Births | Wills | Notes from History of Old St. David's Radnor
Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania births, Delaware County, 1682-1800. (Washington, D.C. : Humphrey Publications, 1995.)
Delaware County wasn't formed until 1789 (formed from Chester) - so I have included these early births in Chester County instead of Delaware.
| Chester Monthly Meeting (est. 1681) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Date | Parents |
| Hugh, Martha | 1684 March 11 | Stephen - Frances |
Concord Monthly Meeting (est. 1684) - Concord Twp. |
||
| Hugh, David | 1697 Jan 19 | David - Martha |
| Hugh, Evan | 1699 May 20 | Robert - Sarah |
| Hugh, Margaret | 1702 Feb 9 | John - Ellin |
| Hugh, Gainor | 1704 Dec 11 | John - Ellin |
St Paul’s Protestant Episcopal (1702) - Chester |
||
| Hugh, Morgan | 1705 March 15 (bp) | Edward - wife not named |
| Hugh, Elizabeth | 1705 Sep 27 (bp) | Morgan - wife not named |
St David’s Protestant Episcopal (1700) - Radnor |
||
| Hughes, Elizabeth | 1706 Jun 8 | Morgan - Elizabeth |
| Hughes, Benjamin | 1708 Nov 2 | Morgan - Elizabeth |
| Hughes, Edward | 1712 Nov 6 | Morgan - Elizabeth |
| Hughes, Mary | 1719 March 20 | Richard - Margaret |
| Hughes, John | 1721 May 17 | Richard - Margaret |
| Hughes, Jonathan | 1723 Apr 5 | Richard - Margaret |
| Hughes, Isaac | 1726 March 20 (bp) | Richard - Margaret |
| Hughes, Elizabeth | 1728 Apr 5 | Richard - Margaret |
| Hughes, Edward | 1730 Sep 10 | Richard - Margaret |
| Hughes, Edward | 1732 Feb 24 | Richard - Margaret |
| Hughes, Cadwalader | 1725 Sep 7 | Cadwalader - Jane |
| Hughes, Morgan | 1737 March 19 (bp) | Benjamin - Ann |
| Hugh, Esther | 1740 Apr 27 (bp) | Benja - Anna |
| Hughes, Elizabeth | 1738 June 11 (bp) | Matthew - Margaret |
| Hughes, Ezock | 1738 June 11 (bp) | Morgan - Margaret |
| Hugh, Elizabeth | 1745/6 Jan 16 | Morgan - Horne? |
| Hugh, Owen | 1748 May 2 | Morgan - Horne? |
| Hugh, Hugh | 1752 Jul 6 | Morgan - Horne? |
| Hugh, Margaret | 1759 July 23 | Morgan - Horne? |
| Hugh, Mary | 175x May 2 | Morgan - Horne? |
Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania births, Chester County, 1682-1800. (Washington, D.C. (P.O. Box 15190, Washington 20003) : Humphrey Publications, 1994)
| Nottingham Monthly Meeting - est 1749 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hughes, Elizabeth | 1750 11mo 7 | Elisha - Mary |
| Hughes, Margaret | 1751 11mo 21 | Elisha - Mary |
| Hughes, Rachel | 1754 2mo 10 | Elisha - Mary |
| Hughes, Rachel | 1755 2mo 10 | Elisha - Mary |
| Hughes, Mary | 1763 8mo 13 | Elisha - Mary |
| Hughes, Edward Thomas | 1765 1mo 9 | Elisha - Mary |
New Garden Monthly Meeting - est 1718 |
||
| Hughes, Mark | 1771 12mo 12 | Samuel - wife not named |
| Hughes, Ellis | 1792 10mo 4 | Samuel - Lydia |
| Hughes, James M | 1795 1mo 12 | Samuel - Lydia |
| Hughes, Sarah | 1796 7mo 27 | Samuel - Lydia |
| Hughes, Jesse | 1800 5mo 29 | Samuel - Lydia |
Wills - These come from a couple of sources. Most are from the book: Wills of Chester County, Pennsylvania based on the abstracts of Jacob Martin. (Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, 1993). Then there are some from the database at Ancestry.com - and I suspect their source might have been that very book. The ones I copied from the book have page numbers in front, the ones from Ancestry do not - I have interfiled them by date.
Volume 1
p. 16 - Withers, Thomas, Chichester 29 Mar 1720 - 15 Feb 1720 - A 90
dau Mary Hughes £16
p. 21 James Broom, Chester - 13 July 1721 - 19 Dec 1721 A 127
John Hughes wit Ancestry says James Brown - I might have made a copying error
p. 35 John Moore, Cain - 11 Dec 1726 - 10 Apr 1727 A 239
Richard Hughes wit
p. 37 - Hughs, Morgan, Easttown 21 Nov 1726 - 31 May 1727 - A 242
wife Elizabeth
eldest son Benjamin - plantation where I dwell 100acres and farm implements
son Edward £40 at age 21
dau Elizabeth £10 and household goods
dau Dorothy 20 shillings
exec - wife and son Benjamin wit William Davis, Morgan Hughes, Richard Iddings
p. 38 - Thomas Jackson, Marlborough, weaver - 25 Feb 1727 - 16 Sep 1727 A 251
servant Saml. Hughes
p. 49 - Philip Roman, Chichester, yeoman - 25 Sep 1728 - 21 Jan 1729/30 A 312
William Hughes wit
p. 65 - Elizabeth Bertram, Darby - 5 Dec 1732 - 5 May 1733 A 395
Mary Hughes wit
p. 66 - Hughes, Richard, Newtown, cordwainer - 11 May 1733 - 16 July 1722 A 399
exec wife Margaret wit Benjamin Hughes, David William, John Evans
ex. To sell all lands and other estate and proceeds to wife for bringing up children and apprenticing them to trades at 14
p. 73 - Hugh, Owen, Easttown, yeoman - 30 May 1735 - 4 Sep 1735 A 438
eldest son Evan - 1 cow
2nd son Hugh - 1 cow
3rd son Edward - 1 cow
youngest son Morgan - plantation where I live and remainder of estate
exec son Morgan wit David Davis, Edward Williams
p. 98 - Elizabeth Newlin, Concord, single woman - 5 Mar 1740 - 8 May 1741 B 78
William Hughes wit
p. 126 - Hughes, Thomas - 8 Oct 1745 - administration to Elizabeth Hughes
Volume 2
p. 16 - John Smith, Chichester husbandman - 13 Jan 1748/9 - 24 Jan C 135
friend John Hughes exec - also gets wearing apparel
p. 38 - Hughes, John - West Nantmeal - 30 Aug 1751 - 20 Nov 1751 - C 325
wife Margaret - 1/3 estate
son Alexander - £10 plus his share equal with other children
John, Jean, Rebecca and child wife is now with
exec wife Margaret, brother James Hughes
wit Samuel Allen, William Graham
p. 42, 48, 56, 101, 113, 134, 157 - These are pages I didn't have time to copy. I suspect some of them would be the same as the following, from Ancestry.
1752 May 30 - Jonathan H - witness to Thomas Moore of Newtown C:368
1753 Mar 5 - Isaac H - in possession of “messuage” for s/o Benjamin Ellis C:427
1755 Dec 11 - Margaret Hughes of Darby - probated 26 Nov 1763
dau Rachel Evans - 5 shillings
dau Catharine Huston - 5 shillings
dau Rachel Maris - all wearing apparel, household goods etc
s/law James Maris - all lands, titles . . . in PA - also exec.
1759 June 30 - Elisha H - witness to Roger Kirk of Nottingham
1762 Nov 27 - Isaac H - witness to Edward Williams of Eastown
1767 May 18 - Elisha H - witness to William Kirk
1768 Sep 18 - relation John H of Merion - exec (with friend John Roberts) of Joseph Miles of Radnor
- probated 1779 Mar 16 - execs deceased
1769 Feb 4 - Mary Dawson - granddaughter Mary Montgomery nee Hughes
Volume 3
p. 50 - Hughes, Elisha, East Nottingham - 20 Dec 1771
admin to Mary Hughes and Timothy Kirk
p. 60 - Thomas Minor, New London - 22 Jan 1770 - 10 Dec 1772
James and Alexander Hughes wit
1773 Aug 3 - James and Alexander H - witnesses to Thomas Minor
1778 Aug 3 - Edward H - James Rhoades of Marple -
wills to daughter Hannah the place whereon Edward Hughes now lives
1779 Mar 16 - John H of Merion - exec to Joseph Miles = deceased
p. 9, 25, 83 - These are the pages from volume 3 that I did not copy.
Volume 4
p. 23 - William Roberts, Uwchlan - 15 May 1780 - 20 Sep 1780
to the eldest son of Isaac H late of Berkeley Co, VA, edc’d, which he had by his wife Leah - £30
to Mary w/o Benjamin Butler of Uwchlan - £20
to sister Mary of John Butler of Uwchlan - late wife’s clothing
all remainder to Owen Hughes of Towamensing Twp, Phila Co - son of my late sister Catharine Hughes
p.36 - William Bolley, Charleston, 22 July 1780
will unsigned but proven as handwriting of testator by Col. William Dewees, Jr. of Tredyffrin
1781 Oct 20 - Samuel and Mary H - witnesses to Joseph Fleming of East Caln
1782 Dec 27 - John and Sarah H - witnesses to Elizabeth White of East Caln
1789 Oct 1 - John H - witness to Mary Mackelduff of West Nantmeal
p. 225 - John Hughes, Brandywine - 20 Feb 1794
admin to Sarah Hughes and James Lockhard
p. 242 Thomas Waters. Tredyffrin. 29 June 1794. 25 July 1795.
To my grandson Thomas Waters Griffith my plantation in Tredyffrin which was devised to me by my aunt Eleanor Davis . . .
To my daughter Eleanor, wife of John Britton . . .
Land to grandson Waters Dewess for support of mother Sarah Dewess
Legacies to grandchildren Thomas, William, George, Ann Dewees
To grandson Thomas Dewees tract of land in Tredyffin formerly of William Dewees.
p. 4, 9, 65, 68, 128, 160, 169, 199, 284 - These are the pages from volume 4 I did not copy.
10 Feb 1808 - John Hughes of West Caln - probated 9 Apr 1812
wife Jane - entire estate during widowhood, afterwards sell and divide among children
ch: Samuel
Ann Downing - $1 unless widowed, then same share as Jane
Joseph
Jane - 1/3 less than brothers
exec wife Jane, sons Samuel and Joseph, letters to Joseph H
1809 May 20 - Mark H - witness to Joseph Preston of Londongrove
Volume 5
p. 158 Ann Talbot West Caln 4-1-1811 Oct 26, 1811
witness William Dewees
1812 Feb 12 - John H d - Joseph H admin
1813 May 15 - Samuel Hughes d. West Caln - Joseph H admin
p. 347 Thomas Kennedy. East Fallowfield. 6 Jan 1821 - 1 Feb 1822
. . . the land I bought of Waters Dewees
p. 369 Sarah Dewees Charlestown 7 Apr 1822 - 14 Jan 1833
To my only daughter Ann Potts widow of James Potts the house and land I now live on during life; afterward to my two grandsons William Dewees and David Potts, subject to payment of $12 yearly to granddaughter Sarah Potts during life and privileges while unmarried
To my son Waters Deweese $1
To my sons William and George W Dewees $10 each
To Sarah, wife of Caleb Foulke . . .
remainder to daughter Ann
There are some earlier wills, included in a similar volume covering Philadelphia county. [Abstracts of Philadelphia County wills. (Westminster, Md. : Family Line Publications, 1995)] I have the complete notes I made from this book on a separate page, but I include here wills that mention Chester specifially.
Volume 1
p. 122 - Charles H exec for Thomas Evans, Upper Providence, Chester, carpenter
10 Sep 1710 3 Oct 1710 C217 mentions friend Elizabeth Meals
p. 134 - Charles Hughes 9 Dec 1711 8 May 1712 C 295
wife Rebecca
children Frances, John, Rebecca, Ann
exec - wife and Rees Ahedward
wit - Rees Ahedward and Edward Rees
p. 161 - Ellis Hughes - East Town, Chester 11 Jan 1715/6 13 July 1716 D53
John Lewis and Rees who are in Great Britain
friend William John Adams
friends Bridget Ellis, Elizabeth Ellis, Rachel Ellis
landlady Lydia Ellis
Thomas Godfrey and Isaac Tho mentioned
Overseers: Benjamin Humphrey, Newland (Rowland) Ellis, jr
exec friend John Ellis
wit Newland (Rowland) Ellis, [Benj Humphrey? notes bad]
p. 168 - servant Richard H mentioned - will of Edward Pearsall, Radnor Twp, Chester, tailor
26 June 1717 28 Aug 1717 D77
p. 185 - Edward Hughes - East Town, Chester 11 Dec 1716 14 May 1720 D155
wife Mary
ch: Evan, Morgan, Margaret, Mary, Sarah, Elinor, Catherine
gch: Mary, David, Elizabeth, children of John David and Catherine (Hughs) David
exec - son Evan, friend William Davies of Radnor, gentlemen
tutors & guardians - brother Morgan H, b/law Philip David, friend Thomas Edwards
wit - Hugh Howell, David Thomas, Thomas Edwards
p. 223 Richard H wit to John Langworthy, Radnor Twp, Chester, yeoman
17 Jan 1725/6 26 Jan 1725/6 D441
Volume 2
p. 66 - Rev Griffith H mentioned - Hugh Jones, Robinson, Lancaster Co
17 Sep 1734/5 30 Nov 1734 E307
p. 67 - Rev Griffith H guardian to (heirs of?) William Evans, Tredyfin, Chester, yeoman
25 Sep 1734/5 4 Jan 1734 E314
p. 71 - Evan H wit (and apprentice) to Isaac Morris, Fairhill, city of Phila, merchant
17 Jan 1731/2 16 June 1735 - codicil 4 Aug 1734/5 (Evan wit to that too)
p. 74 - George H trustee for Griffith Jenkin, Trefeddyfrin, Chester, yeoman
6 Dec 1734/5 7 Feb 1735
Volume 3
p. 117 Mary Hugh of Chester Co, widow - 21 Apr 1756 - 14 June 1757 K540
ch. Elizabeth (Joseph Watkin)
Mary (Daniel Watkin)
ex Elizabeth
wit Gosport Seink, William John , James Davis
This information comes from: Pleasants, Henry. The History of Old St. David’s Radnor 1700-1906. (Philadelphia: John C. Winston, 1907)
First, the strange tale of the Rev. Griffith Hughes (mentioned in a couple of wills, above), then some lists of parishoners.
Griffith Hughes, the son of Edward Hughes, of Towyn in Merionthshire, Wales, was born about 1707. He matriculated at St. John’s College, Oxford, 1729, and graduated there in 1732. He does not seem to have had any close associations with his brother missionaries while at Radnor, and no mention of him has been preserved among their letters to the Society, excepting Mr. Cummings’ letter. . . . (p. 42)
He arrived in Chester County in the winter of 1732-33 (probably), assigned to both Radnor and Perkiomen, and was greeted initially with great joy.
A letter from the “Church Wardens and Vestry to ye Society” dated “Radnor, Pensilvania, Sep. 25, 1734,” expresses profound gratitude for the action of the Society “in sending the Rev. Mr. Hughes to be our missionary who not only so well officiated in ye Welch tongue, but also by his great care, learning and Piety sufficiently demonstrates the Honourable Society’s most prudent Choice.” (p. 32)
He did a lot of traveling to the back country, and was instrumental in setting up the Bangor Episcopal Church in Lancaster County. (A number of Welsh families, having originally settled in Radnor Townshp, moved to Lancaster County in about 1730; they settled there in the township of Caernarvon.)
In a letter to the Society, dated “Radnor, Pensilvania, December 3, 1734,” Mr. Hughes refers to “several journeys to visit the back inhabitants, sometimes 60 or 70 miles from home, where I christened a great number. But in more particular at Canistogo where for some time past I preached both in Welch and English on the first Tuesday in every month.” He further emphasizes the great need of Welsh books, and suggests his willingness - “myself being the only person that officiates in that Language” - to return to London “ to reprint of Translate a Sufficient number to answer ye present necessity.”
This reference to services at Conestoga is, no doubt, to the same place which Richard Backhouse, missionary at Chester, in a letter of March 12, 1728, identifies as “Back in the Country seventy miles, at one part of Conastogoe near the Place where Mr. Weyman used to go to;” and a petition from “The Inhabitants of Canestogoe, Pennsylvania,” in 1734, to the Society represents that they were destitute of an orthodox minister for several years, “until the coming of our dear Countryman, Mr. Hughes, who hath undergone great hardship to come and preach to us once a month.” * * * “and since we cant as yet expect the happiness of a missionary we humbly pray to be supplied with some Welsh Books, the want of which has been our greatest unhappiness.” * * * “Would the Honble Society be pleased to bestow on us a Welch Bible and Common Prayer for the use of our Church, Your petitioners would esteem it as a great favor.” “At Mr. Hughes’s first arrival we had no other conveniency than the shade of any large tree to preach under, but now we have built a handsome church.” (pp. 32-3)
But his offer to leave Pennsylvania was perhaps an indication of a growing discontent - because after it was refused as "inconvenient," he simply left and went to Barbados, for, he said, health reasons:
In his next letter dated “Radnor, June 25, 1736,” Mr. Hughes completely breaks the monotony, usual to missionary correspondence, by expressing the hope that the Society has been “informed by the hands of Rev. Mr. Commissary Johnson of my being at Barbadoes, the Chief Reason of my going there was as unexpected as unavoidable and nothing but an absolute necessity would have obliged me to quit my mission without the Previous consent of the Society.” “At the Earnest Request of a very considerable number of both Welch and English that live near Tolpahocken, 70 miles from town, I officiated there & at Canistogo, at Sundry times.” “But the fatigue of returning home by Saturday night to take care of the Churches more particularly under my care and the great Difficulty of travelling into so Remote a part of the country with severall Inconveniences too tedious to be mentioned, threw me into a very Ill state of health. My Physicians were of opinion that a Sudden Change of air would be absolutely necessary for me" . . .
While in Barbados, he was offered the Rectory at St. Lucy's Parish, which he accepted - although he returned to Pennsylvania for several months before finally resigning and moving back to Barbados. The people at Perkiomen were not pleased, and petitioned for another minister:
. . . we are now destitute of a Minister and without Your Honorable Society will be pleased to Continue your care to us this congregation will in a very little time dwindle to naught, we being surrounded with Dissenters of every sort. We beg Leave further to acquaint your Hounours that unless the Gentleman you send has much more solidity and conduct than Mr. Hughes our Religion will be brought into Contempt. We shall not trouble your Honors with a Detail of his misbehaviours not doubting that you'll receive that from some able hand . . .
This letter, dated 1 Aug 1736, was signed by 37 people (most of the names were not recognizably Welsh). They also complained (earlier in the letter) that the "Very Young Welch Gentleman . . . . very seldom came near us . . . "
The story of Rev. Griffith Hughes concludes with a mystery:
There are no records regarding Mr. Hughes' incumbency at St. Lucy's Parish; but in lieu thereof a weird tradition exists there, telling of its termination as abruptly as had his connection with Radnor and Perkiomen, and that his horse . . . found tied to a tree on the sea-coast gave the only clue to the avenue of his exit. He seems, however, on this occasion to have had company, for with him are said to have disappeared the records of St. Lucy's Church. (pp. 43-4)
Appendices included in the History of Old St. Davids:
Early Communicants
The names of those who were at ye sacrament on Good Friday, March ye 23, 1721-2
David Howell, church warden Thomas Godfrey
Evan Harry, church warden Jon David
William Davies Mary Morris
Thomas Edwards William Owen
James Price Evan Jones
Susannah Price Richard Hughes’ wife and sister
Thomas James Peter Elliott
Ann James Sarah Elliott
David Thomas Jon Martin
Ann Thomas Evan Hugh
George Lewis Mary Hugh
Frances Lewis James David
Owen Hugh Griffith Jones
Ann Hugh
Phillip David
[Date, April 1725] It being the Request of the Honble Society &c. to the membrs of this Congregation to know wt they wd Subscribe to be paid yearly towards the Support of a Minister who shd settle amgst us.
We whose Names are under written Do promise to pay yearly fm time time ye Sums affixed to our Names as follows:
Evan Hughes Evan Jones
Griffith Howell Roger Parry
William Davies Richard Hughes
James Price Baddam David
Thomas David Thomas Mredith (Meredith)
John Hunter Thomas Williams
Antho. Wayne Edward Georage (George)
Thomas James Edward William
David Evans Robert Jones
William Evans Thomas Godfrey
Peter Elliott David Thomas
John David Owen Owens
Owen Hugh Hugh Hughes
Evan Harry John Lewis
Morgan Hughes Thomas Richard
Cadwaler Hughes George Lewis
Hughe Jones Griffith Jones
Edward Jones Evan Ellis
Morris Griffith Richard Hughes
Evan David William Evan
William Thomas Thomas Lewis
William Jones Thomas Griffith
William Owen Edward Williams
Walter William Samuel Owens
James David Walter David
Elizabeth Mredith (Meredith) Marck Hobet
David David Jno. Howell
Morgan Hughes Mary Morris
Hugh Jones
For ye use of ye minister, April ye 13th, 1729
Evan Hughes Ann Thomas
Hugh Hughes David Prees
John Sturgis Edward Williams
Evan Jones Edward George
Richard Hughes Joseph Jones
Anthony Wayne Jos. Hawley
Francis Wayne Hugh Jones
Evan David Walter Williams
William Owen William John
John David Thomas Godfrey
Elizabeth Howard (Havard) Evan Harry
John Provo (Prise) Thomas James
Richard Hughes Richard Evan
Morgan Hughes James Price
John Curry Walter Loyd
Thomas Moris
At St David’s Church, Nov. 7th, 1731 - We whose names are under written do promise to pay into ye Hands of the presente Church wardens the Several Sums of Moneys annexed to our Names on or before ye 16th day of May Next Ensuing the Date Here off for the use of Mr. Backouse who pretends with God’s assistance to officiate here once a Month.
Evan Hughes James David
Anthony Wayne Thomas Phillips
John Hunter Thomas David
David Howell Edwd. Williams Taylor
Walter William Andrew Keny
Richard Hughes Hugh Hughes
Stephen Cole Cadwalader Hughes
Richd Hughes, In Keeper David Morgan
Thos. Godfrey Thomas James
William John Francis James
Margaret David Richd. Richison
Wm. Thomas Magdlen Howel
John Prise Evan David
Jno. Evans Thomas Loyd
Peter Elliott John Curry
Thos. James Micah Rees
Thomas Jephreye (Jeffrey) John Jones
George James Walter Loyd
Gorge Gooerge (Geo. George) Joseph Holy
Stephen Lewish James Prise
Subscribers to ye Church Yard Wall [Date, about 1740]
The Reverend Mr. Currie Michael Willis, Junior
Francis Wayne Michael Wills, Senior
Edward Williams Thomas Phillips
John Best Arther Moor
Hugh Hughes Evan Harry
John Hughes Humphrey Wayne
Evan David Benjamin Hughes
Hugh John Charles Moor
Giles Phegan Hugh Jones Smith
Isaac Wayne Patrick Morah
Badam Davis John Jones
Samuel Macue James Hunter
Alexander Bailey Joseph Holley
John Mather Mark Morris
Nicholas John, Cordwainer Wm. Thomas. Radnor
Griffith Jones John Miles - ye Hamer man
Margaret Hughes William Williams
Morgan Hughes William Sharp
Peter Elliot John Hughes, fuler
Thomas Godfrey James Farra
George James Richard Evans
John Sturgis Walter Williams
George George
Wardens and Vestreymen (I copied only the Hughes)
Evan Hugh W 1718-27
Richard Hughes V 1727-46
John Hughes V 1744-6
John Hughes 2nd V 1797-8
Hugh Hughes V 1745-9
Benjamin Hughes (Hugh) V 1745-62
Israel Hughes V 1757-70, W 1760
Burials
Sarah Ann Hughs d/o William & Sarah d 1, 29, 1826; 1y 11m 14d
Edward Hughes d 12, 16, 1716; 56y (the oldest gravestone)
Mary Hughes d 2, 35, 1848; 82y 2m 25d
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Page last updated 19 March 2006