I believe that John Hughes was born circa 1898 and was the only child of Thomas & Mary HUGHES, who must have died as Thomas remarried to Joanna MARTIN in 1913 in Lancashire. John had 3 half-sisters, Joan HUGHES, 1915, Mabel HUGHES, 1916 and Dorothy HUGHES 1919 according to the Family History of bridgetlight2 on Ancestry.
John, 13, is seen on the 1911 census with his mother, Mary, 41, living at 310 High Street, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire (4 rooms). Mary tells us that she had been married 21 years and 1 child had been born, and was still living. Both had been born in Northop Parish, Flintshire. John’s father Thomas must have been “at Sea” as he was a Master Mariner, and I believe he is seen on the 1901 census on the “Deerhound” as Master:- Place Sch. Delivered – Plymouth 30th March 1901 – Position of Vessel at Midnight 31st March 1901 – At sea, Bristol Channel. Date when Sch. Returned to Customs Officer – 1st April 1901 Milford Haven
I don’t know when John met Ethel Kate Parry but he married her in 1921 in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay, they were living quite close to each other.
Page 28 No.56 19th Oct 1921 John HUGHES, 24. Bachelor, Mariner, 7, Mold Road., Thomas HUGHES Master Mariner & Ethel Kate PARRY, 24, Spinster, 72, Church St., Thomas PARRY, Master Mariner.Witnesses:- John BENNETT & Mary Ann HEWITT (By Licence).
There are no censuses released after the 1911 census that may throw some light on their lives, but they are seen again on the 1939 Register:-
30 Church Street , Connah’s Quay U.D., Flintshire, Wales
John Hughes 29 Mar 1897 Male Master Mariner Married 257 1
Ethel Kate Hughes 19 Dec 1896 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 257 2
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
John Barrie Hughes 30 Jul 1925 Male At School Single 257 4
1939 Register of John’s Stepmother and half – sisters
Hughes Household (3 People)#
7 Mold Road , Connah’s Quay U.D., Flintshire, Wales
Joanna Hughes 06 May 1879(1878) Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Widowed 260 1
Mabel Jones (Hughes) 24 Feb 1916 Female Artificial Silk Spinner Single 260 2
Dorothy Fullford (Hughes) 05 May 1918 Female Manageress – Drapery Dept Single 260 3
I believe that Dorothy married Clare Richard Fullford on the 12th May 1945 in a Civil Ceremony at Holywell (Flintshire (Mold)HOL/68/47).
#There was also, at that address, another person– Anne HODSON, 24th September 1880 School Teacher. Single, Sch 261 1
However fate was to find John & and another Connah’s Quay man, Frederick Edwards, (who had married a Cornish lady and was living in Penzance) on the SS “Farfield” on that fateful day. Please click on the link to read his story, although he is not mentioned on the Connah’s Quay and Shotton WW2 War Memorial for some unknown reason. However he is buried in Connah’s Quay Cemetery and has a Commonwealth War Gravestone.
This website tells the story of what happened to the SS”Farfield” and the crew. Please click on the link to read it, very interesting indeed. Permission granted by Tony from Rhiw. Many thanks to him. http://www.rhiw.com/y_mor/shipwrecks/farfield/farfield.htm
Steamer was Bombed by Enemy Aircraft off Welsh Coast when all the Crew were Killed. List sent 6th January 1943. Amend. Sent 19th April 1943.
30, Church Street, Connah’s Quay
In the Register of Deceased Seamen December 1942 was the CREW LIST
HUGHES, John – Master age 42 – 30, Church Street, Connah’s Quay
BOWLES, Vincent James – Chief Engineer age 66 – 41, Mount Street, Flint.
EDWARDS, Frederick – Mate age 36 – born Connah’s Quay – 43, Trevean Rd., Penzance
JENKIN, Alexander – 2nd Engineer age 30– born Newlyn – 27, Choyne Avenue, Newlyn
WARD, Patrick – A.B. age 28 – born Warren Point – 11, Charles Street, Warren Point
JONES, W.J. – Fireman age 48 – born Llanelly – 13, Covent Street, Llanelly
BENNETT, Harold (Herbert crossed out) O.S.age 19 – born Flint – 9, Lea Cottage, Flint
HUGHES, Thomas John – Fireman age 65 – born Wrexham – Pentre, Queensferry, Chester.
Transmitted by the Owners:- J.W. COPPACK, “Westfield,” Church Street, Connah’s Quay
Please click on the link to read Thomas John Hughes’s story.
This story must have been almost ‘normal’ in those days, it was a bad time to live through.