Robert 'the Quaker' (AKA Jesse) Hughes

Robert Hughes, aka "Robert the Quaker" is the only documented son of Rice Hughes. The records of St. Peters Parish, New Kent County, Virginia show Robert, son of Rees Hughes, tried to recover land his father had donated to the church. Some sources erroneously call him Jesse Hughes or John Jesse Hughes.

Some sources say he died 28 June 1730. Other sources say after 1691 or 1723.

Misidentifications

Greene erroneously identifies Robert as a son of Trader Hughes and Niketti, born 1656 in New Kent County, and died after 1691 in Virginia (Greene, 2014: 346, 349-50). Greene also speculates there was an older Jesse Hughes born about 1642 and died before 1663. The younger Jesse was then named for his older brother.

Robert is erroneously called Jesse in two undocumented oral genealogies published The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography' (Hughes Family of Powhatan County" and "Genealogy of Judge Robert W. Hughes"), which has led to much confusion. Greene repeats the same mistake. However, the dates, relationships, and biography attributed to Jesse have been shown to belong to Robert.

Family and Children

Children of Robert Hughes and Sarah Tarleton are:

1. Stephen b. 2/12/1694 Henrico Co. Va d. 11/11/1755 Cumberland Co. VA
2. Robert b. 1701 d. 1755
3. Ashford b. 1695 d. 1749
4. Sarah b. 1697 m. Tucker Woodson March 18, 1741 d. 1730 [text correction: Sarah Hughes married Thomas Atkinson on 12 February 1714]
5. Elizabeth b. 1698 d. ?
6. Isaac b. 1702 d. 1758
7. Mary Tarleton b. 1710 m. ? Walton d. 1755
8. Martha b. ? m. ? Walton d. ?
9. Susannah H. b. ? d. ?
10. Temperance b. ? d. ?
11. Abraham b. ? d. ?

Biography

The Robert Hughes family were Quakers. There are numerous references to Robert, Sarah, and some of their children in the Henrico County Friends Meeting Records shortly before 1700 up until about 1711 when Robert (who owned land, and probably lived in what is now Hanover Co., VA near Mechanicsville) moved his family south of the James River.

At that time, Henrico extended below the James River. Later, Goochland (formed from Henrico 1728) took over that territory and was on both sides of the James River. In 1749 Cumberland Co. was formed from Goochland (the part south of the James River) and took in the land that is now Powhatan Co. (which was formed in 1777 from Cumberland). The area where Robert Hughes lived is now Powhatan Co., Virginia and his home place was on Hughes Creek, a short creek just east of US 522.

Robert was the son of Rees (Reese, Reece, Rice, Ricc) Hughes, Sr., who most likely immigrated to Virginia about 1649 and settled near Black Creek in what is now northwest New Kent Co. near what was (by 1700) the Old Swayback'd or Broken Back'd Anglican Church of St. Peter's Parish which was close to present-day Tunstall. Rees Hughes, Sr. donated 100 acres to the St. Peter's Parish Church as Glebe land about 1698, not long before he died. I am of the opinion that Rees Sr. was probably a Quaker for a while also, but just before he died he returned to the Anglican Church (which may be why he donated the 100 acres--trying to make up for his having departed from the faith of his youth). At any rate, it was the controversy over the 100 acres that Rees Hughes, Sr. donated to the Church that we know Robert Hughes (who m. Sarah Tarleton)was the son of Rees Hughes. After Rees' death, Robert set about reclaiming that land which Rees Hughes, Sr. had donated to the Church. The St. Peter's Parish Church Records specifically mention that Robert was the son of Rees Hughes who had donated the land. (Robert didn't get the land, but received over a ton of tobacco for it).

"Jesse Hughes, a Huguenot emigrant, who came to Virginia with his wife about 1675 to 1700, took up the plantation in Powhatan County, VA. (then part of Goochland County, VA) on the south side of James River, called afterwards, and this day, the Hughes Creek Plantation, giving the family name to a bold stream flowing into the James. The tradition concerning Jesse Hughes, the emigrant, is that he escaped from Rochelle, France, at the age of 14, in an open boat disguised and atone, and was fortunate enough to reach England. After remaining there some years and marrying there, the two came to Virginia, and settled across the James River from Manakin Town, where a large company of Huguenots had settled on lands granted them by the English Crown."

The claim of a Huguenot origin is almost certainly erroneous. Hughes is a very unlikely name for a Huguenot family. However, there were other Huguenot families in the area, and that might account for the tradition.

Chronology

1710, 6, 23. Robert Sr, Robert Jr and Sarah Hughes signed certificate of a marriage held in New Kent. (Same day Stephen Hughes signed certificate of a marriage at New Kent MH.)
1 May 1721 Court. Will of Bartholomew Stoveall presented by Anne Stoveall, his executrix and proved by Ezekiel Sudbury, Ashford Hughes and Stephen Hughes (a Quaker); Stephen Hughes and Robert Hughes, security.
"Henrico County Court 5 February 1721-1722, p. 155 Will of Robert Hughes presented by his executor and proved by John Redford, Jacob Michaux, and Thomas Carter, three of the witnesses; Capt John Redford and Jacob Michaux, Security."

Notes from HUGHES Msg Board:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/hughes/messages/10756.html Re: Rees or Rice Hughes, wife Nicketti
Posted by: Nancy Kiser (ID *****7729) Date: December 24, 2004 at 15:01:39 In Reply to: Rees or Rice Hughes, wife Nicketti <10390.html> by Billie Harris of 10893

A scrutiny of the Register of St. Peter's parish which begins in 1686 is revealing in that it names many men living in Henrico, New Kent and the territory that later became Hanover, Caroline and Louisa Counties whose names also appear frequently in the Quaker records. Among these are: Charles Fleming, John Realy (Raley), Thomas Moorman, James Woody, Rice Hughes, Richmond Terrell, Sisilly Ellison, Alexander Mackeney, Thomas Stanley, Thomas Harris, William and John Johnson, Robert Ellison, Garret Robert Elleson, Robert Hughes and others. How many of these were Quakers in 1686 it is impossible to say, though some were, as a matter of fact, while others may have been "convinced" at a later date.?1699/1700, 12, 9. Edward Huyghs gave 500 lbs of tobacco toward the building of a new MH at Curles.

• 1700, 2, 12. Rice Huyghs condemned for misconduct.
• 1700, 2, 28. Rice Hughes signed a certificate of a marriage in New Kent County.
• 1700, 2, 28. Robert Huyghes signed a cert of a marriage held in New Kent County; first time name appeared.
• 1700, 2, 28. Sarah Hughes Sr. signed a cert of a marriage held in Black Creek MH.
• 1701, 4, 6. Rice Hughes complained of for his misconduct; condemned for same & placed on probation.
• 1703/4, 1, 18. Rachel Hughes signed mtg book as a token that she was in unity with this MM as held. ('not placed)
• 1703, 10, 10. Sarah Hughes Senior & Junior signed a certificate of a marriage held in Henrico County.
• 1703, 10, 10. Stephen Hughes signed a certificate of a marriage at Wm. Porter's house, Henrico County.
• 1705/6, 11, 19. Rice Hughes disowned.
• 1706/7, 12, 15. Edward Hughes ordered to remove obstacles that caused disturbance or he will be disowned.
• 1710, 6, 23. Stephen Hughes signed certificate of a marriage at New Kent MH.
• 1710, 4, 17. Robert Hughes proven a member of this MM when his vote was recorded.
• 1710, 6, 23. Robert Sr, Robert Jr and Sarah Hughes signed certificate of a marriage held in New Kent.
• 1711, 4, 8. John Atkinson resigned as clerk of MM having quarreled with Samuel Jordan; MM books turned over to Robert Hughes & G.R. Elyson. Atkinson mentioned that Hughes & Elyson were his friends & were responsible for his appointment as Clerk; he seemed to be a member of the New Kent PM.
• 1713/14, 12, 12. Sarah Hughes Jr. liberated to marry Thomas Atkinson.

Sources

• "Genealogy of Judge Robert W. Hughes" in Virginia Historical Magazine.
• Don Greene, Shawnee Heritage III (2014), 345, 351.
• C. V. Woodson, "Hughes Family of Powhatan County" in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography', Vol. 5 (1897), pp. 208-09.
• http://www.oocities.org/heartland/hills/3374/HUGHES/Virginia/Powhat...
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=capteasyt...
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hughes-515
• http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/woodson/1281/

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ydna R-M269 * Not same as Quaker of same name of Cumberland Co, Va.

Robert Hughes /Hov's Son - of John Rice Hooe I from Wales
Birth: 1656 - New Kent, New Kent Co, VA Death: 1685 - Hughes Creek Plantation, Henrico Co, VA Parents: John Rice/Rhys/Rees Hooe I & UNK [-N.N from Nansimund.] Half Siblings by [UNK-(Nansimund)-Headright #2]Richard, Jesse, John, Rice/Reese, Virginia, Abadiah, Mary Davis, Elizabeth Davis, Ann Pollard, John Jesse

Full Sibling: Rys How II/Rice Hooe II (whose mom was [Sarah Goodwin -former N.N #2 Headright (Nansimund ) Wife: Sarah Tarleton Children: Stephen Hughes Robert Hughes Isaac Hughes, Ashford Hughes Sarah Price (born Hughes), Elizabeth Hughes, Mary Tarleton Napier

A New Kent Rees/Rice Hughes is recorded in St. Peter's Church records. William Hughes, was hired to build St Peter's church, likely the son of Rev. George Hughes. Some believe Rees, Jr. and Edward Hughes, were first cousins. Edward Hughes continued to show up in the same records (such as the Quaker Monthly Meetings) as Robert and Sarah Hughes and Rees Hughes, Jr.