Rev. Joseph Hughes (1803-1863)

The Rev. Joseph Hughes was the Vicar of St. Bartholomew, Meltham, from 1838 to his death in 1863.

Biography

He was born in 1803 in Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, the son of David Hughes.

He married Catharine Laycock of Armitage Bridge, daughter of William Laycock, on 30 August 1837 at Emmanuel Church, Lockwood. The couple had one known daughter:

  • Jane Gwenhwyfar Hughes (1841-1929?)[1]

According to one newspaper report, Catherine mistook her pregnancy for dropsy, even when her own doctor suggested otherwise. As such, she was unprepared for the birth of her daughter.[2]

The Rev. Joseph Hughes died on 8 November 1863, aged 61, and was buried at St. Bartholomew on 12 November.

He had begun writing a history of Meltham in December 1851 but it remained unfinished when he died. His wife Catharine edited his papers and they were published with additions as The History of the Township of Meltham in 1866.[3]

Catharine Hughes died on 4 October 1880 at Belgrave Villas in Huddersfield, aged 78, and was buried at St. Bartholomew on 7 October.

Publications

Further Reading

Gallery

    Loading... ::::::omeka tag Rev. Joseph Hughes (1803-1863):::

Notes and References

  1. Gwenhwyfar being the Welsh for Guinevere. Born 8 February 1841 and baptised at St. Bartholomew on 4 April 1841 by her father. Believed not have married and died in Huddersfield in 1929.
  2. "An Inexperienced Wife!" in Leeds Times (20/Feb/1841).
  3. In February 1867, the Huddersfield Archaeological and Topographical Association recommended that Catherine Hughes should become an honorary member of the association on account of her work in publishing the book.