Hugh Jones

Hugh Jones is a direct ancestor - view family tree - view ancestor index

Hugh Jones was born on 7th April 1814 in Nefyn and it is believed that he was baptised on 21st August 1814 in Nefyn. In 1828, at the age of 14, he started his career working on the seas as a cook and able seaman. Over the next 44 years he worked on various ships, working his way up to become a master mariner for which he obtained a certificate in 1864. On 21st November 1843, he married Elizabeth Jones the daughter of Griffith and Margaret Jones. After the marriage they lived with her parents at Bwlch-Bridin, Porthdinllaen. In 1851 Hugh took out a 64 year lease for part of the land of Bwlch-Bridin for building. The land was called Fron Oleu and was where Hugh and his family lived for the rest of their lives. Hugh died on 2nd June 1874 and is burried at St Mary's Church, Nefyn.

Hugh started his career as a mariner in 1828 at the age of 14, however little is known about his career until 1835. From this period onwards he was owner and master of sloops, working in the coastal trade shipping goods mainly between ports on the Lleyn Peninsula and ports around the Mersey. In 1864 Hugh applied to become a Master Mariner. He sent his application to the Registrar General of Seaman at Adelaide Place, London Bridge. On the application form he provided some details about the vessels that he had served aboard between 1828 and 1864. He also provide some detail about his role onboard. The application was successful and he received a certificate. The certificate number was 74846.

Below are some details (where known) about the ships that Hugh served on.

• Lady Newborough (1828 - 1830)
  • 
    
• Content (1830 - 1831)
  • 
    
• Thetus (1831 - 1832)
  • 
    
• Bardsey (1832)
  • 
    
• Britannia (1832 - 1846)
  • 
    
  • Britannia, a 23 ton sloop was built at Pwllheli in 1805. It was given the number 1992 and its flag code was HMGS. On 17th February 1834 Hugh became its master. On 9th May 1837 Hugh and his father Evan Hughes became the sole owners - each owning 32 shares. Evan served onboard with Hugh from 1835 until the end of 1837. On the 5 March 1845 the ship was registered at Pwllheli with Hugh as the sole owner holding all 64 shares. One year later, on 20 April 1846 Hugh had sold all his shares, and the vessel was registered under new ownership.
    
    
• Mary Anne (1846 - 1859)
  • 
    
  • Mary Anne was a 20 ton sloop and was built in 1829 at Derwenlas, Montgomery. It was given the number 1892 and its flag code was HLVC. On 30th October 1843, during a storm, the vessel was driven on shore on Porthdinllaen Beach and wrecked. Seven months later, On 17th May 1844 Hugh's father-in-law Griffith Jones, who lived on Porthdinllaen Beach, became the sole owner and master. Five years later, on 7th April 1849, Hugh became the master and then on 14th November 1851 became the sole owner. Between 1st July and 31st December 1860 the Mary Anne was laid up at Porthdinllaen all the time and in 1861 the ship was lost.
    
    
• 
  
• Snowdon (1859 - 1871)
  • 
    
  • Snowdon was a 27 ton sloop. It was built in 1839 at Pwllheli and was given the number 4249 with a flag code of JBRG. On 23rd May 1860 Hugh became the master and on 28 September 1860 he became the majority share holder owning 60 of the 64 shares. His son Evan Jones was onboard with him and may have been on board for longer. In 1873 Hugh ceased to be the master and on 25th May 1886 the ship was dismantled to be broken up.
    
    
    
• John Grey (1872)
  • 
    
  • Little is know about John Grey except that its official number was 13730 and according to the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen records Hugh served as captain in 1872.
    
    
    
    
• Harriet (1872)
  • 
    
  • Little is know about Harriet except that its official number was 19010 and according to the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen records Hugh served as captain in 1872 Jul - Dec.