My fourth great grand uncle was a Welshman named John Hughes, who was born on 5 January 1788 in Newmarket, Flintshire. His parents, my 5th great grandparents, were Edward Hughes, a miner (abt 1750–-after 1803) and his second wife Anne nee Price (1763–1834).

On 2 August 1824 John Hughes married Elizabeth Jones (1796–1833) in Trelawnyd, Flintshire. She was the daughter of Thomas Jones (1764–1841), a Trelawnyd Congregationalist preacher.

John and Elizabeth had three children: Samuel, William and John. She died in 1833 shortly after the birth of John.

Three years later, in 1836 John Hughes married Grace Parry née Owens (1788–1866), a widow from the neighbouring village of Llanasa.

John’s half-brother Samuel Hughes had died in 1831, leaving his real and personal property to his half-brother: “The lease I hold under Sir Thomas Mostyn Baronet on Purgatory I leave for my brother John Hughes personally and all the household goods, all chattels, tools, alive and dead stock.”

At the time of the 1841 census John Hughes  was recorded as a farmer, aged 50, of Purgatory, Newmarket, Holywell, Flintshire. In the household on the night of the census was his wife Grace and two sons, Samuel and William, both 10. John junior, aged 8, was staying with his maternal grandparents, also in Newmarket.

On18 August 1844 John Hughes died at Newmarket of hydrothorax (pleural effusion). His death certificate gives his age as 56 and occupation miner. The informant was Thomas Jones (probably the brother of John’s first wife).

In April 1845 an obituary about John Hughes was published in the Y dysgedydd crefyddol [The Religious Teacher], a monthly Welsh language religious journal published by a group of prominent Congregationalist ministers. The obituary was the work of Eta Delta, the pseudonym of Evan Davies (1794–1855), successor to Thomas Jones as Trelawnyd’s Congregationalist preacher.

The translation below is Google’s, with corrections and improvements by Corinne Morris of the Welsh project at Wikitree, for whose help I am very grateful. Evan Davies, a preacher himself, presents the obituary in the grim language of the Dissenting pulpit: harsh, uncompromising, and not sparing of invective against this bad and corrupt world. With a little generosity, however, we can see that Davies loved his ‘old friend’ John Hughes and was stricken to see him pass away.

It gives us great PLEASURE to read our Bibles and know what God is SAYING; and we also benefit from reading monthly publications and truthful papers, to know what God is DOING . Having the stories of the lives of valuable and useful men is like a reprint of the word of God, or, like a new and observable proof of the divinity of the scriptures. It shows us the reality of the Christian religion, that the system of Christ as intermediary, the mechanism of salvation, is as powerful as ever; and it shows that our Lord, NOW, is intervening with God for us - and since he is at his job inside, in the sanctuary, we should also be with his work. Such is the dark, corrupt and carnal situation of our time and our country, that it's most commonly the proudest, most cruel, most wolflike and accursed men who will be raised up and honored, and for whom memorials are built to perpetuate their names after their burial! The people who raised themselves up by trampling on others, by causing thousands of boys from poor communities to be killed in wars, and by plundering the lives and possessions of the innocent, - to these the monuments are built - the highest monuments in this bad and corrupt world! If there is no resurrection and future world, we are the most pitiful of all in a sense: but we firmly believe that the name of the godly will be blessed forever, but the name of the wicked will rot.

In the little I will say now about my old friend John Hughes, I will try not to go to the usual extremes, elevating the deceased through reducing and criticising others.  Biographies seem very weak and valueless when they are like that - by trying to prove too much, failing to prove anything correctly and powerfully.

My old friend was born in the Purgatory, Newmarket, December 17, 1788. His parents Edward and Anne Hughes, were themselves untalented and found it inconvenient to send their children to school daily, therefore he did not have the priceless advantage of getting an education from his childhood. His father died soon, and he himself had to turn to hard and unhealthy work when he was a fairly young lad, and he was a good and faithful worker, a gentle and tender son to his mother, a loving and caring brother, yes similar to a kind father to his orphaned brothers and sisters until his death. Although the family was fairly moral and respectable, and connected to the National Church, the way he came to surpass the family, and his neighbours, was by borrowing good books, withdrawing from his wild peers on the Sabbaths, reading, reflecting, judging for himself, &c. Although he did not have extensive advantages to help attain a general or religious education, yet through his effort and diligence, and because he had much stronger natural abilities than the average, he became a very complete scholar, able to understand English authors, and write and communicate also in the English language.

When he was 18 to 20 years old, he became a regular and attentive listener to the Reverend Thomas Jones, and practiced with all the means of grace.  The ecclesiastical fellowship at that time was in the minister's house, and one Thursday night a worthy old man dropped in on J. H., and urged him to go with him to the religious meeting, which he cheerfully obeyed; and his strong abilities, his increase in knowledge, and his desire to be useful were soon discovered.

He was persuaded before many years had passed to exercise his talent and gift as an assistant preacher, and he was very hard working and faithful until his death - working together, by preaching with the minister throughout the whole area, and was very obedient and willing to go to neighborhood chapels when he was called.

When he was around 35 years old, he was married to the eldest daughter of the local minister, and they lived comfortably for some years; but at the birth of the third (who is alive) "with one blow the delight of his eyes" [Ezekiel 24:16] was taken from him; now, there are three orphaned boys, without mother or father. Since he had a tiny house, and the children had not been brought up, and weren't having their needs met by a maid, he was inclined to marry again, and no doubt he had a serviceable and very suitable one in many respects - in his heavy and prolonged affliction, he had good support, and all types of treatment, as if he were a rich gentleman.

He was extremely tolerant and quiet in his illness: although I had the honor of escorting scores, in whatever way, to the rolling river of death, yet I never saw anyone as brave and fearless of the last enemy as J. H., not only was he he was not afraid of the consequences of dying, but such a spiritual light on his soul had completely removed the fear of death itself. The last night, I said, "Good night to you J.H., poor man, I hope you get the necessary strength." "Oh, don't say like that, as if there was doubt," he said, "I have, and I will be sure to have strength again, I have no fear of dying, or the consequences." Such was his confidence that I would have been afraid lest he was too confident, or lest his confidence be on an unsound basis, lest he be a legalistic and dark man, speaking presumptuously in the dark gate of hell; but 0 , he was not like that. He was one of the most prepared, powerful and scriptural theologians; especially ready to handle every branch of doctrine which is according to godliness; completely Calvinist, according to the common understanding, but sheds light on man's obligation, and his responsibility as a holder of the divine government, as well as on the necessity of placing God's grace and man's duty to each other. Despite being so valuable and necessary in his home to finish raising his children, and despite being so diligent, effective and influential in the church, he was taken from us on August 18, 1844, at the age of 56.

Having known a little about the deceased for over 20 years, and having observed and inquired extensively over the last 3 years, I dare to guide the reader to the following:- 
1. That it is the duty and privilege of every believer to encourage his neighbours, especially the youth, for God's cause, to profess Christ; despite being often completely unsuccessful as far as humans can see, and despite receiving much discouragement and contempt - being called an enticer, &c. The name of the old man who called by and invited J. H. to the church meeting is still respectful and blessed. 
2. That it is reasonable and very necessary to have a man and a good and faithful Christian to be an occasional preacher. J. H. was a tireless, skilful and good worker, a good son, a good natural brother, a good husband, a good father, a good friend, a good neighbour, a good believer, diligent, and conscientious with the means of grace, with contributing, with temperance, and every evangelical society; indeed, I can expand and say that he was a good warner, a good counselor, a good peacemaker, a good orator, a good preacher, a good fighter against the world, the flesh, the devil, and death.  I believe he will hear the great Master saying to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things: enter into the joy of your Lord." [Matthew 25:21] 
3. That having worthy occasional preachers, homelike and truly self-denying ones, is of inestimable value, especially in a poor country, where many ministers cannot be supported to "live by the gospel." Those who love to criticise say that we, the ministers, are preaching for money; no matter how little we get for our labor, and no matter how profitable the occupation we left out of love for Christ and for immortal souls. But what will such people say about our old friend J. H., who walked and preached so much without pay, and without much thanks or human praise, for so many years (around 35)? Thanks for a new proof of the power of principle, and the love of God in the soul. Perhaps our old brother was too indifferent to advancement in worldly and religious things; his whole purpose was to live for the world to come. 
4. It is rare, and therefore very valuable to have a faithful friend, of good principle. I could have entrusted my life to him; he was not a traitor or a slanderer. I feel a great loss. How lovely to give and receive family stories with a spouse after a long journey; thus it is to look at church history from a trusted brother . Oh, I feel like half a widow! O my friend, "I worry about you, my brother" (J.H.); "you were very dear to me: your love for me was amazing, beyond the love of women." 
5. If a direct, unpretentious, and outspoken man, fierily opposed to the dearest sins of the times, reveals and condemns, according to the word, between heaven and hell, such a faithful and sincere man will surely have enemies and opposition from hell, a corrupt world, and from believers who are indolent and carnal.

No doubt my friend was very imperfect, to his sorrow; and it's equally certain that he received much hatred in return for love, like the great Saviour himself.

ETA DELTA .

I was pleased to come across some posts from a blogger who lives at Trelawnyd and has photographs of the places that featured in John’s life:

• The chapel he probably attended, where his father in law, Thomas Jones was minister to 1841 and Evan Davies was minister from 1841: https://disasterfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-ebenezer-chapel.html
• A tour of the village https://disasterfilm.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-trip-around-trelawnyd.html
• A photograph of the farmhouse at Purgatory https://trelawnydhistory.blogspot.com/2018/02/purgatory.html

Related posts

• My relatives in Purgatory
• F is for Flintshire

Wikitree:

• John Hughes (1788 – 1844)
• Elizabeth (Jones) Hughes (1796 – 1833) John’s first wife
• Grace (Owens) Hughes (abt. 1788 – 1866) John’s second wife
• Thomas Jones (1764 – 1841) John’s father-in-law

Acknowledgements: many thanks to Corinne Morris of the Welsh project at Wikitree for her splendid assistance with the translation of the obituary and also to my cousin CML who found the will.