Eureka - I think I found it! Part IV

My previous three posts left so many questions unanswered it will form my research on Harry and Samuel Hughes for many months to come, if not years.

But there are three more records that shed possible light on Samuel Hughes, Harry's father, in Canada between 1879 when he arrived there and his death in 1917.

In Part III of this series, I showed a portion of a ship's register listing Saml and Jos P Hughes arriving in Quebec from Liverpool in 1879. I don't find any evidence of Samuel again until 12 years later in the 1891 Canada census.

Samuel Hughes 1891 Canada census Montreal¹

Samuel Hughes was listed as 40 years old, living in a hotel in Montreal, 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 (although one of the transcriptions read "cake freeman," which made me giggle).

He was a wage earner but unemployed the week before census, and he could read and write.

Although his age is off by 10 years, it will fit into the next record nicely, allowing for the age mistake.

Samuel Hughes 1913 Canada US Crossing²

This 1913 record is interesting in that it shows a Samuel Hughes crossing into the US from Montreal, Canada. Twenty-two years later, if it is the same man, 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.

If this is Harry's father born in 1841, he should be 71 years in March of 1913, but 70 is pretty darn close.

This particular record has been in my "Possible Hughes" file for a while. But I never looked at the next page online... until now. PEOPLE - please check the pages around the record you're viewing. It could be critical.

Samuel Hughes 1913 Canada. US Crossing page 2³

This second page sheds so much light on Samuel and Harry and I am embarrassed to say I just finally turned to the second page to see it!

The second page of the record goes on to say that 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 what appears to be the Sarmatian and was examined 6 Mar 1913.

Wow, that information sure lines up with what I know about Samuel, Harry's father! And it pretty much confirms that the Samuel and Joseph P. Hughes that arrived in Canada in 1879 were my husband's grandfather and great-grandfather. It also provides indirect evidence to the hypothesis that Joseph P. Hughes and Harry Hughes are the same person.

Death Certificate for Samuel Hughes 1917⁴

And finally, Samuel's death certificate has what little information that the informant, Harry, knows about his father.

He was born in England on May 3, 1941. He was widowed. Samuel's father's name is also Samuel and his mother's name is unknown.

He lived at Rosedale Avenue and 36th Avenue. Samuel has been in the district where the death occurred for 4 years and in the state for 4 years.

This fits perfectly with his Canada crossing from 1913.

Apparently, even though Samuel hadn't visited the U.S., Harry and Samuel kept in touch. Samuel knew about Harry's name change and how to reach him. While they probably spent little if any time together between 1891 and 1913, they were able to spend Sam's last four years together.

So now there are some answers but there are so many more questions!




1. "1891 Census of Canada; West Ward, Montréal Centre, Quebec, Canada"; p. 7, Samuel Hughes; image, Library and Archives Canada, 2009. (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 20 March 2020) citing Library and Archives Canada, Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels: T-6290 to T-6427. Year: 1891; Census Place: West Ward, Montréal Centre, Quebec, Canada; Roll: T-6410; Family No: 25.
2. “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 20200, 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.
3. Ibid.
4. Minnesota Department of Vital Statistics, death certificate no. 4867 (1917), Samuel Hughes; Minnesota Historical Society, St Paul.