Deborah's residences at various times as noted in the pension records:

Among the affiants / witnesses for John and/or Deborah:

OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE:

John H. Morgan stated in an affidavit dated 19 Nov 1913 that his uncle Samuel Morgan had married Elizabeth Cork, an older sister of Deborah Cork Hughes. He stated this marriage took place a few years prior to
the marriage of John Hughes and Deborah Cork.

Joseph Romeo adds:

When asked what battles he had been in, John answered, "Fair Oaks, Chapin's Farm**, also Ft. Fisher." **[also known as "Chaffin's Farm"]

John's death certificate is contained in the pension records, but is slightly different than the copy obtained from the vital records kept by Betty & Ray Terry. The handwriting is notably different, but the only
specific detail that seems to be different is the box for "Color or Race." On the copy in John's pension records (which has "Duplicate certified death certificate, E. Richmond Steele, Registrar, 10/9-1913"
inscribed across it) it lists his "Color or Race" as "Moor," but on the copy obtained from the state by Betty & Ray Terry the "Color or Race" is listed as "Not black but nearly white."

John is listed at various times as:

On 05 Nov 1913 Deborah signed an affidavit which stated that "there were born to her and the said John Hughes seven children, six of whom are now living." However, another affidavit signed by John indicates there were eight children (although one of the names was x'd out afterward).

John's occupations listed: Farmer.

OTHER ITEMS PERTAINING TO JOHN HUGHES, NOT FROM THE PENSION RECORDS:

Earlier forms of the Hughes name were often spelled as "Hewes," although none of John Hughes' pension records contained this spelling.

John Hughes was the son of Benjamin Hughes and Mariah (aka Maria) Miller. Records indicate Mariah was the daughter of Debrix/Deberix Miller and Sarah Counceller/Councilor/Counseller, and that Sarah in turn was the daughter of Elijah Counceller/Councilor/Counseller, Sr. and Hannah Durham.

Deborah Cork Hughes was the daughter of Peregrine "Perry" Cork, Jr. and Hannah Counceller/Councilor/Counseller. Records indicate Hannah was the daughter of Jeremiah Counceller/Councilor/Counseller and Hester ________, and that Jeremiah in turn was the son of Elijah Counceller/Councilor/Counseller, Sr. and Hannah Durham.

Thus, John and Deborah would have been second-cousins prior to their marriage. (John's mother Mariah was a first-cousin of Deborah's mother Hannah).

Deborah Cork Hughes' death certificate. It gives Deborah's place of death as Cheswold and her place of burial as Fork Branch Cemetery, both of which were not listed in the pension records.

On the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington DC, John's name is displayed on Plaque A-3.

Regimental history:

To go to the official National Park Service's "Soldiers and Sailors" website, CLICK HERE, and in the boxes do the following:

QUERY ITEMS:

1. John Hughes' father's name is given as Benjamin Hughes. Does anyone have any further info on him, or the names of his parents?

Joseph Romeo adds:

"... it is noteworthy that John's death certificate records his place of birth as Sussex County, Delaware."

2. Deborah's birthdate is given in the records as both 14 Aug 1838 and 14 Aug 1836. (And her death certificate gives it as 14 Aug 1835). Does anyone have any further info as to which is more likely correct?

Joseph Romeo adds:

"Earlier census records suggest that the later date (1838) is more accurate: Deborah's age in the census records: in 1850, age 12; in 1860, age 21; in 1870, age 30; in 1880, age 42; in 1900, age 64 (b.
Aug 1835)."

3. *As noted previously in a chart, above, John Hughes signed an affidavit on 04 Jun 1898 listing his children, the fifth of which was listed as "Hannah J. Hughes" born on (01?) Dec 1869. However, later records seem to give this daughter's name as Harriet, not Hannah, as noted in this transcription of the 1880 census as posted by Lorraine Johnson Gregg:

Also odd was the fact that the 8th child on John Hughes' 1898 list (James B. Hughes) was crossed off with x's over his name and birthdate. Furthermore, in a 1913 affidavit signed by Deborah she states that "there were born to her and the said John Hughes seven children, six of whom are now living." Why does there seem to be an effort to list only seven children instead of eight? All records indicate that neither John nor Deborah had another other spouses. Was James perhaps adopted from another family? And which one of the children is the one noted as being deceased by the time of Deborah's statement in 1913?

Joseph Romeo adds:

The 1900 and 1910 censuses both report that Deborah was the mother of 7 children, of which 7 were alive.

The 1880 census reports James as a son. That John listed him confirms that he was raised as John's son. That he crossed him off suggests that he was not his natural son. Speculating, I might suggest that James was the illegitimate child of the oldest daugher Hester, whom John and Deborah raised as their own.

I don't know which of the children died before Deborah's deposition in 1913, but the death presumably occurred between 1910 (census reports 7 children alive) and 1913 (deposition reports 6 children alive).

4. (This is more of a statement than a question). Back in 1999 and 2001 there was a discussion regarding James & Deborah's daughter Harriett (noted above as having married Jeremiah Ridgeway) in which one of her descendants (a granddaughter, I believe) claimed that this name was in error, and that the spouse of Jeremiah Ridgeway was Deborah Hughes, not Harriett. There was much confusion about this at the time. Indications seemed to be that the names had simply gotten mixed up in being passed down in their family, as all records clearly indicated that it was Harriett who had married Jeremiah Ridgeway, and that Deborah was Harriett's mother. But the descendant was clear that she remembered her grandmother's name as Deborah, not Harriett. I'm not sure if this confusion was ever resolved completely.

Joseph Romeo adds:

"It does appear that "the names got mixed up in being passed down in the family."

"1900 census reports Jeremiah Ridgway married to Hester A., born May 1858. This is evidently Hester A Hughes, as the date of birth matches the date given in John's list of children. Jeremiah and Hester were reported to be married 19 years (i.e., ca. 1881). The death certificate of son Earl Ridgway in 1941 reports his mother's maiden name as Hester Hughes.

"I cannot find Jeremiah/Jerry or Hester in any census after 1900. Both their children (Lola and Earl) are married with children by 1910."

5. Does anyone know of a photograph of John (or Deborah)?