Dear FamilyTreeCircle Members, this family is my mother-in-law's ancestry... She states that she had eight direct line ancestors all named Stephen HUGHES in her family ... this would make the years roughly going back to the year 1720 or earlier.

Stephen HUGHES born 1838 Molash, Kent, England (parents names now known as Stephen HUGHES born 1799 Molash, Kent, England died 4 Jul 1846 and Sarah GREENSTREET born 1801 Molash, Kent, England) married 29 Feb 1864 Parish Church, Maidstone District, Kent, England to Eliza CHEESMAN also known as Elizabeth SHORTER {but I have no concrete proof of this, only verbal info handed down from my mother-in-law}, born 1842 Boughton Blean, Kent, England, died New Zealand. I think that Eliza was the daughter of William CHEESEMAN born c1816, died bef 1846 and Harriett BOLTON b1816 Maidstone, Kent, England - married 2nd Qrtr 1843 Maidstone Volume 5 Page 369. Stephen & Eliza HUGHES had 12 children.

Kent Registration Services - Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates

1. Stephen HUGHES** born 11 Jun 1863 Kent, England
married 1 Jul 1896 NZ to Mary SCOWN born 10 Feb 1876, she was the daughter of William Daniel SCOWN and Mary Lett HARRIS.

2. Thomas (Tom) HUGHES born 1865 Bearsden, Kent, England, died 22 Aug 1941 NZ. Married 30 Apr 1897 Wanganui NZ Ada Sarah BURGESS born 1876 Greatford, New Zealand. Ada Sarah BURGESS was the daughter of Henry BURGESS and Ann WALTON. Tom & Ada HUGHES had four children:-
i) Herbert Thomas HUGHES born 2 Jun 1897 20 London Street, Aramoho, Wanganui, New Zealand died 28 Dec 1990 aged 93 years;
ii) Walter Henry HUGHES born 20 Jan 1903 20 London Street, Aramoho, Wanganui, New Zealand died 7 Jan 1979;
iii) male HUGHES born abt 1905 and possibly died young as other family members didn't know there were four children.
iv) Myrtle Maryann Eliza HUGHES born 1908 20 London Street, died 1 Jul 1979 Wanganui, New Zealand, married 1929 Thomas Gordon CAMPBELL who died abt 1980 Wanganui NZ. [Source: probate records/brides & grooms records]

3. John (Jack) HUGHES born 1867 Bearsden, Kent, England, died 5 Oct 1952 91 Clarence Street, suburb unknown, New Zealand. Married 10 Feb 1893 Auckland, New Zealand to Christina Blanche O'CONNELL born 6 May 1872 Grahamstown, Thames, New Zealand, died 27 Jul 1947 Auckland NZ. Christina was the daughter of William O'CONNELL and Ann known as Honora. The couple had 6 children, the first two being adopted.
i) Len HUGHES
ii) May HUGHES
iii) John Stephen HUGHES born May 1899, married Alfreda CORK;
iv) Sarah HUGHES born 9 Feb 1903 Auckland;
v) Ross Norman HUGHES born 13 Jul 1906 Auckland, cremated at Purewa, Auckland, 18 Sep 1878;
vi) Richard Hellaby HUGHES born 25 Dec 1908 Auckland.

4. George HUGHES born 1872 Bearsden, Kent, England, died 10 Aug 1941 New Plymouth Hospital, Taranaki, New Zealand. Buried Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Never married.

Cemeteries and Crematorium - Urban Cemeteries - Te Henui Cemetery

"...Junction of Watson and Lemon streets, New Plymouth.
Te Henui opened in 1861 and is the original New Plymouth public cemetery. Set in an attractive park environment, it serves mainly as a heritage cemetery rich in local history and monuments..."

5. William HUGHES born 1874 Bearsden, Kent, England, died 27 Nov 1945 NZ. Married 1897 Amabel ELLIOT born 29 Dec 1876, died 2 Jan 1929 NZ. Amabel was the daughter of William ELLIOT b abt 1840 and Emmelena MOON born 25 Dec 1849 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. The couple had 7 children - William, Veta, Mervyn, Clarence, Lilia, Keitha and Hedley. Photograph of the family is available. See other journal/s.

6. Sarah Ann HUGHES christened 3 Aug 1873 England, buried 28 Dec 1873 Bearsted, Kent, England.

7. Avalanche Isaac HUGHES birth: Male Hughes Q4 (Oct-Dec) 1874 District Stepney Vol 1c Page 502. [Source: FreeBMD Index]
DEATH: Male Hughes Age 0 Q4 (Oct-Dec) 1874 District Stepney Vol 1c Page 404. [Source: FreeBMD Index.]
The Births at Sea Register folio 866 at the ONS shows the child's name as Avalanche Isaac Hughes, parents Stephen & Eliza Hughes.

8. Elizabeth HUGHES born 1876 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand, died 19 May 1877 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.

9. Ada Emma Jane HUGHES born 10 Dec 1878 New Plymouth, New Zealand, died 31 Aug 1946 Hobsonville, Auckland NZ buried Te Henui Cemetery, married 16 Dec 1897 in the Te Henui Church at New Plymouth to Frank PETCH born 9 Dec 1873 South Killingholme, Lincolnshire, England. Frank was the son of Charles PETCH and Mary Anna SALVIDGE. Frank & Ada HUGHES had two children, Lewis {married Edith Maud JENKINSON} and Oswald PETCH {married Margaret Queenie Christina WELLS}. Photograph available on the family.

10. Alfred HUGHES born 4 Feb 1881 Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand never married, and died aged 61 years 7 Apr 1942 New Plymouth Hospital, Taranaki, New Zealand and is buried Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, New Zealand.

11. Alles (Alice) HUGHES born 4 May 1883 New Zealand married 1905 to Francis Ernest Emille BRENMUHL (known as Frank). Frank was the son of Ernest Carl BRENMUHL died 1924 Wanganui and Eugenie Catherine who died 1938 Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand. His occupation was a Carrier and he was of German origin. Three children: Ruby born 1906 {married PENTECOST and LETHBRIDGE}, Cecil born 1909 and Ronald.

12. Ellen May HUGHES born 24 May 1885 Taruruitanga, New Plymouth, New Zealand, died 14 Jul 1940 25 Somme Parade, Wanganui, New Zealand, buried Aramoho Cemetery, Aramoho, Wanganui, New Zealand. Married 7 Jun 1906 James HASLER born 1884 NZ son of John George HASLER and Susannah Elizabeth {unknown).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More information about the HUGHES family, emigrees from England.

Stephen Hughes** came to New Zealand with his parents and brothers on the ship "Avalanche" which sailed on the 22nd October 1874, and arrived in Wellington on the 21st January 1875. They then continued their journey on the same ship and landed in New Plymouth.

Passengers were:
HUGHES, Stephen aged 36, Kent, Farm Labourer
HUGHES, Eliza, aged 32
HUGHES, Stephen aged 13, transferred to S.M.
HUGHES, Thomas aged 9
HUGHES, John aged 7
HUGHES, William aged 4
HUGHES, George aged 2

Arrival of the Avalanche - The Taranaki Herald, Saturday January 23rd 1875

Stephen HUGHES Snr. was possibly given a land grant at Waitara.
[Source: M.Hughes, granddaughter].

1896 Occupation: Platelayer.
1968 Occupation: Railway employee. Source: Death Certificate of daughter, Lydia Elizabeth Ruth Denly.
1910 Occupation: Railway Porter Source: Birth Certificate of child, Stephen Hughes.
1931 Occupation: Retired Railway Servant. Source: Death certificate of child, Owen Victor Hughes.
1935 Occupation: Retired railway man. Source: Marriage certificate of daughter, Martha Coulter Eadie.

MEMORIAL INDSCRIPTION: "In loving memory of Stephen Hughes, passed away peacefully on 7th July 1941, aged 77 years. Sleep, beloved, sleep.

There is no death, an angel form
Glides o'er the earth with silent tread,
And bears our best loved ones away,
And then we call them dead.

For him no bitter tears are shed,
His night of pain is o'er;
But weep our lonely path to tread,
And see the form we loved no more."

----------------

Stephen HUGHES married 1 Jul 1896 at the Wesleyan Church, Wanganui, New Zealand to Mary SCOWN, born 10 Feb 1876 Wanganui, New Zealand to parents: William Daniel SCOWN 1844-1921 and Mary Lett HARRIS.

Stephen and Mary HUGHES had five children ... their family photograph is below.

1.Royal Recordia Ethel HUGHES born 25 Jun 1897, died 1968 Nursing Home, NZ married 26 Oct 1921 Waverley NZ to Henry (Harry) TAMS who died 1967 Palmerston North NZ. DEATH: Harry Tams was cremated at the Crematorium, Kelvin Grove Cemetery, on the 5th of May 1967. His ashes were placed in the Garden of Remembrance and his name entered in the Book of Memories. Source: Letter to Mrs. M. Lyons, 103 Ulster St, Hamilton dated 30th June 1969 from Cemetery Clerk, City Council Chambers, Private Bag, Palmerston North, NZ. PROBATE RECORD: Name: TAMS Henry, Place: Auckland: Occupation: Retired, Court: Auckland, Archives Reference: BBAE 1570, Probate Record: 1523/67, Filed Date: 12 Jun 1967, Type: Will.

2.Lydia Elizabeth Ruth HUGHES born 19 May 1899 Momohaka, New Zealand. Occupation: Home duties at time of marriage. Usual residence was Nukumaru. DEATH: 18th Oct 1968, at usual residence of 84 Crummer Rd, Grey Lynn. [Source: Certified Copy of Entry of Death No.17944].
Married 1 Mar 1924 Registrar's Office, Wanganui, New Zealand to Herbert Tilton DENLY born 1894 Invercargill, Scotland, died 3 Nov 1967
Occupation: Electrician at time of marriage. Usual residence was Wanganui. DEATH: All details including parents names. Source: Letter to Mrs. M. Lyons, 103 Ulster Street, Hamilton dated 12th August 1969 from Messrs. Watney Sibun's Sons, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Auckland, New Zealand. Herbert was the son of Bernard DENLY of Wiltshire, England and Frances FREETH of Scotland.

3.Alma Frances HUGHES born 16 Apr 1902 Moumahaki, Wellington, New Zealand, died 6 Jul 1956 and is buried at the Te Aroha Cemetery, Rotorua, New Zealand.

4.Stephen HUGHES born 23 Jun 1910 Otorohanga, New Zealand, died in hospital 6 Jul 1956 aged 46yrs of blood clot from duodenal ulcer operation. Married 16 Jan 1935 The Terrace Congregational Church, Wellington, New Zealand to Martha Coulter EADIE born 16 Jan 1912 Harthill, Lanarkshire, Scotland to parents: Andrew EADIE 1866-1942 of Plean, Stirlingshire, Scotland and Mary Jane COULTER 1875-1956 of Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

5 children of Stephen HUGHES and Martha Coulter EADIE;-

i) Mary Coulter Eadie HUGHES born 1 Feb 1936 Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand died 8 Feb 2008 Ipswich, Queensland, Australia married 20 May 1961 New Zealand Barry James Joseph LYONS born 19 May 1934 Auckland, New Zealand, died 31 Mar 2003 Richlands East, Queensland, Australia.
ii) Stephen Owen Lesley HUGHES born 13 Oct 1937 Palmerston North, New Zealand died 3 Feb 2000 Rotorua, New Zealand, buried 10 Feb 2000 Rotorua. Occupation: Swimming coach; retired school teacher.
iii) Stillborn female HUGHES 1 Aug 1939 Hawera, New Zealand;
iv) Living HUGHES
v) Living HUGHES

5.Owen Victor HUGHES born 21 Mar 1919 Hangatiki, New Zealand, died sadly aged just 12 of myocardial failure for several years. DEATH: 22 Aug 1931 at Waihou of Myocardial failure for several years. Medical attendant: Gordon Cook 21 August 1931. Parent's names: Stephen Hughes (retired Railway Servant) and Mary Hughes nee Scown. Buried 24 Aug 1931 at Te Aroha. Born Hangatiki. [Source: Certified Copy of Entry of Death No.47141].

MEMORIAL INSCRIPTION: In loving memory of Owen Victor Hughes, passed away peacefully on August 22nd 1931, aged 12 years, 5 months. A little sufferer gone home.

"Silently the shades of evening
Gather round our lonely dorr,
Silently they bring before us
A face we shall see no more.

Oh! not lost, but gone before us,
Let him never be forgot,
Sweet his memory to the lonely,
In our hearts he perish not."



BACK ROW L-R Lydia, Royal, Alma
FRONT ROW L-R Mary HUGHES nee SCOWN holding Owen, Stephen HUGHES Junior and Stephen HUGHES Senior.