Robert Hughes was born on April 5, 1841 in the District of Conway, County of Carnarvan in North Wales. Robert’s occupation was that of a mariner prior to migrating to the United States and it was his seafaring that landed him in New York. Upon departing his ship at the age of 23, Robert voluntarily enlisted into the U.S. Navy as a seaman for a period of one year; on January 20, 1864. He first went aboard the USS “North Carolina”, a receiving ship, until January 27, 1864, then was assigned to the USS “Fearnot”, where he remained until March 6, 1864 when was he was promoted to Quartermaster. The “Fearnot” served as coal and supply ship for the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, sailing out of Key West to Ship Island, and after its fall, New Orleans. Hughes served in that capacity until March 9, 1864 when he transferred as a Quartermaster, onto the USS “Vincennes”, serving aboard her until May 31, 1864. Next he was assigned to the USS “Cowslip”, serving until January 31, 1865. The “Cowslip” was a part of the Gulf Blockading Squadron that participated in a raid into Biloxi Bay, Alabama on May 31, 1864 and then participated in the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. Hughes received a discharge from the U.S Navy on January 31, 1865. A Certificate of Service for Robert Hughes reveals that he later served, from January 21st through December 15, 1874, aboard the HMS “Basilisk”; in the Royal Navy.

Robert Hughes died in Sydney, New South Wales on November 27, 1918; followed by Elizabeth who died twenty-one years later, on February 6, 1939. Both were buried in the same plot in the Church of England, Section 5, in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, New South Wales.

Records indicate that after his discharge he took up residence in New Orleans, Louisiana and was involved in trading with Cuba. Hughes once related he had also served on ships on the Lakes for a year, at Lake Providence, had then shipped out aboard the “Bertha” for Liverpool, England from where he shipped out for India, then to Australia on August 11, 1867. Eventually, leaving Australia in 1874, Hughes returned to England, then left England again in 1877, for New Zealand and again returned to Australia.

In Melbourne, New South Wales, Australia Hughes found a woman named Elizabeth and her two children abandoned and stranded by an uncaring seafaring husband; who had married her in Liverpool, England. He took her under his wing and along with her children took them with him to Sydney. Living as husband and wife, Robert and Elizabeth’s first child Lizzie was born in England in 1878, the second, named Ada, was born in New Zealand in 1879 and six more followed; being born in Australia. Rose was born in 1884 but died young, Lilly was born in 1887, Alice in 1889, Albert who also died young, Robert in 1893 and Hanna in 1897. It is assumed Lizzie and Ada were the two children already with Elizabeth when Robert found her, but cared for them and raised them as his own.

Robert filed a “Declaration for Original Invalid Pension” on July 19, 1904 with the U.S. Consul at Sydney, New South Wales. In he stated his reason for applying for a pension was that he had suffered from heart disease ever since he had received his discharge from the U.S. Navy; rendering him unable to work. His application hung in limbo until September 15, 1904 when he was required to file answers put forth by the pension office. IN his answers, Hughes stated his wife’s name was Elizabeth (Roberts) Hughs and that "- - on August 20th, 1876 at Liverpool, we vowed to be true till death. God witnessed our vows, man had no hand in it; the children are registered. Neither of us belives in this mockery of being married by man till death for a trifle and divorsed by another for a few pounds again.”

A sworn Declaration, in support of his pension application, was given by the Sydney Water Police; which lead some to believe Hughes at one time was an employee with that department. In any event, his pension still was not immediately granted and he again was required to submit answers in defense of his application on June 7, 1915. He related in a second declaration to the Bureau of Pensions that “I found her stranded in Melbourne with two children, deserted by the seafaring man that married her in Liverpool. I took her and children to Sydney, I could not marry her because the scoundrel might be living…..She is a good woman. I had no cause to regret becoming her protector”.

Births, Deaths and Marriages, Wellington, New Zealand

National Archives, The Old Rectory, Hawarden , Wales

National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C

Naval Records, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri

Rookwood Cemetery Records

U.S. Consul Records from Sydney, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Pensions Records, Washington, D.C.