James Thompson Hughes
by Dallas Johnson
James Thompson "Thomps" HUGHES, b: May 5, 1831 in Habersham County, Ga. d: June 30, 1919 in Fayette County, Al. buried Ashcraft Corner Baptist, m: first Epsy "Callie" CLANTON b: 1840 in Al. d: abt: 1865 in Pickens County, Al., m: second: Mary Jane MITCHELL, b: April 27, 1841 in Pickens County, Al. , d: Dec. 26, 1917 in Fayette County, Al., daughter of Asa M. MITCHELL and Sarah DORROH.
James Thompson Hughes was the son of Elisha Hughes(1) and Margaret "Peggy" Wilson. He was the grandson of Andrew Hughes, b: April 4, 1755, near Lancaster, Pa., and Rev. War Soldier. He was also the grandson of Charles Wilson(2) of Anderson, S.C. and the great grandson of Captain John Wilson(3), Rev. War Soldier, also born in Pa. and life long friend of Andrew Hughes(4). Both men lived in Anderson, S.C.
Between 1827 and 1839, the family lived in Habersham County, Ga. Elisha and Peggy HUGHES had seven children, most of whom settled in or near Fayette County, Al. They were: Obedience "Biddy" b: May 12, 1821 in Anderson, S.C. d: May 21, 1865 in Fayette County, Al., m: Joseph T. Smith, b: May 9, 1818 in Anderson, S.C. d: May 24, 1889 in Fayette County, Al.; Harriet E., b: 1825 in Anderson S.C., d: 1906 in White County, Ga.., m: first: John W. Hamby son of William HAMBY and Mary E. WILSON, b: 1822 in Anderson, S.C. d: August 12, 1862 in Pickens County, Al., Second: Starling T. JOHNSON, b: 1819 near Spartanburg, S.C., d: February 4, 1886 in White County, Ga., both buried in the Old Zion Methodist Church Cemetery on Highway 115 between Cleveland and Clarksville, Ga.; Clarinda HUGHES, b: abt. 1829 in Habersham County, Ga. m: George W. L. "Pinkney" JOHNSON on Dec. 26, 1850 in Fayette County, Al.; James .; Hulda HUGHES b: abt. 1833 in Habersham County, Ga. d: Fayette County, Al. m: first: Thomas BRASWELL, second: George W. THORNTON; Louisa Adeline HUGHES, b: 1835 in Habersham County, Ga. m: James Harvey WILSON; William M. (McMurray) HUGHES, b: 1839 in Anderson, S.C. d: 1863, Company B. 41st. Al. Regt.
According to family tradition, Elisha HUGHES died abt: 1839 presumably in the process of the Cherokee Indian Removal. Margaret "Peggy", while pregnant with William M. Hughes, moved to Anderson, S.C. into the home of her father, Charles WILSON. Charles Wilson died around 1843. When Margaret "Peggy" died abt: 1847, Harriet and Obedience, by that time, had married. William M. Wilson was awarded guardianship of the minor children. The families moved to Pickens County, Al. with their husbands taking their minor siblings with them..
James Thompson HUGHES and William M. HUGHES, brothers, were both in Company "B" of the 41st Al. Regt. These two young men protected each other through some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. William died, James Thompson lost his wife to measles and was captured by the enemy during the war, he suffered greatly, physically and emotionally.
While serving in the 41st. Alabama Regiment, Company "B" in Tennessee, family tradition tells the story that, Thomps received word that his wife, while pregnant, had contracted measles. By the time Thomps had acquired a leave of absence to go home to Pickens county and travel home, he arrived the on the day of the funeral. The congregation was at the cemetery for the grave side ceremony. The people were beginning to leave the cemetery and Thomps ran to the grave and began to dig it up with his hands. The men pulled him away, trying to console him. But, Thomps ran back to the grave and started digging again. After several attempts, the men decided that they would dig her up and let Thomps see the body. While on the trip from the church to the cemetery, the wagon had tipped a bit. Once the casket had been dug up and opened, Epsy's body had turned on one side. This was enough for Thomps to believe that she had been buried alive. He refused to believe that she was dead when buried.
Thomps returned to his military unit in Tennessee. He never got over his wife's death, the memories of the bloody war. This and his capture by the enemy and incarceration, lived on with him for the rest of his days.
After the war, Thomps married Mary Jane MITCHELL. Thomps and Mary had eight children, all born in the area of Ashcraft Corner: James H. b: 1866, m: Louise Thornton; Charles Hamby, b: February 8, 1869, d: May 30, 1940 in Wright City, McCurtain County, Oklahoma, m: Martha Isabella PERKINS, b: October 9, 1872 in Fayette, Al. d: January 19, 1955 in Mayes County, Oklahoma; Virgel E., b: 1873, m: Margaret "Maggie" THORNTON; Clarissa G., b: 1875, m: Farmer LIVINGSTON; Laura E., b: 1877, m: Mac THORNTON; Argus E. b: Sept. 1, 1879, m: Molly (unknown); Arzie, b: 1884.
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