>From the Hughes-L list: ============================================================ Date: Sat, 06 Feb 1999 11:22:20 -0600 From: Vince Hughes <bvh@bellsouth.net> To: HUGHES-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <36BC7A4C.2C76@bellsouth.net> Subject: [HUGHES-L] Trader HUGHES Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Since my earlier posting on the HUGHES-Root List, a number of persons have asked for more details on the "TRADER HUGHES" story. So here is the legend, the facts and the mystery. THE LEGEND: Most histories of Amherst County, Va recount the first settler in the area as being an Indian trader known as "Trader Hughes". He, along with his Indian wife, Nikiti, established a trading post on the James River about a half-mile west of the mouth of Otter Creek. (From present day maps, this location would be near 70.367371 degrees by 37.561035 degrees.) The date of this trading station has been put between 1710 and 1720. This location was where several Indian paths intersected and near the river access to the "Valley of Virginia". This must have been a busy intersection by 1710 standards! According to Dr. William Cabell, HUGHES had the first stone chimney in the area, which qualified him at the first permanent settler. Hughes' wife, Nikiti, is said to be descended from the legendary Princess Nikiti and related to Pocahontas. Trader HUGHES and his wife had a daughter named Abadiah. Robert Davis explored the James River and found the trading post on the north side. There he met Abadiah and married her. They soon separated and Robert Davis left Va with is second wife, leaving Abadiah behind. But before Davis left, they were visited by William Floyd. Floyd later married Abadiah and their son John Floyd played an important part of the formation of Amherst Co. THE FACTS: I have traced my ancestors back to William HUGHES of Amherst Co. by tracking the ownership of property that was passed from father to son. This property plays a key role in unraveling the family connections. The property is described as located on Harris Creek near a small branch known as Fawn creek in present day Amherst Co. (not far from the Tobacco Row Mountains). The "Executives Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia", V. 5, page 136, gives the 1743 patent of George Carrington for 6000 acres on both sides of Harris Creek on the north side of the Fluvanna River in then Goochland County. Page 249 of this book gives the petition of George Carrington to include the adjoining patents of John Floyd and Orlando Hughes in his acreage. So we have a HUGHES owning land on Harris Creek as early as 1743. We know from Albemarle and Amherst County deeds that both George Carrington & Orlando HUGHES were of Cumberland Co. We know that George Carrington of Cumberland Co sold land on Harris Creek to James Crews, and that James Crews sold land on branches of Harris Creek to William Hughes. We know that one of the witnesses to this deed was John Floyd and a John Floyd was an adjoiner to the patents of Orlando HUGHES and George Carrington. We know that William HUGHES had a son named Orlander - probably his eldest son. Orlando HUGHES died in Cumberland Co in 1768, naming sons Josiah, Anthony, Caleb and Leander. A Micajah HUGHES was a witness to the will. William Hughes of Amherst County, who died in 1802, was my 4th great grandfather. THE MYSTERY: Was William HUGHES another son to Orlando? Or a grandson to Orlando? Who is Micajah HUGHES? Was Trader HUGHES a son to Orlando HUGHES, possibly Caleb or Anthony? Comments? For further information on my HUGHES line, see my web site at: http://www.my-ged.com/hughes/ Vince Hughes Germantown, Tn ______________________________ - ----------------------------