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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Monmouthshire => Topic started by: lazydaisy on Wednesday 25 February 15 22:20 GMT (UK)
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Hello
Vague family stories state that my 3x grandfather Valentine Hughes wife Maria, murdered their baby daughter Eliza, by drowning her in a pan of water and cutting open her abdomen. So gruesome!
I have seen an account that confirms this in the Monmouthshire Merlin (via welshnewspapers on line).
It appears to have been pre meditated as a witness at the inquest states she tried to by arsenic prior to carrying out the deed. It is also inferred that she was overcome by insanity.
I have tried to find out if there was a trial, but cant seem to find any reports. Does anyone know what happened to Maria?
Any information would be appreciated
Many thanks
LD
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A later report notes
The unhappy woman, Maria Hughes, who stands charged with the wilful murder of her child, continues in a very violent and ungovernable condition.
And by 4 June 1842
On Monday last, the unhappy woman Maria Hughes, whose committal to the County Gaol for the wilful murder of her infant, we some time since reported, was removed to a Lunatic Asylum, at Devizes, in accordance with the order of the Secretary of State.
Not sure of the legislation at the time, but she may never have been formally tried if deemed unfit by insanity
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Thanks for that Mabel
Wonder why sh was moved there? Was there nothing closer?
LD
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Also - I can't seem to find a death for her
LD
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It looks like there weren't really any pauper asylums anywhere much in Wales in 1842 - see http://studymore.org.uk/4_13_ta.htm#Wales
they may also have taken a deliberate decision to move her away from her local area
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Mabel
Thanks for the link - it is a really interesting site
LD
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Hi there,
My great-great-great grandfather was Valentine's brother Charles and although I've been researching the family tree for a couple of years now, it's only now that I'm looking into the Hughes family in Dingestow and Wonastow that I've read about this shocking incident.
I'm at the same place as you, wondering what happened to Maria. I did have her death on my tree, but if she was sent to Devizes, my entry must be wrong.
Did you manage to find anything concrete afterwards?
Regards,
Dave
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Hello Rollwrong
Sorry to say that I have not made any advances on whatever happened to Maria. I understand there is a death for a Maria Hughes in Monmouth in 1842 but I have not confirmed it is this Maria.
Also, I understand that Valentine may have been married before he married Maria but have not discovered who his first wife may have been. I think he was in his late thirties when he married Maria - which strikes me as as rather late on for a first marriage.
So, can anyone find out if if he was married prior to marrying Maria? and if so - who was his first wife
Any help greatly appreciated
LD
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Hi Lazydaisy,
I've not been able to find anything for his first wife (although I will have a more thorough look when I get a chance).
I've always had Elizabeth down as Valentine's first daughter, born around 1821 in Dingestow. I presume this is your ancestor?
Aside from believing that the Hughes family moved from Wonastow to Dingestow, I haven't got any further back than Valentine and Charles's grandfather William Hughes.
My mother was a Hughes, so it's a major branch of my tree.
Regards,
Dave
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Hi Rollwrong
Yes, I believe my connection is through Elizabeth being Valentines daughter.
Also a bit of a mystery is Diana Davies, mother of Valentine and Charles.
I seem to remember being told that Diana & her husband Mr Hughes - cant recall his name ??? ??? were married in a Catholic church. Wonder if this is true?
Do you have any info on this?
LD
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Hi LD,
I've got Diana Davies' husband as John Hughes (b.1765).
I have their marriage as being "in Wonastow" and Valentine's baptism record shows he was Christened in Wonastow church.
I don't believe there is (or has been) a Catholic church in the village, so although I can't say 100% about the marriage, I believe Valentine's baptism was Church of England (I was going to say Church in Wales, but it didn't exist back then :-) )
Where did the Catholic marriage idea come from? My family are all Anglican or (mainly) Welsh non-Conformist, so a bit of Catholicism to mix it up would be nice!
Regards,
Rollwrong
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I finally managed to visit Dingestow today with my family. I wasn't sure whether we'd find Eliza's grave (or indeed if there was one).
It was a sad moment for us all when we found Eliza and Valentine's grave almost immediately. Our guess was that the parish may have contributed as it was quite a fine monument, not far from the church door.
What did surprise us (and maybe shed some light on how Valentine and his family thought of the events) was that Maria was also listed as being Eliza's mother. I was honestly expecting her not to be mentioned.
I have a photo and full transcription if anyone would like a copy - let me know!
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I finally managed to track down the final years of Maria Hughes. Yes, she did get sent to Devizes Asylum and I'd assumed that it was the place she'd seen out her days.
In 1851 however, the Joint Counties Asylum was opened in Abergavenny. Maria was transferred there in 1853. She died in 1858 at Abergavenny - One of 3000 patients to do so at the hospital before its closure in (I think) 2009.
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The marriage took place Dingestow 27 May 1839
Valentine Hughes (bachelor) age 43 labourer
Mariah Williams (spinster) age 38 servant
witnesses John Hughes and William Robinson
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Rollwrong,
I would be interested in the photo's that you have from your Dingestow cemetery trip. I have researched the Hughes line and am getting back into it. Any additional Hughes that can be found in this cemetery, John and Diana ? The last Hughes I have are John Hughes (1765-1835) who married Diana Davies (1763-1841). Are any further generations proven ?
Cheers,
Jaime
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hi there is a valentine Hughes buried in dingestow 12 jan 1863 age 69 abode coed y vedwr