Family Tree Commentary

1. Introduction

The purpose of the discussion is to add some commentary to the charted family tree assembled from the Find my Past website. The comment may also serve to explain an apparent discrepancy in the family tree. For example a census entry may appear to differ from registered information or siblings may have similarly named or aged off-spring. Comments may just make it easier to follow the family tree or simply add interest. There is scope to expand or revise the comments. The assessment is of the Hughes direct and ensuing branch lines. It also contains the Fenton family tree direct and branch lines. This is because Ann Hughes nee Fenton was the mother of my three children Marian, Clifford and Michael.

2. The Hughes Line

2.1 The Hughes Male Line

The discussion commences by considering first the Hughes male line, at present firmly established in England and how it had progressed from a similar position in early eighteenth century Ireland. The detail of that progression follows a short explanation of a strong emphasis on the Irish heritage. The extent to which the family tree reveals the Hughes family’s Irish heritage, has always been strongly felt by me.

To continue with the Hughes male line by generation from me. I was born in Preston in 1931, followed by two siblings, Andrew Gerard, born 1934 and Anthony, born 1938, deceased October 2021. My father, also David was born in Preston in 1906 and died there in 1982. My grandfather David was born in Manchester in 1875 and died in Preston in 1938. My great grandfather Andrew was born in Manchester in 1839 and died there in 1893. My great-great grandfather Francis was born in Dublin in 1795 and died in Manchester in 1861. Francis’s father James was born in Dublin in 1773 and died there in 1838. His father Thomas was born in Dublin in 1748 and died there in 1826. Thomas’s parents were Laurence and Catherine, who lived in Dublin. So, this Lancashire family had earlier been solidly established in Dublin.

2.2. The Hughes Branch Lines

Taking a look now at branches immediately off the direct Hughes male line that came into England from Ireland.

The first of these is via my mother Margaret ‘Marguerite’ Ivy Hughes nee Sullivan. She was born in Liverpool in 1905, but was conceived in Ireland, out of wedlock, to Mary Josephine Sullivan (1887 - 1938) and there was no father named on the baby’s birth certificate. Soon after her birth the baby was given as a ‘care baby’ to an elderly couple living in Walmer Bridge, near Preston. The couple William and Ann Mayor, followed later by Elisha and Maggie Whalley (nee Higham).

Mary Josephine Sullivan was born in 1887 in Mill Street, County Cork. She died in 1938 in Dublin, having never married. Her father was Sergeant Michael Sullivan, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, service number 29236, who was born in 1842 in Tipperary and died there in 1916. Michael married Bridget Kirby in 1871. Michael’s father was Joannis Sullivan, who was born in Tralee in 1813 and died there in 1873. Michael’s mother was Brigida Sullivan nee Murphy, who was born in Kerry in 1821 and died there in 1871. Joannis’s father James was born in Limerick in 1780 and died in Tipperary in 1851. His mother Dorothy Sullivan nee Daly was born in Limerick in in 1788 and died in Tipperary in 1849. James’s parents were John and Juliana Sullivan nee McGrath. Bridget Kirby’s father Jacobi Kerby was born in Co. Cork in 1813 and died there 1872. Her mother Marguerite Sullivan nee Dunn was born in Tipperary in 1823.

The next earliest Irish link is through my paternal grandmother Hannah Eliza Hughes nee Vickers, who was born in Preston in 1881 and died there in 1939. Her mother was Eliza Vickers nee Donnelly. She was born in 1849 in Tynagh, Clonfert, Galway and died in Manchester in 1897. Her father Patrick Donnelly was born in Tyrone in 1817 and died in 1879. Her mother Margaret nee Nugent was born in Armagh in 1821 and died in 1881. Patrick’s father William was born in 1800 and died in 1880. His mother was Austell Donnelly nee Purcell. Margaret’s parents were Patrick and Anne Nugent nee Connon.Again, moving along the Hughes male line to my great grandfather Andrew Hughes, born in Manchester in 1839. His older siblings were born in Dublin as were both of his parents, my great-great grandparents.

Francis and Frances (Ellen) Hughes
An explanation of Frances ‘becoming’ Ellen could have been to avoid confusion with Francis. Andrew married Margaret Fearns in 1858. Margaret was born in Manchester in 1841 and died there in 1906. Both of her parents Terence and Margaret nee Mathews were born in Dublin. Terence was born in Dublin in 1810 and died in Manchester in 1871. Margaret Mathews was born in Dublin in1816 and died in Manchester in 1855. Terence’s father Joseph was born in Dublin in1780. His w mother Margaret Fearns nee Bermingham was born in Dublin in 1786. The spouse of James was Esther Hughes nee Leonard, born in Dublin in 1773 and died there in 1840. Esther’s father was Jacobi Leonard who was born in Dublin in 1749 and died there in 1834. Esther’s mother was Elizabeth Leonard nee Peters, who was born in Dublin in 1753 and died in Meath in1820. The spouse of James’s father Thomas was Bridget Hughes nee Terrell who was born in 1749 In Dublin and died there in 1811. Bridget’s parents were Laurence and The continence of an English line is now discussed through it’s link with the Vickers branch, which was resident in Lancashire since at least the early 18th century. Granny Hughes nee Vickers was the daughter of William Vickers who was born in Preston in 1848 and died in Manchester in 1899. William’s father Joseph was born in Preston in 1823 and died there in 1888.

3. The Fenton Line

3.1. The Fenton Male Line

This starts with my late wife Ann Hughes nee Fenton, who was born in Kirkham, Lancashire in 1925, the third of six children. She died in Lostock Hall, Preston in 1987. Her father Wilfred was born in Kirkham in1890 and died in Rishton, Hyndburn in 1981 . Wilfred’s father John was born in Kirkham in 1847 and died there in 1917. John’s father James Fenton was born in Martin near Kirkham in1811 and died there in 1883. James father Joseph Fenton was born in Martin? in 1771 and died there in 1837.

3.2. The Fenton Branch Lines

Ann’s mother Elizabeth Fenton nee Otton was born in Liverpool in 1895 and died in Kirkham in 1969. Her mother Elizabeth Otten nee Holden was born in Liverpool in 1869. Elizabeth Holden’s parents were Seth and Jane Holden (further details required).Her father John Henry Otton was born in Middlesex in 1859. John Henry’s father John Otton was born in Germany in 1832 and his mother Jane was born in Germany in 1834. More detail on John and Jane§ Otton requires investigation. Wilfred’s mother Elizabeth Fenton nee Gillett was born in Kirkham in 1851 and died there in 1920. Elizabeth Gillett’s fatHer Robert was born in 1797 and died in 1879. Her mother Margaret was born in 1797 and died in 1866.

4. A Reflection: Influences

My influences from early childhood in Preston, a place I loved and still do, were also unavoidably centred upon my attendance at the Catholic schools and church services were strongly established in the town. At that time there were more than a dozen Catholic churches and elementary schools in Preston and district. There were also three Catholic Grammar schools. As the population of Preston increased rapidly during the nineteenth century industrial revolution there was also significant immigration from Ireland swelling the town’s Catholic numbers. Mass on Sundays and Holy days was obligatory and children were also expected to attend Sunday afternoon Benediction Service with a lengthier service for adults in the evening. Most parishes were large with four or five priests serving big congregations. A good proportion of priests were from Ireland, as was also the case with parish nuns.

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