodward, 25 June 1843, Christleton, Cheshire, England.
4. "1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census," database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 25 March 2020); citing [The National Archives] Series HO107, piece 2171, folio 431, p. 31; entry for Elizabeth Woodward, Christleton, Cheshire, England.
5.  "1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census," database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 25 March 2020); citing [The National Archives] Series HO107, piece 90, folio 13, p. 26; entry for Joseph and Elizabeth Woodward, Christleton, Cheshire, England.
6. "Cheshire Diocese of Chester parish burials 1538-1911," database, findmypast.com (www.findmypast.com: accessed 25 March 2020); burial entry for Joseph Woodward, 13 April 1849, Christleton, Cheshire, England.