Beneficiaries: the marriages of Sarah Chapman and William Hughes

"Harbour and Dock, West Hartlepool in 1847" by Sketched by Thomas Thorpe and engraved by W. Monkhouse - Tomlinson, William Weaver, 1858-1916 (1915) The North Eastern Railway; its rise and development, p. 485. 

While this post is last in a series with the John Chapman's Will, it also follows-up from and updates Hugheses Crossing the Tees. Thanks are especially due to Clifford Graham who directed me to William's third marriage, which led me to find his second, and Susan who showed me where to find evidence for Sarah's first marriage.

Divorce and remarriage has been relatively common for several decades now. Genealogically, this can result in large half- and step- sibling groups. I have, for example, one sibling, three half-siblings and two step-siblings. In the nineteenth century, similar blended families arose frequently from remarriage of the surviving spouse after bereavement. As we will see, the children of William Hughes (by his first and third wives) and of Sarah Chapman (by her two husbands) have birth years from 1807 to 1865.

But first, to recapitulate John Chapman's will. When researching William's wife, Sarah, earlier this year, I had no firm knowledge of her maiden name. I had been able to reconstruct their family, and among their children I saw Mary Davison Hughes and Chapman Hughes. Both Davison and Chapman look to me like surnames passed down to preserve them, and on various public trees on ancestry.com I saw that both were proposed as names for Sarah.

However, I saw no documentation on public member trees, and it was Susan who kindly explained what the documentation was for Sarah's marriages, and where to find it. Sarah's maiden name was Chapman, and as soon as I added that to my tree on ancestry.com, I was directed by search engine to a probate record for one John Chapman. The will listed most of his children, including Mrs. Sarah Hughes. She was one of five beneficiaries, and received her equal fifth share of the value of her father's estate, less £10 which she owed him. Her husband William Hughes, Baker of Middlesbrough was one of three executors, each of them a son-in-law of John Chapman. John had died in 1845, but the estate was still being administered in 1873. By then, William Hughes and Francis Bulmer had died (1870 and 1850 respectively), while the remaining executor John Lynn was 77 (he was to live to 1879), and was likely only too happy to relinquish his trusteeship to William Hughes, junior, Innkeeper of Middlesbrough.

Here are the lives of Sarah Chapman and William Hughes from BMD records.
(dro = durhamrecordsonline.com)

Sarah Chapman baptized 1789 (familysearch.org)
                  Born in Greatham, Durham, 15 Jul 1789; Baptized 24 Jul 1789;
                  parents: John Chapman and Mary

William Hughes baptized 1798 (dro transcript)
                  St. Thomas' Stockton on Tees, 8 Apr 1798, William Hughes, born
                  22 Jan 1798, 2nd son of Ellis Hughes (weaver, Native of Denbigh,
                  North Wales) by his wife Mary Sigsworth (native of this parish)

Sarah Chapman married 1807 William Davison (dro transcript)
                  St Hilda's Hartlepool 16 Mar 1807 William Davison (bachelor), of this
                  parish married Sarah Chapman (spinster), of Stockton on Tees; Witnesses:
                  Robert Shadforth, George Corps, James Horsley
       Child: Mary Davison 1807-1822 (dro index search)
                  1807 baptism Hartlepool
                  1822 burial Hartlepool, age 14
       Child: Ann Davison 1809-1816 (dro index search)
                  1809 baptism Hartlepool
                  1816 burial Hartlepool, age 6
       Child: John Davison 1811 (dro transcript) - he is the John Hughes I see on the
                  1841 census.
                  St Hilda's Hartlepool 19 Jan 1812 John Davison, born 5 Nov 1811, 1st son
                  of William Davison (fisherman) by his wife Sarah Chapman (daughter of
                  John Chapman, Bread-baker & Mary Copse)
       Child: Sarah Davison 1814 (dro transcript)
                  St Hilda's Hartlepool 8 May 1814 Sarah Davison, posthumous daughter of
                  William Davison (fisherman, drowned) & Sarah Chapman (a widow)

William Davison died 1813 (dro transcript) - Sarah's first husband, when she was about a month pregnant with Elizabeth. In 1814, both John and Robert Davison, William's brothers, were drowned and buried at St Hilda's Hartlepool.
                  Burial St. Hilda's Hartlepool 6 Sep 1813 William Davison, of Hartlepool,
                  age 29, drowned

Sarah Davison married 1816 William Hughes (dro transcript)
                  St. Hilda's Hartlepool, 22 Dec 1816 William Heughs (bread-baker) married
                  Sarah Davison; Witnesses: Michael Chapman, John Mowbray, John Fletcher
       Child: Ann Hughes 1817 (dro index search) - her half-sister Ann Davison had died
                  the previous year.
                  1817 baptism Hartlepool Sarah Heughs
       Child: William Hughes 1819 (dro index search)
                  1819 baptism Hartlepool William Heughs
       Child: Jane Hughes 1821 (dro transcript) - my 3xgreat grandmother
                  St. Hilda's Hartlepool, 18 Mar 1821 Jane Heughs, daughter of William
                  Heughs (bread baker) & Sarah Davison
       Child: Chapman Hughes 1823 (dro transcript)
                  St. Hilda's Hartlepool, 10 Oct 1824 Chapman Heughes, child of William
                  Heughes (bread baker) & Sarah Davison-Chapman
       Child: Mary Davison Hughes 1824 (dro index search) - her half-sister Mary Davison
                  had died two years previously.
                  1824 baptism Hartlepool Mary Davison Heughes
       Child: Elizabeth Hughes 1826 (dro transcript)
                  St. Thomas' Stockton on Tees 1 Jan 1827 Elizabeth Hughes, of Unicorn
                  Yard 6th [sic] daughter of William (bread-baker) & Sarah Hughes
       Child: Hannah Eliza Hughes 1828 (dro transcript)
                  St Thomas' Stockton on Tees 31 Aug 1828 Hannah Eliza Hughes, of
                  Unicorn Yard, 5th daughter of William (bread baker) & Sarah Hughes.
       Child: George Hughes 1831-1831 (familysearch.org)
                  baptism 21 Aug 1831 St. Thomas' Stockton on Tees
                  burial 9 Oct 1831 St. Thomas' Stockton on Tees age 2 [probably months]
       Child: Arabella Hughes 1834 (computed from census ages)

Sarah Hughes died 1850 - alive in 1841, but William is a widower in 1851. In that decade, there are only two BMD Death Index entries for Sarah Hughes in Stockton registration district. Both of them in the last half of 1850.

William Hughes married 1851 Isabella Allen, widow, daughter of John Bell
       BMD Marriage Index Jun1851 Stockton 24 267

       GRO Marriage Certificate
              23 Apr 1851, at the Parish Church in Stockton on Tees by License
              Groom: William Hughes  Full Age  Widower  Grocer
                    father: Ellis Hughes  Canvas Weaver
              Bride: Isabella Allen  Full  Age  Widower
                    father: John Bell  Coal Owner
              Signed: Wm Hughes and Isabella Allen
              Witnesses: William Sugget and Henry May

Isabella Hughes died 1854, presumably since this is the only Isabella Hughes to die between 1851 and 1860, the date of William's next marriage.
       BMD Death Index Sep 1854 Stockton 10a 16

William Hughes married 1860 Isabella Gordon, spinster, daughter of James Gordon
       BMD Marriage Index Jun 1860 Stockton 10a 61

       GRO Marriage Certificate
              3 Apr 1860 at the Parish Church in Middlesbro' by License
              Groom: William Hughes  Full Age  Widower  Grocer
                    father: Ellice Hughes  Manufacturer
              Bride: Isabella Gordon  Full  Age  Spinster
                    father: James Gordon  Pitman
              Signed: William Hughes his X mark and Isabella Gordon her X mark
              Witnesses: Wm Sterzel and Mary Ann Easter her X mark

Interestingly, William makes his mark here, whereas he had signed in 1851. This was nearly nine years later, so perhaps his eyesight or the steadiness of his hand prevented him from signing. However, he does sign for his daughter's birth certificate in 1865, so perhaps he didn't want to upstage his wife..

       Child: Amelia Hughes 1861
                  BMD Birth Index Sep 1861 Stockton 10a 36
                  Baptized 22 Aug 1861 Middlesbrough parents William and Isabella
                         (familysearch.org)
       Child: Henrietta Hughes 1865
                  BMD Birth Index Dec 1865 Stockton 10a 102
                  GRO Birth Certificate
                         Ninth November 1865 Mandale Lane Thornaby
                         Henrietta  Girl
                         William Hughes
                         Isabella Hughes formerly Gordon
                         Retired Grocer
                         Signed: Wm Hughes Father Mandale Lane Thornaby
                         Sixth December 1865

William Hughes died 1870, presumably, since in the following index record we have correct age and place. By 1871 Isabella is a widow.
       BMD Death Index Sep 1870 Stockton 10a 659 age:73

1871 Census at Bon Lea Terrace, Thornaby, Yorkshire
       Isabella Hughes Head W 35  Retired Grocer's Widow  Durham, Crowtree nr. Durham
       Amelia       do     Daur        9  Scholar                            Yorkshire, Middlesbro
       Henrietta    do    Daur        5     do                                        do      Thornaby

Isabella Hughes died 1880.
       BMD Death Index Mar1880 Middlesbrough 9d 405 age:45

While not all of these 15 children of William Hughes and Sarah Chapman survived to have children of their own, there must be scores of cousins descended from these two.

Next up, more on the origins of John Beresford, my step-father's great grandfather.

Beneficiaries: four out five

Continuing with the Will of John Chapman, there are five beneficiaries, between whom the Executors were to divide the estate equally, with some exceptions. Four of the beneficiaries owed their father money at the time of his death, and the amount owing was to be taken out of their share. James Chapman was to receive an extra £100 as a legacy within 12 months of his father's death. Mary was to receive his plate and household furniture. It would appear that John Chapman was attempting to be be scrupulously fair to his children.

The Executors were three of his sons-in-law, John Lynn, Francis Bulmer, and William Hughes, each of whose wives (Mary, Elizabeth and Sarah, respectively) were beneficiaries.  My direct ancestors are William and Sarah Hughes, 4xgreat grandparents. Of William and Sarah, I will post more next time. This post will document the families of the other two daughters, as well as two sons of John Chapman, Michael and James.

James Chapman
Born 1799, according to the index of durhamrecordsonline.com
Died 1860, BMD Death Index Mar1860 Hartlepool 10a 59
Married Ann Dawson 21 May 1825 at Yarm, Yorkshire

Census 1841 Cleveland Street, Hartlepool
       James Chapman  40 Shoe m  Y[es, born in Durham]
       Ann          do       35                N[ot born in Durham]
       Mary        do       10                N
       John         do        5                 Y
       Dawson    do       2                  Y

Census 1851 Cleveland Street, Hartlepool
       James Chapman   Head   Mar  53  Shoemaker   Durham Hartlepool
       Ann       Do          Wife     Mar   49                       Minorca British Subject
       Dawson Do          Son               11                      Durham Hartlepool
       Mary Charlton     Daur   Marr   19  Seaman's Wife  Yorksh: Yarm

In his father's will, James receives an extra £100 legacy, but takes £122 out of his share for money he owed his father.

Michael Chapman
Born 1797, according to the index of durhamrecordsonline.com
Died 7 Jul 1864 (National Probate Calendar and BMD Death Index Sep1864 Hartlepool 10a 62)
Married Ann Ward, I am told, although I have not seen the documentation. The National Probate Calendar states Mary Ward widow (but not "relict" as it might if she were his widow) as the Executrix of his will. In census returns his wife's given name is Mary.

Census 1851 Southgate, Hartlepool
       Michael Chapman  Head  Mar   51  Cooper                       Durham Hartlepool
       Mary          do        Wife    Mar   53                                     Liverpool
       Michael      do        Grandson    10  Butcher's Apprentice  Durham Hartlepool
       John           do         Nephew      16                                           do           do
The nephew John Chapman is probably the son of James and Ann above.

Census 1861 Southgate, Hartlepool (next to a Berr House called "The Steam Boat")
       Michael Chapman  Head   Mar  62  Cooper                 Durham Hartlepool
       Mary           Do       Wife   Mar   63                               Liverpool
       Michael Butcher     G Son Un    20  Cooper                 Durham Hartlepool
       James         Do      G son            6                                    Do         Do
Michael Butcher is probably the Michael Chapman of the previous census. There is a marriage in 1839 between Matthew Butcher and Mary Ann Ward (Sep1839 Stockton 24 171). I suspect that Mary Ann is a step-daughter of Michael Chapman, and it is possible that Michael and Mary never formally married.

In his father's will, Michael takes £60 out of his share for money he owed to his father.

Mary Chapman
Born 1802, according to the index of durhamrecordsonline.com
Died 1880 (Mary Lynn BMD Death Index Jun1880 Hartlepool 10a 79 age:78)
Married John Lynn 1823 in Hartlepool (durhamrecordsonline.com)

Census 1841 Northwell Street, Hartlepool
       John Lynn  40  Carter  Y
       Mary  Do    35               Y
       Mary  Do    15               Y

Census 1851 Cleveland Street, Hartlepool
       John Lynn      Head  Mar  55  Cartman   Durham Coxhoe
       Mary Lynn      Wife  Mar   49                      Do      Hartlepool
       Sarah Garget Visitor  10  Scholar        Yorksh: Middlesbro'

Census 1861 Stranton Village, Stranton
       John Lynn  Head  Mar  65  Landed Proprieter  Durham Coxhoe
       Mary  Do   Wife     Mar  59                                    Do    Hartlepool
       Mary Ann Do Daur Un  36                                     Do    Hartlepool

Census 1871 108 Scarbro Street, Stranton
       John Lynn          Head  Mar  75  Retired Farmer                Durham Coxhoe
       Mary Lynn          Wife   Mar  69  Retired farmer's Wife       Durham Hartlepool
       Mary Bainbridge  Ser  UnM  17  General Servant Domestic    Do    Stockton

In her father;'s will, Mary receives the plate and household furniture.

John Lynn, the last remaining executor of John Chapman's Will in 1873 (when the trusteeship passed to William Hughes), died 17 Feb 1879 (National Probate Calendar and BMD Death Index Mar1879 Hartlepool 10a 77 age: 83)

Elizabeth Chapman
Born 1806, according to the index of durhamrecordsonline.com
Died 30 Nov 1888 (National Probate Calendar and BMD Death Index Dec1888 Hartlepool 10a 80 age: 82
Married Francis Bulmer 1826 in Hartlepool (durhamrecordsonline.com)

Census 1841 Sussex Street, Hartlepool
       Francis Bulmer  35  Fisher  Y
       Elizabeth  do     30              Y
       Mary         do     13             Y
       Chapman  do      7               Y
       Elizabeth   do    16 days      Y

Census 1851 Sussex Street, Hartlepool
       Elizabeth Bulmer  Head  W  44  Small Shop Keeper  [Durham Hartlepool]
       Chapman     do     Son    Un 17  Fisherman                     do           do
       John             do     Son           8   Scholar                         do           do
       Francis         do     Son           6      do                              do           do
       Alice             do     Daur         3      do                              do           do
     
Census 1861 17 Brunswick Street, Stranton
       Elizabeth Bulmer  Head  W  54  Fund Holder                    Durham Hartlepool
       John             Do     Son    Un 18 Joiner's Apprentice              Do       Do
       Francis         Do     Son    Un 16  Timber Merchant's Clerk     Do       Do
       Alice             Do     Daur        13                                              Do       Do
     
Census 1871 17 Brunswick Street, Stranton
       Elizabeth Bulmer  Head  W     64                                Durham Hartlepool
       John           do     Son     Mar  27  Joiner                          do            do
       Lilly             do     Grand daur   4                                Yorkshire  Saltaire
       Mary Kidd            Servt           15  General Servant         do        Middlesbro

Census 1881 17 Brunswick Street, Stranton
       Elizabeth Bulmer  Head  Widow  74  Formerly Shopkeeper  Durham Hartlepool
       Lilly            Do     Gran Daur       14  Scholar                        Yorkshire Saltair

In her father's will, Elizabeth takes out £13 out of her share for money she owed her father.

Francis Bulmer died 28 Nov 1850 (BMD Death Index Dec1850 Stockton 24 142), the first of the executors to do so.

Four beneficiaries: a shoemaker, a cooper, the wife of a cartman and later farmer, and a fisherman's wife who, as a widow, became a shopkeeper. Solid Hartlepudlians all. Next up, the large blended family of William and Sarah Hughes, the last of the beneficiaries mentioned in John Chapman's will.

The Will of John Chapman

Hartlepool, from Finden, William (1840), The Ports, Harbours, Watering-places and Picturesque Scenery of Great Britain Vol. 1

In looking for the identity of Sarah, the wife of William Hughes, Baker of Unicorn Yard, Stockton and Durham Street, Middlesbrough, I purchased the transcripts for two marriages from durhamrecordsonline.com. When you order records they ask if you want your email address shared with others who have purchased the same records. Having clicked "yes", I was able to make contact with Susan, who sent me details of records confirming the following sequence of events:

       Sarah Chapman, daughter of John Chapman, married William Davison in 1807.
       William, a Fisherman, was drowned in 1813.
       His widow, now Sarah Davison married William Hughes, the Baker in 1816.

Previously, I had seen this sequence of events, unsourced on ancestry.com. Since my goal is to document my lineage, this was welcome information, which, of course, had me interested in John Chapman. As Sarah's father he could have been born around 1765, and might conceivably have lived into the era of civil records. I was surprised, however, to find through a search of ancestry.com, a record for John Chapman as late as 1873 in England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966.

   CHAPMAN John             31 January.  Administration (with the Will) of the effects
                                        of John Chapman late of Hartlepool in the County of Durham
     Effects under £600     Gentleman who died 8 March 1845 at Hartlepool was granted
                                        at the Principal Registry to William Hughes of Middles-
                                        borough in the County of York Innkeeper the Administrator
                                        of the effects of Sarah Hughes (wife of William Hughes) the
                                        Daughter one of the Residuary Legatees.

I already had William Hughes, Innkeeper of Middlesbrough as a son of William Hughes, the Baker. Knowing there was a will, I ordered the same from the National Probate Office. This will be useful for many of John Chapman's descendants. John mentions eight children in this will, of which five were beneficiaries of the will, while John had already made provision for the other three during his lifetime.

Here is my transcription of the will, all seven pages, each of which is signed at the bottom by John Chapman. I have highlighted in yellow, his first mention of each of his children, and in blue for his sons-in-law. Following posts will document these children and their families in other records.

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Chapman

                                                                                                 of Hartlepool in the

County of Durham Gentleman made this second day of July

In the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six

Whereas in regard that my Daughter M^rs. Mowbray and the

family of my late son George Chapman deceased by and in

consequence of a beneficial purchase made of me by my said son

and my son in Law John Mowbray of a close or parcel of ground

called Crofton Heugh are in better pecuniary circumstances than

the rest of my Family and in regard that I have already advanced

to my Daughter Ann Stewart more than her proportional share of

my estate and effects would amount unto it is not my intention to make

any provision by this my will for my said Daughter M^rs. Mowbray

or for the children of my said deceased son George Chapman or for my

said Daughter Ann Stewart or any of them By virtue of every right

power or authority enabling me in this behalf I do by this my will

executed by me in the presence of and attested by the three credible

witnesses whose names are hereunto subscribed as witnesses to the execution

hereof Give devise and appoint all my closes or parcels of ground

messuages Lands tenements and hereditaments situate lying and

being in or near Hartlepool aforesaid or elsewhere in the County of

Durham And all other my real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever

(except such real Estates as are vested in me by way of Mortgage or upon

any Trust or Trusts) unto and to the use of my sons in Law William

Hughes of Middlesbrough in the North Riding of the County of York

Baker John Lynn of Hartlepool aforesaid Yeoman and Francis

Bulmer of the same place Yeoman their heirs and assigns for

ever Upon the Trusts following (that is to say) In Trust at any

time or times and from time to time after my decease absolutely

to sell convey and dispose of all and singular the said premises

hereinbefore devised either entirely or in parcels and either by public

                                                                                John Chapman

sale or private contract unto any person or persons who shall be willing

to become the purchaser or purchasers thereof for the best price or prices

that can be reasonably had or gotten for the same And with full liberty

to buy in or rescind any contract or contracts for sale of the same

premises or any of them or any part thereof respectively and to resell the

same in or by all or any or either of the modes aforesaid without being

answerable for any loss or expense occasioned thereby And in Trust

to pay apply and dispose of the money by every such sale arising in

manner and for the purposes hereinafter expressed I Give and bequeath

to my Daughter Mary Lynn the wife of the said John Lynn all my

plate and Household furniture exempt from the payment of my

debts and funeral and Testamentary expences And I Give all my ready

money and securities for money china and linen and all other my

personal Estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore

specifically disposed of unto the said William Hughes John Lynn and

Francis Bulmer their executors administrators and assigns In Trust

To sell and dispose of get in and convert the same into money

For the purposes hereinafter expressed And I declare and direct that

the said William Hughes John Lynn and Francis Bulmer their

heirs Executors administrators and assigns respectively shall stand

and be possessed of and interested in the money to arise and be

produced from my said real and personal Estate so to them given

as aforesaid and hereinbefore directed to be sold and disposed of as

aforesaid Upon the trusts following (that is to say) In Trust thereout

to pay my Funeral and Testamentary expences and all the

debt which I shall owe at the time of my decease And also thereout

to pay to my son James Chapman the Legacy or sum of one

hundred pounds at the end of twelve Calendar Months from my

decease but without any interest in the meantime for the same

And as to the residue or surplus of the money to be produced as

Aforesaid which shall remain after and shall not be applied in

Payment of my Funeral and Testamentary expences and of the

Debt or sums of money and legacy hereinbefore directed to be paid

                                                                                John Chapman

thereout the same shall be Upon the Trusts following (that is to say)

as to one equal fifth part or share therof (subject nevertheless to the

proviso first hereinafter inserted and contained) In Trust for my said

son James Chapman his executors administrators and assigns for

his and their own use and benefit absolutely As to another equal

fifth part or share thereof (subject nevertheless to the same proviso)

in Trust for my son Michael Chapman his executors administrators

and assigns for his and their own use and benefit absolutely As to

another equal fifth part or share thereof (subject nevertheless to the

same proviso) In Trust for my Daughter Sarah Hughes the wife of

the said William Hughes her executors administrators and assigns

for her own use and benefit absolutely for her separate use As to

another equal fifth part or share thereof (subject nevertheless to the

same proviso) In Trust for my Daughter Mary Lynn wife of the

said John Lynn her executors administrators and assigns for her

own use and their own use and benefit absolutely for her separate use And

as to the remaining fifth part or share thereof (subject nevertheless

to the same proviso) In Trust for my # # # daughter Elizabeth

Bulmer wife of the said William ^ Francis Bulmer her executors administrators

and assigns for her and their own use and benefit absolutely for her

separate use Provided always and I do hereby authorize and

direct the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will

respectively from time to time to retain out of the respective fifth

parts or shares of my said sons James Chapman and Michael

Chapman and my said Daughters Sarah Hughes and Elizabeth

Bulmer the respective sums following (that is to say) the sum of

one hundred and twenty two pounds out of the share of my said

son James Chapman in which sum he now stands indebted to me

The sum of sixty pounds out of the share of my said son Michael

Chapman in which sum he now stands indebted to me and the sum of

ten pounds out of the share of my said Daughter Sarah Hughes

in which sum she now stands indebted to me and the sum of

thirteen pounds out of the share of my said daughter Elizabeth

                                                                                John Chapman

Bulmer in which sum she now stands indebted to me (such

retained sum to be considered as part of my residuary estate and

divided amongst my said sons James and Michael and my said

daughters Sarah Mary and Elizabeth accordingly for their

respective separate use and benefit And also to retain out of the

respective fifth parts or shares of my children James Michael Sarah

Mary and Elizabeth of and in all or any of the before mentioned Trust

monies all such sum or sums of money as shall be sufficient to save

defend keep harmless and indemnify my Trustees and Executors and

my estate and effects off from and against the payment of all such sum

and sums of money as I shall at the time of my decease stand bound

or engaged or answerable for the payment of as surety for or otherwise

on account of my same children respectively And all loss costs charges

damages and expences which shall or may be occasioned by the

nonpayment thereof respectively And in trust to apply the several

monies so respectively to be retained for the answering of those purposes

accordingly And I declare and direct that from and after my decease

until the sale or sales hereby directed to be made as aforesaid shall

be made and executed the rents and annual profits of the said premises

hereinbefore devised and directed to be sold as aforesaid shall be applied

in payment of the interest of such of my debts as shall carry interest

And that the residue of the same rents and annual profits shall be

paid to such person or persons and applied to and for such purposes

and in the same proportion and manner as the interest of the money

to arise by such sale or sales which shall remain after payment

of my funeral and testamentary expences and debt hereinbefore

directed to be paid thereout would after such sale or sales be payable

or applicable to by virtue or in pursuance of this my will And I

declare and direct that the receipt or receipts of the said William

Hughes John Lynn and Francis Bulmer or of _^^{any or} either of them or of the

heirs or assigns of the _^^{survivors or} survivor of them or of any of the Trustees for the

time being of this my Will to be appointed as hereinafter mentioned

under their or his hands or hand respectively shall from time to time

                                                                                John Chapman

effectually discharge the respective purchaser or purchasers of such part

or parts of the same premises as by virtue or in pursuance of the

Trusts or directions of this my Will shall be sold and disposed of off

and from so much of the purchase money as shall therein be

acknowledged or expressed to be received And that such purchaser or

purchasers shall not after such receipt or receipts be answerable or

accountable for any loss misapplication or nonapplication of such

purchase money or any part thereof And I declare and direct that

if all or any or either of them the said William Hughes John Lynn

and Francis Bulmer or any succeeding trustee or trustees to be appointed

as hereinafter mentioned shall die or be desirous to decline and be

discharged of and from or shall neglect or refuse or become incapable

to act in the execution of these trusts in them reposed or to be reposed by

virtue of this my will at any time or times before the same trusts shall

be fully executed and performed then and in every such case and

from time to time as often as the same shall happen it shall and

may be Lawful to and for the Trustee or Trustees for the time being

surviving or continuing to act in the said Trusts or the Executors

or administrators of the then last acting trustee by any writing or

writings under their or his hands or hand respectively to nominate and

appoint any other proper person or persons to be a trustee or trustees

for the purposes aforesaid in the place of the Trustee or Trustees so

from time to time dying or desiring to be discharged or neglecting

refusing or becoming incapable to act as aforesaid And that

upon every such nomination as aforesaid the said trust estates

securities monies and premises shall respectively be conveyed and

transferred in such manner as that the same may be effectually vested

in such new trustee or trustees so to be appointed jointly with the

surviving or continuing Trustee or Trustees or in such new Trustee or

Trustees only as the case may require Upon The Trusts and to and for

the intents and purposes and with and under and subject to the

powers provisos and declarations in and by this my Will expressed

or declared of or concerning the same respectively or such of them as for

                                                                                John Chapman

the time shall be subsisting or capable of taking effect And

I appoint the said William Hughes John Lynn and Francis

Bulmer Executors of this my will And I Give to them the said

William Hughes John Lynn and Francis Bulmer their heirs and

assigns all such real Estates as are now vested in me by way of

Mortgage in order to enable them with the greater ease and

convenience to recover receive and get in the money secured by

such Mortgages for the purposes of this my will And I also

Give to them the said William Hughes John Lynn and Francis

Bulmer their heirs and assigns all such real estates as are now

vested in me upon any trust or trusts To Hold the same to

them the said William Hughes John Lynn and Francis

Bulmer their heirs and assigns Upon the several Trusts affecting

the same several Estates respectively And I declare and direct

that the said William Hughes John Lynn and Francis

Bulmer and the trustee or trustees to be appointed in

pursuance of the proviso last hereinbefore contained respectively

their respective heirs Executors administrators and assigns

respectively shall not be answerable or accountable the one for the

others or other of them And that they or any of them shall not

be charged or chargeable with or answerable for the Acts receipts

neglects or defaults of the others or other of them but each of

them for his own act receipts neglects or defaults only nor for

any more money rents or profits respectively than they respectively

shall actually receive by virtue of the trusts and directions of

this my will and by no means for involuntary losses And

Also that they respectively shall and may by and out

of the aforesaid Trust estates monies and premises respectively

be allowed and may retain to and reimburse themselves

respectively all such loss costs charges damages and

expences as they respectively shall or may suffer sustain

expend or be put unto in or about or as shall or may

                                                                                John Chapman

be occasioned by the execution of the Trusts in them reposed or to

be reposed by virtue or in pursuance of this my Will in m

relation to the same estates monies and premises respectively

And I hereby revoke all my former Wills In Witness whereof

I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in this and the

Six preceding sheets of paper hereto annexed set my hand and seal

(to wit) my hand to the bottom of each of the said preceding sheets

My hand and seal to this last sheet And my seal at the top of

The first of the said preceding sheets where all the said sheets are fixed

together the day and year first written.

                                                                                John Chapman

The writing contained in this _^^{and the} six preceding

sheets of paper hereto annexed was signed and

sealed by John Chapman of Hartlepool in the

County of Durham Gentleman and by him

published and declared as and for his last Will

and Testament in the presence of us who as

witnesses thereof have hereto subscribed our names

in his presence at his request and in the presence

of each other

William Merryweather

George Parkin

Robert Grimshaw

The Welsh Connection

Hand loom weavers - Hogarth Industry and Idleness (1747)

This is not, in fact, the first Welsh connection. There are Tilleys who moved to and lived in Abergavenny. There is an Evans who moved from Amlwch, Anglesey. This post takes us back a generation from William Hughes, Baker of Unicorn Yard, Stockton and Durham Street, Middlesbrough, whose family is reconstructed and documented in the previous post. William Hughes and his wife Sarah are my 4x great grandparents, whose daughter Jane Hughes married Joseph Strong, the steam tug master.

There are not so many Hugheses living in Stockton - or at least baptizing children there - around this time period, the 1820s. Aside from children of William and Sarah, England, Select Christenings also has baptisms of children of parents Ellis and Frances Hughes at St Thomas Stockton:
       Mary Ann Hughes 3 September 1824
       Ellis Hughes 20 February 1827
              (burial 1827 according to durhamrecordsonline.com)
       Robert Hughes 21 April 1828
       James Hughes 4 March 1831
       Ellis Hughes 9 April 1834
       William Copland Hughes 13 September 1836

Prior to these baptisms, England, Select Marriages 1573-1975 has:
       Ellis Hughes and Frances Copeling 24 July 1823 Stockton Parish, Durham.

Which explains the name William Copland Hughes as derived from his mother's maiden name. Perhaps, my 4xgreat grandfather William Hughes, the Baker, and Ellis are brothers. This appears quite likely since durhamrecordsonline.com has a Unicorn Yard address for both the baptism and burial of Ellis Hughes in 1827, the same address as for William.

In addition, a search of durhamrecordsonline.com for records of children with last name Hughes 1780‐1820 makes this highly likely, with the following:
       James Hughes Baptism Stockton 1797
              James Hughes Burial Stockton 1798 born 1796
       William Hughes Baptism Stockton 1798 born 1798
       Ellis Hughes Baptism Stockton 1800 born 1799
       James Hughes Baptism Stockton 1803 born 1802
              James Hughes Burial Stockton 1810 born 1802

The survivors are William and Ellis. This is consistent with my hypothesis, by which Ellis goes on to marry Frances Copeling (or Copland), while William marries Sarah. The 1798 birth for William is also consistent with the Baker's later census data.

I bought the record for William Hughes, which reads:
       St Thomas, Stockton, Durham 8 Apr 1798 William Hughes, born 22 Jan 1798,
       2nd son of Ellis Hughes (weaver, native of Denbigh, North Wales) by his wife
       Mary Sigsworth (native of this parish)

Prior to these baptisms, durhamrecordsonline.com have this marriage record at St Thomas, Stockton:
       21 Jan 1796 Ellis Hughes, of this parish married Mary Sigsworth, of the
       parish of Norton.

I have not yet found a burial for Ellis. As to Ellis's birth, Denbighshire Parish Records, 1538-1912 offers five candidates for Ellis Hughes born between 1760 and 1780, and, of course, it's quite possible that there are unrecorded baptisms for Ellis Hughses. Without more information about the weaver from Denbigh, we will not get any further back.

On the other line of this marriage, there is an 1832 burial for a 64-year-old Mary Hughes in Stockton, Durham, who may be Mary Sigsworth of the marriage record. This would yield a year of birth about 1768, if her age is accurately recorded, although this is often not the case.

For Mary's birth a search of the durhamrecordsonline.com index reveals only one recorded Mary Sigsworth in the county of Durham who would be of age to marry in 1796.  And she is from a Sigsworth family residing in Stockton.  While it is possible that Ellis Hughes's wife came from outside Durham, all the trees I've seen place her in this family, that of Burdon Sigsworth and Mary Tate whose marriage is recorded in Stockton 24 December 1770. The following children of this couple are baptized in Stockton:
       Mary Sigsworth 1771
       Elizabeth Sigsworth 1771
       James Sigsworth 1773
       Margaret Sigsworth 1773
       William Sigsworth 1778

The above-mentioned burial for Mary Hughes, if for this Mary Sigsworth, and if her age were accurately remembered, would have her born 1768. Perhaps she was baptized later because the parents were not married until 1770. Or else her age at death is not accurate, or the records are not for the same person.

I would feel happier if there were a more certain connection between this Mary Sigsworth daughter of Mary Tate, and Mary Sigsworth who married Ellis Hughes, than name, geographical proximity and reasonable age. The 1798 burial record for James Hughes, son of Ellis and Mary, from durhamrecordsonline.com reads:
       3 Apr 1798 James Hughes, age: 1 year 6 months, died 1 Apr 1798, 
       son of Ellis Hughes by his wife Mary Sigsworth

The durhamrecordsonline.com website states that this record is transcribed from the Bishop's Transcript. From 1598 each parish was to copy its register for deposit with the diocese. In principle, there would be two copies of each record, although, of course, many have been destroyed through the years. Neither are the copies exact, with differing levels of information on each. The familysearch.org site has the following record from its England Deaths and Burials 1538-1991 index:
       James Hughes / Male / buried 3 Apr 1798 / at Stockton, Durham Co, England /
       age 19 / year of birth 1779 / parents: Ellis Hughes and Mary Cate Tynsworth

The burial date and names (partially, at least) mark this out as indexing an equivalent record to the Bishop's Transcript of James's burial. It's not much of a stretch to believe that the age has been mis-transcribed - perhaps because it is in years and months and difficult to read. The mother's name is then interesting because Mary Cate Tynsworth is likely a mis-transcription of Mary Tate Sigsworth. This record may be the parish copy, which is available on microfilm at the Durham Records Office, while the record from the England Deaths and Burials 1538-1991 index cites film number 1894159. At some time I should get to the Family History Center in town and order a copy of the film. Until then, this is what I have.

Proceding on the assumption that I have the correct Mary Sigsworth, her father Burdon Sigsworth's burial is recorded in Stockton 29 March 1789, aged 50, while his baptism, in England, Births and Christenings, 1738-1975, is at Stainton in Cleveland, on the Yorkshire side of the Tees. His parents are James Sigsworth and Mary Burdon, married 27 September 1739 in Stainton (England Marriages, 1538-1973).Their children baptized there are:
       Burdon Sigsworth 23 Nov 1740

       James Sigsworth 17 April 1743       
       James Sigesworth 17 January 1747/8       
       William Sigsworth 17 June 1750       
       Eliz Sigsworth 23 January 1753 

There is also a Joseph Sigsworth baptized in Stainton 16 Dec 1746, father given as Joseph, which, perhaps, should be James, the clerk confusing the son's name with the father's. I have seen this happen elsewhere. A 1746 baptism would thus fit neatly into the sibling series.

Thus I have 5xgreat grandparents Ellis Hughes and Mary Sigsworth; then probably 6xgreat grandparents Burdon Sigsworth and Mary Tate, and 7xgreat grandparents James Sigsworth and Mary Burdon.

Hugheses Crossing the Tees

Having reconstructed the family of Joseph Strong, "Master, Steem Boat" of the 1851 England census (also here), I turn now to his wife Jane. These are my 3xgreat grandparents. Her family's migration correlates with the building of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Jane's maiden name Hughes is attested in the birth certificate for Hannah Strong, their daughter, when the family lived on Commercial Street, Middlesbrough. Hannah was born 31 March 1851, the census being taken on the night of the 30th. She would have been less than a day old, and is not noted on the census form. And the name Hughes is also given on the Scottish birth records for Robert Strong (1856) - although a likely clerical error has her first name as Susannah - and, also in Greenock, William Strong - mother given as Jane Hughes.

Jane Hughes and Joseph Strong are married in West Acklam, the parish church for Middlesbrough at the time, 25 April 1837. England Select Marriages 1538-1973 gives no more, and it may be useful to inspect the register entry for further information on Joseph and Jane.

In the meantime, I note that, from her census returns, Jane was born in Hartlepool, Durham about 1821. Also, inspecting the 1841 England Census for Joseph and Jane Strong, the family immediately preceding the couple are Hugheses, being the household of William Hughes, Baker, and his wife Sarah on Durham Street, Middlesbrough.

The reconstruction of Jane's family rests on the last name of her neighbors in 1841 sharing her last name on the West Acklam marriage record with Joseph Strong. Hughes is not an uncommon name. If the proximity of these two households is merely a coincidence, then the following doesn't prove a connection, although it does add a common Hartlepool, Durham origin for Jane and her supposed siblings. Here are the two households:

       William Hughes     40    Baker               N[ot born in Yorkshire]
       Sarah Hughes        50                              N
       John Hughes          25    Baker                N
       Mary Hughes        15                              N
       Chapman Hughes  15   Ap Joiner           N
       Elizabeth Hughes 15                               N
       Hannah Hughes    12                              N
       Arabella Hughes    9                               Y[es, born in Yorkshire]

New household:
       Joseph Strong        30  M Mariner           N
       Jane Strong            20                              N
       Joseph Bothwick   20  Ship's Carpenter  N
       Ann Bothwick       20                              N
(Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1258; Book: 5; Civil Parish: Middlesbrough; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 3; Folio: 24; Page: 42; Line: 23; GSU roll: 464234.)

And still on Durham Street in 1851:
       William Hughes         Head Widr 53  Baker & Grocer  Durham Stockton
       Eleazer [sic] Hughes  Daur   U     22                             Durham Stockton
       George Sednorth        Serv    U     27  Baker Journ        Durham Stockton
(Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2383; Folio: 262; Page: 18; GSU roll: 87061.)

While I can find no more on John Hughes of the 1841 census, I have followed each of the others.

England, Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975 has the following baptisms recorded at St Thomas Stockton, Durham of children with parents William and Sarah Hughes:
       Elizabeth Hughes 1 January 1827
       Hannah Eliza Hughes 31 August 1828
       George Hughes 21 August 1831

Of these, I have two transcripts from durhamrecordsonline.com, confirming them as
children of William Hughes, baker and his wife Sarah:
       1 Jan 1827 Elizabeth Hughes, of Unicorn Yard, 6th daughter of William
       (bread baker) & Sarah Hughes

Hannah Eliza baptized in 1828 is recorded as 5th, so at least one of these must be in error. My reconstruction of the family would make Elizabeth the 4th.
       31 Aug 1828 Hannah Eliza Hughes, of Unicorn Yard, 5th daughter of
       William (bread baker) & Sarah Hughes

Pigott's Directory for 1828-29 has Baker Wm. Hughes Unicorn Yard. In its description of Stockon the directory notes:
       In 1821 the entire parish of Stockton contained 5,184 inhabitants, and the
       township 5,006 of that number, being an increase of about 1,000 persons
       in twenty years, and it is estimated that the population has very considerably
       augmented since the last census.

As we will see, this reconstruction of William's family suggests that his family was part of this reported population increase in Piggot's Directory, having arrived there from Hartlepool about 1825. These three baptisms would represent the “middle children”, born in Stockton. The year 1825 saw the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway to haul coal by steam locomotive to Stockton; initially passengers used coaches hauled by horses along the track. The railway was extended across the Tees to Middlesbrough by the end of 1830, and the Hugheses followed some time between 1831 and 1834 as the newly established town grew.

That the family moved from Stockton to Middlesbrough is supported by William Hughes, occupation Baker, wife Sarah, of the 1841 census and William Hughes, Baker, wife Sarah of the baptisms in Stockton. The move from Hartlepool is attested by following the census returns of several William and Elizabeth Hughes's children with place of birth given as Hartlepool.

The Elizabeth of the above baptism is consistent with the Elizabeth of the 1841 census, while the Hannah Eliza of the baptism might be both the Hannah of the 1841 census and the Eleazer of the 1851, and perhaps the latter spelling gives an indication of how they pronounced her name. I lose Hannah Eliza after the 1851 census. I have no other record of George of the baptism, who would have been 10 by the 1841 census, and may have died before then. However, Elizabeth does show up in the 1851 census, and I have been able to follow her family through 1871.

The 1851 England Census has the following neighboring households on Durham Street, Middlesbrough (just 7 households from his father, William the baker, and sister Eleazer):
       William Hughes     Head  Mar  32 Engineman […]  Durham Hartlepool
       Johannes Hughes   Wife   Mar  36                             Yorkshire Harlsey
       Sarah Hughes         Daur   U     10 Scholar                Durham Stockton
       William Hughes     Son               9 Scholar                Durham Stockton
       Ann Hughes           Daur             8                             Durham Stockton
       Harrison                 Son               6 Scholar                Yorks Middlesbrough
       Mary J Hughes      Daur    U      2 Scholar                 Yorks Middlesbrough
       Johannah Hughes  Son               6m                           Yorks Middlesbrough

The next house is uninhabited, and the house after that has:
       Elizabeth Brown  Head    Mar  24  Sailor’s Wife      Durham Stockton
       Sarah Brown        Daur               3                             Yorks Middlesbrough
       Mary Brown         Daur              1m                          Yorks Middlesbrough
       Mary Lynas         Visitor           28  Sailor’s Wife     Durham Hartlepool
       William Lynas     Son                 4                             Yorks Middlesbrough
       Arabella Lynas     Daur             18                             Yorks Middlesbrough
(Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2383; Folio: 263; Pages: 2021; GSU roll: 87061).

The first household is that resulting from the marriage of William Hughes and Johanna Harrison. England, Select Marriages 1538-1973 records the following marriage on 3 Aug 1839 at West Acklam:
       William Hughes
       Joanna Harrison
The corresponding BMD Marriage Index has:
       William Hughes Sep1839 Stockton 24 142 (to Joanna Harrison).

Also, I draw attention to William's place of birth, Hartlepool. Jane Strong (nee Hughes), whom I hypothesize to be his sister, gives the same birthplace in her 1851 census return. William has not yet been connected with William the baker, but his neighbors are clearly daughters of William Hughes, the baker of the 1841 and 1851 censuses as we see now.

The next inhabited  household is that of Thomas and Elizabeth (nee Hughes) Brown. By the time of the following census, they even have a child named Arabella. England, Select Marriages 1538-1973 records the following marriage on 6 January 1846 in Middlesbrough:
       Elizabeth Hughes (Age:20; father: William Hughes)
       Thomas Brown (Father: James Brown)

Visiting with Elizabeth Brown (nee Hughes) in the 1851 Census is Mary Lynas, who, as we shall see, turns out to be Elizabeth’s sister. Note Mary's birthplace of Hartlepool, Durham. England, Select Marriages 1538-1973 records the following marriage on 21 November 1844 in Middlesbrough:
       Mary Davison Hughes (Father: William Hughes)
       Thomas Lynas (Father: Ralph Lynas)

The Arabella Lynas is most likely Arabella Hughes (daughter of William, the Baker, and Sarah, his wife) who the enumerator has confused as Mary’s daughter.

England and Wales Civil Divorce Records for 1863 document the dissolution of the Lynas marriage. The allegation was that Mary committed adultery on numerous occasions with one Joseph Ranson (who, as we shall see, she later married). Some of these occasions occurred at the Hope Inn in Hartlepool, where we find them in the 1861 England Census, recorded as husband and wife, even though this was before the divorce was even filed.
       Joseph Ranson          Head      Mar     47  Victualler  Durham Shiney Row
       Mary Ranson            Wife      Mar      37                    Durham Hartlepool
       Thomas Applegarth  Boarder  Mar     31  Joiner        Durham Bishopaukland
       Ara Applegarth         Boarder (Wife)  27                    York Middlesbro
       Thomas Applegarth  Boarder               1                     Durham West Hartlepool
       Pemelia Wood           Serv       Un      18 Domestic Servant  York Leeds
(Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 3702; Folio: 50; Page: 2; GSU roll: 543174).

The BMD Marriage Index has the following reference to Mary's remarriage:
       Mary Davison Lynas Dec1872 Stockton 10a 215  (to Joseph Ranson)

The BMD Death Index has:
       Mary Davison Ranson Dec1881 Guisborough 9d 339 Age: 58

Ara Applegarth is Arabella Hughes. England, Select Marriages 1538-1975 records the marriage on 31 Dec 1855 in Middlesbrough of Arrabella Hughes (father: William Hughes) and Thomas Applegarth (father: Robert Applegarth). This corresponds to BMD Marriage Index
        Arabella Hughes Dec1855 Stockton 10a 100 (to Thomas Applegarth)

The 1871 Census has the family on Brentwall Street, Middlesbrough (Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 4893; Folio: 26; Page: 46; GSU roll: 848006).

The BMD Death Index has Arabella Applegarth Sep1874 Stockton 10a 40 Age:39.

Returning to the names on the 1841 Durham Street census, England, Select Marriages 1538-1975 records the marriage on 24 April 1845 in Middlesbrough:            
       Chapman Hughes (father: William Hughes)
        Frances Calvert (father: John Calvert)

This corresponds to BMD Marriage Index
        Chapman Hughes Jun1845 Stockton 24 229 (to Frances Calvert).

The 1851 England census has Chapman and Frances Hughes on Durham Street where his occupation is Butcher and birthplace Hartlepool, Durham (Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2383; Folio: 261; Page: 17; GSU roll: 87061). By 1861, they are in West Hartlepool, and he is a Joiner, as he had been apprenticed according to the 1841 census (Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 3702; Folio: 54; Page: 9; GSU roll: 543174).

The BMD Death Index has:
       Chapman Hughes Dec1865 Hartlepool 10a 80.

Natl Prob Cal records the death of Chapman Hughes Joiner on 11 November 1865, probate 13 Jun 1866 to Frances Hughes his widow.

There is one more sibling of Jane Hughes to recover. In the 1841 England Census, Joseph and Jane Strong are living with Thomas and Ann Bothwick. These would be the couple recorded in England, Select Marriages 1538-1973, married in West Acklam 9 June 1838:
       Anne Hughes and Joseph Bothwick.

This corresponds to BMD Marriage Index:
       Anne Hughes Jun1838 Stockton 24 171 (to Joseph Bothwick)

Which certificate looks worth the purchase, since it would confirm the identity of Anne's father as William Hughes, Baker, and thus link the whole reconstructed family, which currently I hypothesize as:
       William Hughes born 1798 Stockton
       Sarah ? born 1787‐1791
       Children (with approximate years of birth, place of birth and husband's last names):
              John                 1812‐1816 no place given
              William            1818         Hartlepool
              Jane                  1820         Hartlepool (Strong)
              Anne                1821         Hartlepool (Bothwick)
              Mary Davison  1823         Hartlepool (Lynas, then Ranson)
              Chapman          1824         Hartlepool
              Elizabeth          1826         Stockton (Brown)
              Hannah Eliza    1828        Stockton
              George              1831        Stockton
              Arabella            1834        Middlesbrough (Applegarth)

Sarah is the mother of the three born in Stockton, and, presumably, Arabella, but until we find baptisms for the children born in Hartlepool, We cannot rule out the possibility of a previous marriage.