Mathew Hughes

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iain Frazier on 7th December 2023

Family connections for Mathew (Hughes) are: Some amendments added Nov 2025. HUGHES Mat/thew (Hughes) was born at Castlepollard town Westmeath co. Ireland about 1770 & became a soldier. He became a private then corporal with Westmeath militia, with whom he fought at Loughbrickland co.Down. He was tried for murder of civilians at Down Ireland, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5.5months on BRITANNIA; he was Methodist. He became a schoolteacher in his slab home at Kissing Point from 1799 to 1810. He was issued his Conditional Pardon in 1802. He was an emancipist when he married Mary (Small) on 17 10 1808 & again on 12 3 1810 at St Johns CofE Parramatta-possibly upon doubt of legality of first marriage. He moved to Charity School at Windsor; then to Richmond (close to St Anns Ryde) as master from 1813 to 1841. He was granted 65acres. He was recorded in 1827 as a shoemaker. He was recorded in 1828 as Protestant with Absolute Pardon as schoolmaster with his family at Richmond. He was recorded in 1829 & 1830 as a schoolmaster. He was a member of the Committee of Emancipated Colonists. He died on 25 12 1845 age75 at his Ricmond home & was buried at St Peters CofE Richmomd. Some details taken from this Website. Mary (Small) was born on 13 12 1791 & baptised on 26 12 1791 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She was recorded in 1828 with her family at Richmond. She died on 27 11 1879 age88. Details of Mary (Small)s family are given in entry for Mary (Loveridge ROYAL ADMIRAL 1792) on this Website. Mary (Small) & Mathew (Hughes) produced 14children: many girls 1.Susannah (Hughes) was born on 18 4 1809 & baptised on 31 5 1810 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents at Richmond. She died on 20 6 1907 age98. 2.Margaret (Hughes) was born on 27 3 1812 & was baptised on 3 7 1812 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents at Richmond. She died on 31 10 1862 age50. 3.Ann (Hughes) was born on 27 5 1814 & baptised on 5 10 1816 age2 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents at Richmond. She died on 15 11 1902 age88. 4.Robert (Hughes) was born on 6 7 1816. He died on 4 10 1818 age2. 5.Mary (Hughes) was born on 1 7 1818 & baptised on 6 10 1818 at St Peters CofE Richmond. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents at Richmond. She died on 23 4 1902 age83. 6.James (Hughes) was born on 13 6 1820 & baptised on 6 5 1821 at St Peters CofE Richmond. He was recorded in 1828 with his parents at Richmond. He died on 10 4 1886 age65. 7.Matthew Henry (Hughes) was born on 10 6 1822 & baptised on 22 12 1822 at St Peters CofE Richmond. He was recorded in 1828 (age3months) with his parents at Richmond. He died on 17 12 1905 age83. 8.Thomas Hassall (Hughes) was born on 2 11 1824 & baptised on 18 12 1825 age13m at St Peters CofE Richmond. He was recorded in 1828 with his parents at Richmond. He died on 16 7 1908 age83. 9.Elizabeth Hancox (Hughes) was born on 16 12 1826 at Richmond & baptised on 14 1 1827 at St Peters CofE Richmond. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents at Richmond. She died on 3 12 1855 age29-. 10.Eliza Rebecca (Hughes) was born on 1 11 1828 at Richmond & baptised on 17 5 1829 at St Peters CofE Richmond. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents at Richmond. He died on 1 5 1921 age92. 11.Martha (Hughes) was born on 25 10 1830 at Richmond & baptised on 5 12 1830 at St Peters CofE Richmond. 12.-14.??? (Hughes) REFERENCE Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

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Paul Anthony Coghlan on 11th July 2020

Matthew Hughes was Australia's first long serving schoolmaster. He taught at Kissing Point (Ryde)from 1799 to 1810, Windsor from 1810 to 1813 and Richmond from 1813 to his death on Xmas Day in 1845.He applied for a pension to retire upon in July 1841 but it was refused.So at 75 years of age, this pioneer of colonial education was still teaching.

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Denis Pember on 7th January 2016

Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: Ref [H2778] Hughes, Matthew, 57, absolute pardon, Britannia, 1797, life, Protestant, schoolmaster, Richmond. Hughes, Mary, 37, born in the colony. Hughes, Susannah, 18, born in the colony. Hughes, Margaret, 16, born in the colony. Hughes, Ann, 14, born in the colony. Hughes, Mary, 10, born in the colony. Hughes, James, 8, born in the colony. Hughes, Thomas, 6, born in the colony. Hughes, Elizabeth, 4, born in the colony. Hughes, Matthew, 3 months, born in the colony. Hughes, Eliza, 2, born in the colony.

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Denis Pember on 7th January 2016

In the colony, Mathew married Mary Small, the daughter of John Small (First Fleet Convict, Charlotte, 1788) and Mary Parker (First Fleet Convict, Lady Penryhn, 1788). Mathew Hughes of the parish of St John Parramatta and Mary Small were married in this church by order of His Honor Lieut Governor Foveaux this sixth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and eight by me James Mileham J.P. Both Mathew and Mary signed the register in the presence of John Small and Elizabeth Hall who also signed the register. The couple would appear to have had 14 children between 1810 and 1839.

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Denis Pember on 7th January 2016

Mathew was born near the town of Castlepollard, Westmeath, Ireland in 1770. He was a private in the Westmeath Militia. In 1796 there was a skirmish in the village of Loughbrickland in County Down. Mathew was in charge (Acting Corporal) of a small unit of soldiers who fired upon some of the villagers and killed several of them. He was tried as a consequence of this and although the verdict was murder, he was sentenced to transportation for life.