George Hamilton Hughes^[1]

1812 - 1898  (85 years)

• Name	George Hamilton Hughes
  Born	18 Apr 1812	Roaring Creek, Montour, Pennsylvania, United States   [2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169155664
  Occupation	1851	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Farmer & Blacksmith
  Residence	1851	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Quaker
  Occupation	1871	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1871	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Quaker
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-113116
  Died	8 Jan 1898	Listowel, Wallace Twp., Perth County, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Fairview Cemetery, Listowel, Wallace Township, Perth County, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I113116	Generations
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025

  
  

  Family	Arminta Hawke,   b. 1813, Tecumseth, Simcoe Co., Ontario ,   d. 5 Jul 1892, Walkerton, Brant Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 79 years)
  Children	1. Mayor Jeremiah Boone "Jerry" Hughes,   b. 28 Sep 1836, Schomberg, King Twp., York Co., Ontario ,   d. 26 Aug 1920, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 83 years)   2. Dr. Samuel Lount Hughes,   b. CALC 4 Aug 1838, Bronnsville, York Co., Ontario ,   d. 6 Nov 1870, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 32 years)   3. Mary Eliza Hughes,   b. 1840, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Sarah Anne Hughes,   b. 1843, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 10 May 1919, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)   5. Susan Jane Hughes,   b. 1844, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 29 Jun 1856, Hawkesville, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 12 years)   6. Barclay Hughes,   b. 1847, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. Dr. Frank G. Hughes,   b. 5 Dec 1854, Hawkesville, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025
  Family ID	F28664	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		Hughes,George-0001-Family-AncestryPublicMemberTree.jpg standing - Barclay Hughes, Mrs Barclay Hughes, Dr Gabriel Lount, mrs Dr. Lount (Sarah Ann Hughes), Mr John Ballard -- sitting - Mrs Jeremiah B.Hughes, Jeremiah Boone Hughes,George Hughes, Mrs George Hughes (Araminta Hawke) Mrs John Ballard, boy seated Charles Lount - Michael Cowley originally shared this on 28 Dec 2012 to Ancestry Public Member Tree
  		Hughes,George-0003-AncestryPublicMemberTree.jpg George Hughes - Michael Cowley originally shared this on 28 Dec 2012 to Ancestry Public Member Tree

  
  

• Notes

  "On Saturday morning last George Hughes, who for nearly thirteen years has been a highly respected resident of this section of country, died at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. John Ballard, where he has made his home since he has lived here. He was in the 86th year of his age and for the past few years has not enjoyed good health although he was able to be about until two weeks ago. The old gentleman was of Quaker stock and was a notable example of the kindly disposition, the quiet even temperament and intelligence characteristic of his people. He lived through some of the most stirring scenes of Canadian history and was himself and his family directly connected therewith. During his residence here he made many warm personal friends who learned to respect and regard him highly. He retained many very vivid recollections of the early days in this country and it was alWays a pleasure to listen to his intelligent accounts of his experiences. As his end approached. He was quite ready for the release and even desired to be at rest. A little over six years ago on the occasion of his 79th birthday he drew up a short outline of the principal events in his life. Though this was evidently not intended for publication it is an interesting record, part of which is quoted below. It was written before the death of his wife who died in Walkerton about four years ago, and his son Mr. R.B. Hughes of Walkerton has also died since the sketch was written. Among other things he says: I was born April the 18th A.D., at Hughesville, in Roaring Creek Valley, Pennsylvania. The names of my father and mother were Jeremiah and Sarah Hughes who were members of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers. Our school privileges at this early date were very limited indeed, our would-be teachers would canvass the neighbourhood to see how many scholars he could obtain for the winter quarter, then he could tell how much to charge per head. He would have to board around amongst his employers according to the number sent. These schools were generally kept open three months in the year, so that what we learnt this winter would be forgotten by the next. The above has reference to country schools, not quite as bad in towns. At the age of 17 I left my dear old home, first I went to Mauch Chunk a small town on the Lehigh River, this is a great coal town the mines are nine miles from the town and river. I went to this town to learn to work iron under a triphammer, but this business soon closed, then I went to Catawissa to learn blacksmithing; served my apprenticeship for three years, then went back to Mauch Chunk and worked at my trade during the summer of 1832; went home in the fall and went to school during the winter months and returned in the spring again to my former place. In the fall of 1833 I came to Canada to see a sister and several uncles, aunts and cousins. My sister came to Canada a few years before me and was married to one Samuel Davis who had a wheelwright at Brownsville, now Schomberg, Township King, County York. He persuaded me to put up a shop beside him and start my trade. I got to be quite an expert in ironing wagons and Scotch ploughs. Here I worked for a little more than 2 years then I married my present wife, daughter of the late Benjamin and Mary Hawk. We have always kept up our New Years anniversary wedding day since, holding pleasant family re-unions. We moved to the Township of Wellesley, then called Queen's bush, in 1847 where Mr. John Hawk built a mill and laid out a village called Hawksville. Here I bought 150 acres of land and cleared up a farm and here I put in many a hard days work, cleared in 3 years 60 acres and built two barns, besides working considerable at my trade. In the fall of 1875 I sold all my property and on the 23rd May 1876 we moved to Norwich. Here I bought a house and two or three lots and afterwards built a new house more to our liking. Here we lived for eight years, but my wife's health becoming so poor we concluded to break up house keeping, and moved here to Listowel on 14th of May, 1885. We are now boarding with our oldest daughter, Eliza Ballard, and husband and live very Comfortably. Five years ago we celebrated our golden wedding with all our children and their companions with us and had a pleasant time. We had four sons and two daughters that grew up to be men and women. Our son-in-law and wife bought this farm adjoining the corporation of Listowel a little more than one year before we came to live with them. I helped them build a house suitable for themselves and us to live in. Now I want to show what changes have taken place since I first came to Canada in 1833. At this time there was not a mile of railroad in Canada or the States except the little one from the mines to the river at Mauch Chunk. Little York had just changed its name to Toronto. At this time the only village north of Toronto was Newmarket with a population perhaps of 150 or 200 at most. Our north western country at this early date was scarcely known, only as the Hudson Bay Country; and now Ontario has rail roads running in every direction, and many thousand miles in operation - my age at this writing April 18th 1891 is 79 years. Geo. Hughes P.S. My wife and I have lived together a little over 55 years. G.H. Family Members Parents Listowel Banner January 13, 1898

  
  

• Sources

  [S2] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian), Vol 1 pg 5. Bridegroom Name: Samuel L. Hughes, M.D. Age: 29 Res: Glenallen Place of Birth: Bronnsville, York Names of Parents: George & Allemanda Hughes Bride: Name: Carol Cathr. Ahrens Age: 23 Res: Berlin Place of Birth: Berlin Names of Parents: Charles & Elizabeth Ahrens Witness(S): Name: Walter Wells Res: Waterloo Name: Daniel Bowman Res: Waterloo Date of Marriage: June 27, 1867 [S269] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1871, p 45. [S242] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1851, Div. 2 Page 6.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 18 Apr 1812 - Roaring Creek, Montour, Pennsylvania, United States Occupation - Farmer & Blacksmith - 1851 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Quaker - 1851 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Quaker - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 8 Jan 1898 - Listowel, Wallace Twp., Perth County, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Fairview Cemetery, Listowel, Wallace Township, Perth County, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth